Q&A for How to Save Paper

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  • Question
    How can we prevent wasting paper and save trees?
    Kathryn Kellogg
    Sustainability Specialist
    Kathryn Kellogg is the founder of goingzerowaste.com, a lifestyle website dedicated to breaking eco-friendly living down into a simple step-by-step process with lots of positivity and love. She's the author of 101 Ways to Go Zero Waste and spokesperson for plastic-free living for National Geographic.
    Sustainability Specialist
    Expert Answer
    That depends on, how you are using paper. If you're using paper grocery bags, bring a reusable grocery bag. If they're using too much printer paper, print double sided and try not to print things very often. If you're using too much toilet paper, get a bidet attachment. If you're using too many paper towels, switch to cloth rags. Try to use reusable products over any sort of paper disposable products.
  • Question
    Are there any other steps that would be helpful?
    Community Answer
    Don't waste paper if you don't need to. Making unimportant things such as paper airplanes, or writing one word on a piece of paper then throwing it out is wasteful.
  • Question
    How can I recycle gift wrappers?
    Community Answer
    If the wrapper is mostly intact, you can cut it smaller, and reuse it to wrap other presents. You can also fold it into a paper gift bag . Lastly, you can decoupage it onto wooden boxes or trays to make them look more colorful and interesting.
  • Question
    How can we spread the word about saving paper?
    Community Answer
    There are many ways you can inform others about the importance of saving paper. For one, you can add an automatic signature to all your emails asking people to think twice about printing documents. You can also make sure that there are plenty of recycling bins around your school, workplace, or home, with signs explaining why it's so important to reduce, reuse, and recycle. Also, when you give gifts that have been made with or wrapped with recycled papers, add a little note explaining what you've done, and how the receiver can do the same. You can also encourage classmates and co-workers to be more mindful of their paper use.
  • Question
    How can I keep paper safe so that it doesn't tear?
    Community Answer
    You could use a polyurethane sealer, which is available at any hardware store. This would create a thin-but-tough covering that's also waterproof. You could also try using a spray adhesive; the kind used in crafts.
  • Question
    How does plastic harm the environment?
    Community Answer
    The manufacturing of plastic, as well as its destruction by incineration, pollutes air, land and water and exposes workers to toxic chemicals, including carcinogens. Synthetic plastic is not biodegradable. It just sits and accumulates in landfills or pollutes the environment.
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