Maximizing Paper and Recycling Efforts

Reducing print has been at the forefront of technology since the expense of locally printed documents arrived with personal lasers and inkjets.  Not only has paper consumption been on the rise, it shows no sign of slowing down.  Here’s a way to combat the trend towards more printing, more expense, and more environmental concern.

Store Paper Properly and Avoid Waste

When was the last time you thought about paper handling and storage? There are some tips that can protect your valuable paper inventory and minimize waste so your print operations run smoothly.

Maintain a humidity level between 35–55 percent in all paper handling and storage areas to avoid issues caused by fluctuating moisture levels. You can use humidifiers or dehumidifiers to control the environment in smaller rooms.  Larger rooms like warehouses can be more challenging.

Humidity is important, but so is temperature. Paper should be stored in a controlled atmosphere, out of directly sunlight, preferably at a temperature between 68 and 76 degrees Fahrenheit.

Extreme temperatures won’t damage paper, but they can create problems during printing including paper jams and misfeeds. A good best practice is to acclimate paper to the proper temperature in a paper handling or storage area before using it to avoid problems during printing.

Also make sure and keep excess paper in its original package. Paper is shipped in packaging that has been designed to maintain its ‘as manufactured’ moisture level, which means the best way to keep paper ready to print is to store it in its original packaging until it’s needed.  Keeping the paper flat will also prevent unnecessary jams and wasted paper.

Minimize Contamination

Remove staples, clips, and other contaminants before recycling, as they can degrade the quality of recycled paper.  Pulp and paper is the 3rd largest industrial polluter of air, water and soil. Chlorine-based bleaches are used during production which results in toxic materials being released into our water, air and soil. When paper rots, it emits methane gas which is 25 times more toxic than CO2.  So it is especially important to keep paper waste to a minimum.  

Papers to Avoid in the Recycle Bin

Cardboard, pizza boxes, receipt paper, thermal paper, labels, wrapping paper, tape, Post IT notes,  and shredded paper should be disposed of separately.  The same goes for napkins, toilet paper, tissues, and plastic coated paper.   If you are not sure if a paper material has a plastic coating, look for a code on the packaging. For example, if the recycling code is – 20 PAP, 21 PAP, or 22 PAP, it is a paper product and can be recycled.

Promote Paper Reduction and Use Recycled Paper

Encourage the reduction of paper use and the utilization of digital alternatives whenever possible. Purchase products made from recycled paper to support the recycling industry and close the recycling loop.

Remember, the goal is to encourage responsible paper use and recycling to minimize waste and conserve resources. Balancing paper use with other sustainable practices like going digital can significantly help in reducing environmental impact.