Reduction Of Paper Usage at Schools 1

Reduction Of Paper Usage at Schools

Zenaya Williams

Dutchtown High school

Table of contents
First paragraph: Introduction of overuse of paper in schools; position

Second paragraph: how it was developed and discovered

Third paragraph: Steps taken; laws and regulations

Fourth paragraph: Consequences

Fifth paragraph: Solutions

Sixth: opposing views; rebuttal

Seventh paragraph: closing

Eighth paragraph: explanation of graphs, maps and pictures

Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
2
Reduction Of Paper Usage at School

Paper is the blood flow of schools, it passes through many copy machines and

classrooms. It also makes its way into the hands of school faculty, parents, and students.

Students and teachers heavily rely on paper for assignments and tasks. Although paper is

an important resource, we rely on it too much. Our overuse of paper causes major

environmental problems, including deforestation. Paper is used all throughout the world

and is a major resource in schools, but at one point paper was a precious and rare

commodity.

The Usage of Paper roots all the way back to China at the beginning of the first

millenium AD. Paper was first made by Ts’ai Lun, a Chinese court official. Ts’ai mixed

mulberry bark, rags and hemp with water and mashed them together into a pulp like

substance. Ts’ai then pressed the liquid out and hung the thin sheet to dry in the sun.

Within the 8th century the chinese secret of papermaking was discovered by muslims when

they captured a chinese paper mill. The next 800 years paper was being used all across

europe for printing important documents, bibles, and other important books. In 1960, the

first U.S. paper mill was built in Pennsylvania. At first Americans used the Chinese method

of shredding used, old rags and clothes into single fibers to make paper. The demand for

paper began to grow and they began using trees for fiber because wood cost less and was

more abundant than cloth. From there paper has continued to flourish. Thus modern paper

was born.

Because of the environmental problems paper causes, organizations, small

communities, and schools have tried to take steps to reduce the overuse of paper. Many

schools are currently switching and have already switched to technology based classes. This
Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
3
will minimize the amount of paper being used within a classroom. There are many benefits

with online learning mainly its efficiency. Students can keep up with assignments and

teachers won’t have to deal with grading so many papers. Using technology makes things

easier and is more manageable. Testing can be done using technology, giving teachers

quicker access to grades as well as students. Schools are also promoting recycling, and

setting up bins around the school especially near copiers and printers. Educating students

on ways to conserve and There are many other methods and tips that people are taking but

technology use has been the most effective. Many schools are beginning to educate students

and staff on the environmental impact that paper waste has on our environment. Over the

years, legal actions have taken place to help decrease the negative outcomes of paper

making. Laws and treaties have been put into place and are well enforced. Illegal logging is

a type of deforestation that takes place in many parts of the world. To rebuttal this illegal

act, congress passed amendments to the Lacey Act. This law closed U.S. markets to illegally

sourced wood. The national forest management act also help protect forests and sets

regulations. Regulations and laws are important because it keeps things in check.

As you know everything takes energy to produce. Paper takes up a lot of energy and

the problem is that it’s being overproduced and overused. From newspapers to tissue

paper, paper is global and most of it’s ending up in landfills creating large amounts of paper

waste. Paper pollution is the result of paper waste, but deforestation is the primary effect of

our mindless use of paper. Deforestation affects wildlife, plants and humans in 4 major

ways : soil erosion, water cycle disruption, greenhouse gas emissions and biodiversity

losses. All which are detrimental to our environment. Over 30 million of acres of forests

destroyed annually. It is estimated that by 2020 paper mills will be producing 500,000,000
Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
4
tons of paper and paperboard each year, this would in turn mean an increase in these

environmental problems that we already face today. Eventually there will be no more trees

resulting in the extinction of all life on earth.

Thankfully, almost every problem has a solution. The most feasible solution to

deforestation is to learn how to manage forests resources by decreasing clear cutting and

making sure those environments remain in tact. Another tactic that helps is every tree

being cut down should be replaced. This will prevent the depletion of our leafy skyscrapers.

A solution to reduce paper waste is to simply decrease the consumption of paper you buy,

and if you are going to continue to buy it, try recycled paper. Recycled paper uses 60

percent less energy to manufacture. There are many efforts to help reduce these problems.

Every little thing counts. Recycling, trying alternative materials, copying on both sides of

paper… all of these are great ways to reduce paper waste. Those options are great to start

with, but one large step is going completely paperless which is definitely possible. Many

people go paperless, and it’s way more effective and makes daily task a lot more efficient,

especially in schools. These days, anything is possible with technology.

