PaperlessKitchen Blog

Penn State University Unveils New Waste Reduction Program

Kudos to Penn State University! This year, the public land grant college has instituted a new plan to dramatically reduce the amount of solid waste produced by the university that ends up in landfills.

Called Mobius, the program focuses on food waste. The university has set up special Mobius stations all over the campus for students, faculty and visitors to deposit compostable waste. The bins are found in all buildings that contain classrooms, dining halls and food courts and residence halls. They are also located in many of the athletic venues where the Nittany Lions hold home games.

Penn State will compost all of the waste and use it on campus. With the program, the university states that only 25 percent of the total amount of waste generated at the campus will need to be taken to landfills. That's a 10 percent decrease over the amount that is currently transported off of the campus.

We hope that other universities around the country will be inspired to follow  Penn State's lead.

New Stats Show Europe Is Making Progress on Paper Waste

In the past, we've covered the massive problem of plastic waste in the European Union, and while Europe is still trying to sort out the best ways to reduce the amount of plastic that ends up in landfills, a new report shows that the EU has managed to reduce paper use and disposal rates.

Some of the key findings of the report include:

- In 1992, only 41 percent of all paper was recycled in the countries that now make up the European Union.

- As of 2012, roughly 71 percent of all paper was recycled.

- Paper use was reduced by 13 percent and is now at the lowest levels it has been since 1998

- Rates for paper recycling are lowest in Central Europe

Clearly, Europe is headed in the right direction in terms of paper waste recycling; however, only 40 percent of the total of all waste produced throughout the EU is recycled, indicating there is still a lot of work to be done to make Europe green.

Your Business Can Turn Waste Paper Into Toilet Paper!

Although it was released 2 years ago, the White Goat paper-recycling machine has made headlines again recently, as more and more companies in Japan are purchasing these systems.

The idea behind the White Goat is that companies can use their waste paper to develop another type of paper product that most businesses use on a daily basis: toilet paper. The company that manufactures White Goat estimates that for average-sized companies, the machine can recycle enough paper to save 60 trees each year.

Using the White Goat is simple. Employees simply place their waste paper into the machine's bin. From there, the paper is shredded and held until there is enough to create a roll of toilet paper. It takes roughly 40 sheets of A4 paper to make a single roll.

Interested in the White Goat? At this time, the machine costs $100,000, so it may not be a practical investment for small companies. For those with 50 or more employees, however, or fields that use large amounts of paper, the machine may pay for itself in no time.

African Woman Uses Paper Waste to Support Her Family

With 10 children to feed, no husband and no means to find employment, Gabaiphe Tlhaloso of Francistown, Botswana was facing tremendous hardships. The single mother is illiterate, making her prospects seem bleak, but not one to lose hope, she began to brainstorm ways to support herself and her family.

Tlhaloso noticed how much paper waste was discarded around her home, and she became inspired to both clean up her neighborhood and put the waste paper to good use. She experimented and found a way to use old newspaper and boxes mixed with stones, grain husks and sand to make handicrafts.

Her beautiful pieces are intended for decorating her home, and she has set up a small shop at a flea market-type event. To decorate her art, Tlhaloso uses watermelon seeds, pebbles and other found items. Her works sell for $23 to $50, which may not seem like much; however, with her profits, she has been able to move her family of 11 from a one-room home to a two-room home.

Tlhaloso is actively trying to inspire other women in the area to put their skills to use to support her families. Her story is an inspiring one that deserves to be shared.

Which Bag Wins in a Game of Paper, Plastic or Cloth?

Last month, we discussed a debate that's raging in Russia over whether it's better to ban paper bags in favor of paper bags or continue using plastic. The story got me to thinking about which actually is the most harmful to the environment, and the results really surprised me.

A professor at the University of Oregon, chemist David Tyler extensively studied the use of paper bags, plastic bags and cloth bags, evaluating them from every aspect to disposal. His research examined the environmental impact of all three types of bags. Here are some of the things that he found:

- In terms of carbon footprint or the impact of manufacturing the bags, plastic actually beat out both paper and cloth. The paper bags may not be surprising, but the fact that plastic, which is made from chemicals, had less of an impact than cotton bags astounded me. It turns out that the pesticides used on the cotton plants from which many bags are produced are the problem. The moral of the story is that going organic is the best way to ensure that your reusable cloth bag truly is the best choice for the Earth.

- When it comes to disposal, plastic bags break down the slowest when they reach landfills. Paper breaks down the fastest, while natural cotton fibers fall somewhere in between.

- If you're taking conservation into account, cloth bags win every time. Cotton is a renewable resource, as the plants quickly grow for harvesting each year. Although trees can be regrown, the paper pulp used to create paper is typically not viewed as a renewable product because of the time that it takes for a tree to fully mature. Plastic bags made from petrochemicals are clearly not renewable.

What do you think about these facts? Will it change how you carry your groceries and shopping? Let us know in the "Comments" section.

http://cascade.uoregon.edu/fall2012/expert/expert-article/

New Solution for Paper Cup Waste Recycling

Used in cafes and coffee shops all over the world, paper coffee cups are a global waste problem. A recent study in the UK found that 2.5 billion end up in landfills in that nation alone, but a new technology that's being developed by James Cropper plc hopes to change that.

The largest problem with paper drinking cups is that they're not made entirely of paper. About 5 percent of these cups consists of polythene used to make the cups waterproof. This material cannot be recycled through the same processes as paper waste. As a result, the paper drinking cups cannot successfully be broken down and reused through traditional recycling methods.

