Recycle Paper, Save Trees

Don't Be Mean go Green !!!

We all have been using paper for as long as we can remember, starting when we were little kids drawing and scribbling trees and houses on sheets of paper until now that we have become adults and use paper for an endless variety of purposes in work and at home.

Even though we know that paper is an important part of our lives, we may not be aware that our careless usage of paper contributes to the accumulation of landfill in the country. Not only that, but production of paper costs more and more of the lives of trees, which are an essential part of the environment.

To help you save trees through paper recycling, reducing and reusing, here are some pointers to remember.

At Home
• Do not throw away boxes; reuse them as containers for different things. It is a good idea to wrap your boxes with used plastic covers to make them last a longer time.

• Encourage family members to always use both sides of the paper so that it will not be wasted.

• When writing memos or notes, make use of a pencil so that if you make a mistake you can just erase it and reuse the paper.

• Collect old newspapers, office papers and magazines from neighbors and start a paper drive. Old newspapers and office papers can go into the recycling centers in your neighborhood while old magazines can be donated to clinics and establishments with waiting areas.

• Donate your old books or your children's to schools and libraries.

• Buy recycled paper products and close the recycling loop.

• Make recycling easier for everyone by placing recycling bins in strategic locations in the house.

• Delegate tasks on recycling duties so that everyone gets their fair share of workload.

• Make games out of the recycling program so that it will be more exciting for family members to participate in it.

In School
• Educate children about the importance of paper recycling.

• Let your kids bring home paper they used in school instead of throwing them into the trash.

• Encourage kids to always draw or write on both sides of the paper.

• Request schools in your vicinity to start their own recycling programs.

At the Workplace
• Request the company to provide recycling bins.

• Talk to the management about giving incentives to employees who participate well in reduction of paper use. The company will be more than happy to oblige with that since you will show them that this will greatly cut down the company's expenses on paper.

• Promote the use of interoffice emails instead of paper memos.

• Use printers and copiers that have the option to print and copy on both sides.

• Encourage staff or co-workers to participate in the recycling program.

Trees serve as a habitat for many animals in the wildlife. Trees give us shade, fresh air and prevent floods by absorbing water through its roots. The priceless benefits offered by these wonderful gifts of nature are endless. This is why it is very important that we do our share in reducing the use of paper, reusing old and used paper and recycle paper whenever it is possible.