Although it’s quite clear that the overuse of paper is killing our environment, some

people still prefer the old fashion way of learning… pencil and paper. Parents may argue

that students may not have access to a computer or wifi at home. If everything is done

online, how can those who don’t have access complete their tasks at hand? The answer is

simple. Many schools are offering students their very own chromebook to use until the

school year ends. Because of the advancement in technology, depending on how much

money schools are willing to spend, there are devices with a built in wifi system. Another

reason technology is more efficient is students can learn faster and teachers can teach
Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
5
quicker. Students won’t have to keep up with the overwhelming amount of papers from

each class. Parents are also concerned that having and using technology in the classroom

can become quite distracting for their students. Students can easily get off tasks by playing

games and searching the web rather than focusing on what’s most important: their

assignments, and what their learning. If you think about it, students can get off task with

their cell phone. It works the same way, either they’re focused on they’re not. Besides,

teachers can monitor what students are doing on their computer, simply by screening them.

If they’re off task they can be redirected. Many people argue that we use paper for almost

everything when it comes to completing our daily tasks, but there are always alternatives.

For example, mail. Mail contributes to a lot of paper waste. When you open your mail, the

unimportant documents always end up in the trash, plus too much paper accumulates in

your home. Thus, many people prefer to get their mail sent to them via email. This

eliminates junk mail and unnecessary trips to the shredder.

Next time you throw away a sheet of paper think about how many trees were cut

down to provide you that single sheet of paper. Yes, paper is a reliable resource, but it’s not

our only resource, and that’s what people fail to realize. We have many other alternatives

that take the place of paper, technology being the most effective in the workplace, at home,

and most importantly at school. Everyone should be more mindful about how much paper

they use on a daily basis. Remember to recycle and conserve as much as possible. Try to

reduce your consumption of paper as much as possible. If you don’t need it, don’t buy it.

There’s no need to add unnecessary paper waste to our environment. You might want to

even try going paperless and living a full technology based lifestyle. Everything you do

impacts your environment, the choice is yours.

Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
6
Over the years paper has continued to be overproduced and overused. Let’s take a

look.

The graph above shows how much paper in tons, being processed over 12 years. The

overproduction or over processing of paper was at its highest peak in 2003. Now let’s take a

look to see how much we have tried helping our environment.

Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
7

The graph above shows our input in helping our environment. Paper and

Paperboard are only at 63 percent, where other things such as steel or corrugated

cardboard are in the high 80’s. This goes to show that we are capable of helping making a

change, everyone just needs to participate.

Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
8
Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
9
Works Cited

“30 Ways to Use Less Paper.” Small Footprint Family, 22 Jan. 2018,

www.smallfootprintfamily.com/30-ways-to-use-less-paper.

“5 Easy Ways to Save Paper Without Skimping | Business Hub | Staples.com®.”

Staples.com, www.staples.com/sbd/cre/tech-services/explore-tips-and-advice/tech-

articles/5-easy-ways-to-save-paper-without-skimping-2.html.

BluÌher, Agnes. Save Paper!: Mass Deacidification: Today's Experiences - Tomorrow's

Perspectives: Papers given at the International Conference, 15-17 February 2006.

Swiss National Library, 2006.

Bradford, Alina. “Deforestation: Facts, Causes & Effects.” LiveScience, Purch, 3 Apr.

2018, www.livescience.com/27692-deforestation.html.

“Deforestation and Its Effect on the Planet.” National Geographic, 25 July 2017,

www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/global-warming/deforestation/.

“Deforestation.” WWF, World Wildlife Fund,

www.worldwildlife.org/threats/deforestation.

Finlay, Ian Hamilton, and Gary Hincks. Re-Use Trees: Save Paper. Wild Hawthorn

Press, 1981.

“Forum: Papering over the Cracks – Does Saving Paper Really Save Trees.” New

Scientist, New Scientist,

www.newscientist.com/article/mg12216686-800-forum-papering-over-the-cracks-

does-saving-paper-really-save-trees/.

The History of Paper. Tohren.

“How You Can Save Paper.” WWF,

Reduction Of Paper Usage at School
10
wwf.panda.org/get_involved/live_green/fsc/save_paper/.

“Paper in the Classroom: Get Over It!” Edutopia, www.edutopia.org/paperless-

classroom.

“Paper Waste Facts.” The World Counts, www.theworldcounts.com/stories/Paper-

Waste-Facts.

Rahul. “Save Paper Save Environment Save Earth.” Rahul's Blog, 29 Sept. 2013,

rahulmittal.wordpress.com/2009/07/26/save-paper-save-environment-save-

earth/.

Spilsbury, Richard. Deforestation. Wayland, 2014.

“The Ultimate Guide to Cutting Your Paper Waste.” One Green Planet, 16 Dec. 2014,

www.onegreenplanet.org/lifestyle/the-ultimate-guide-to-cutting-your-paper-

waste/.

Walker, Kate. Paper. Marshall Cavendish Benchmark, 2011.