Peralta Colleges Using 100% Recycled Paper
by Jack Lin - January 5th, 2009.
Assistant Warehouse Supervisor Ken Hall receives another shipment of 100% PCW paper.
Peralta took another major step towards sustainable operations this past year when the District Purchasing Department began to buy 100% Post-Consumer Waste (PCW) content recycled paper for the majority of Peralta’s copying and printing. Give Something Back business producsts delivered our first order of paper in March of 2007, and college’s began to receive the paper as early as April, as they finished using their old paper and the Warehouse supplied them with the new eco-friendly paper.
The more Post-Consumer recycled content, the better for the environment and the economy. “Post-Consumer” means that the paper was made from the paper and cardboard that we recycle at home, school and work. So, making paper with recycled paper makes sense because it uses less trees, creates less air pollution, creates less water pollution, uses less water, uses less energy, and creates less solid waste.
The District has previously used 30%-PCW paper, already pretty good by most standards. However, Board Policy 2.40 on Environmental Sustainability, passed in December 2007, called for using 100%-PCW paper. Initially, administrators were concerned that the cost of the 100%-PCW costs approximately 15% more than virgin-content or 30% recycled-content papers. The total cost increase to Peralta is $10,000 per year, a very small percentage of Peralta’s operating budget.
Special thanks to Chancellor Elihu Harris, Vice-Chancellor Sadiq Ikharo, and District Purchasing Compliance Manager John Banisadr who all agreed that it was the right thing to do by Board Policy and by the environment. Special thanks also to Warehouse Manager Shawnee Martinez who places and receives the orders, and who regularly seeks update quotes from our regular vendors to keep costs competitive.