James Cropper plc's new method of recycling involves separating the polythene from the paper. First, cups are soaked to remove the coating. The polythene is removed from the solution and then recycled independently. Then, the cups can be recycled through the same means used to recycle other paper products. The company has successfully used the paper fibers obtained from the process to produce high-end stationery and other paper products.

Now that successful testing of the new recycling method is complete, James Cropper plc is opening a factory for processing UK paper cups. There are hopes of expanding the operations abroad in the future.

Can You Recycle It?

Even if you're doing everything you can to create a paperless kitchen and to use less paper at home, it's not possible to avoid paper waste entirely. When you simply can't avoid the paper, you should obviously try to recycle it if you can. Here's a rundown of what paper products can and can't be recycled through most community waste management programs.

Recycle It! - These items are generally able to be recycled.

- Corrugated cardboard, but usually only if broken down into flat pieces

- Glossy paper like magazines and advertising circulars

- Printed office paper and notebook/tablet paper

- Newspapers

- Paper envelopes

- Phone books

- Plain paper bags

Check With Your Community - Some cities and towns may accept these items, while others may not.

- Paperboard boxes, such as those used for cereal

- Cardboard liquid containers like milk cartons

- Paperback books

- Plastic lined envelopes

- Tissues, paper towels and napkins

- Frozen food boxes

- Wrapping paper

- Pizza boxes

- Greeting cards

Reuse It or Avoid It - These items typically cannot be recycled, so look for ways to upcycle or reuse them whenever possible.

- Boxes with built-in wax liners

- Hard-cover books

- Plastic-lined boxes like ice cream cartons

- Paper bags with wax liners

If your community doesn't accept the items in the second category, try using an app like iRecycle to see if another facility in your area will accept your paper waste.

What items are you surprised that you can or can't recycle? Tell us in the "Comments" section.

Some Paperless Motivation

No matter how many great paper towel replacements you find or recycling centers that you locate in your local area, there's no denying that moving to a paperless lifestyle requires work. By learning more about ways to reduce your paper waste, you can make the task easier, but the entire reason that paper towels, paper plates and other paper products exist in the first place is because they are convenient. In my own quest to live a greener life, I sometimes find myself tempted to take the easy route, and when I talk to friends, I realize that I'm not alone in this.

That's why I wanted to take a few moments and post some statistics that help me remember the importance of reducing my own paper waste. Sometimes all it takes is a reminder that even my small changes can make a difference when it comes to protecting our planet.

- Each year, Americans use roughly 734 pounds of paper each, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations. By recycling just 119 pounds of newspaper, you can save just one tree, reports Government of Canada's Digital Collections. Even small changes like consistently avoiding one type of paper product or recycling all of the old newspapers and magazines around your home can have a huge impact.

- "When paper rots or is composted it emits methane gas which is 25 times more toxic than CO2," shares the International Institute for Environment and Development. When you don't add paper to your trash, you're not just helping to prevent over-crowding in landfills; you're also protecting the quality of the air we breathe.

- Around 30 to 40 percent of trash is packaging, explains the Cornell Waste Management Institute. That's not paper waste--that's total trash! By choosing products that use eco-friendly packaging, you're making a huge impact on the amount of toxin-producing garbage that sits in our landfills.

What's your paperless motivation? Statistics like these? Thoughts of future generations? Something else entirely? Share it with us in the Comments section

iRecycle Mobile App Review from PaperlessKitchen

In my house, I have a box that I call the electronics graveyard. Sorting through its contents is like a course in the history of cell phones, media players and laptop computers. Each time I upgrade, I end up relegating my older electronics to the box, not wanting to throw them in the trash, but never knowing what else to do with them. When I talk to my friends, I hear tales of similar boxes, shelves and spots in garages and storage sheds filled with automotive products, leftover construction supplies and a host of other things that seem too useful to throw away.

iRecycle is an app designed to help you find facilities that will recycle those items in your own graveyard, making it easy to unclutter your life without adding to waste problems. Here's a rundown on this useful app from Earth911.com.

 The Basics

 -       Available for any iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad with iOS 4.0 or later and Android 2.1 and later models

 -       Free purchase from the Apple App Store and from Google Play

 -       Languages include English, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Polish, Russian and Spanish

 The Features

 - Allows you to search for recycling centers for automotive parts, batteries, construction supplies, electronics, garden items, glass, hazardous materials, household items, metal, paint, paper and plastic. Under each category, there is a multitude of specific materials, so that you can find places that will take everything from asphalt to musical instruments.

 - Uses your location to find the recycling centers closest to you and in most cases, tells you how many miles they are from your location.

 - Provides detailed information about each center, including restrictions on drop-offs, if pickup is available and whether or not the organization is a nonprofit. Hours and contact information are also provided, and you can call a center or visit its website with just one click.

 - Catalogs recent environmental news articles and green blog posts from a variety of online sources

 The Takeaway

iRecycle really does make it easy to find places that will take all of those unwanted items that are cluttering your home. There are listings for things I never even thought about recycling like metal hangers. Using the app helped me discover recycling centers in my local area that I didn't even know existed. In minutes, I was able to find places that would accept everything in my electronics graveyard and use the center profile to plan when I'd visit to drop off my stuff.

The articles component for iRecycle is informative and good for finding things to read when you need to kill time before an appointment or when you're surfing the net at home. One problem I had with the articles section was that not all of the photographs displayed inside of the app, which made some DIY articles that relied heavily on pictures hard to enjoy.

Have you used iRecycle yet? Tell us your stories about what you recycled with the app.