Objective
To improve the environmental footprint and impact associated with the City’s purchase, use and recycling of printer and copier paper. The Paper Waste Prevention (PWP) Campaign has three goals:
- To Reduce Overall Consumption of Paper
- To Increase Purchase of Higher Post-Consumer, Processed Chlorine-Free Paper
- To Optimize City Paper Recycling Rates
Recommended Action:
Issue an Executive Order recognizing the impacts of current City paper use and clearly stating the City’s commitment to improve.
Establish and demonstrate City practices that prevent paper waste.
Background:
SPU and Parks researched the impacts and benefits of reduced paper use prior to forming (and supplying staff support for) the inter-departmental Paper Waste Prevention Committee. The Committee is establishing a work plan with measures and goals to:
- institutionalize paper waste prevention strategies in City operations
- “lead by example” some of the practices we promote to the public.
SPU and Parks have researched and introduced paper waste prevention practices successful in other jurisdictions, and are developing recommendations tailored to City operations and business.
Costs and Potential Savings
Goal 1. Reduce Overall Consumption of Paper.
In 2003 the City of Seattle used 73,902,000 sheets of paper. This mountain of paper dwarfed Mount Rainier by over 10 thousand feet. It is also the height of over 40 Space Needles! The environmental impact of this quantity of paper is substantial. Paper manufacturing uses more water than any other industry, is the third most energy intensive industry, and releases the fourth most pollutants.
In 2003, the City spent $288,218 for print and copy paper. For each 1% reduction in paper consumption, the City will save $2,882, as well as impressive environmental savings; 62 trees, 64,606 gallons of water, 300 lbs of water pollutants, 7,074 lbs of solid wastes, 20,500 lbs. of greenhouse gases and other air pollutants, and 123,662 BTU’s of energy.
Other jurisdictions we have researched have paper reduction goals between 10% and 30% over 1-5 years. Washington State’s goal is 30% reduction by 2009; City of Portland’s goal is 15% by 2008. The Paper Waste Prevention Committee, with OSE, is considering a paper reduction goal of 15% for 2005-2006.
Goal 2. Increase Purchase of Higher Post-Consumer, Processed Chlorine-Free Paper.
The City purchases 100% recycled-content, process chlorine-free paper through our own and State of Washington contract. This paper is produced at Gray’s Harbor Mill in Oregon, purchased at a much better price than in earlier years, and performs well.
By switching the City’s paper purchases from the current standard of 30% recycled to 100% recycled, the City potentially can save:
- Daily: 17 trees, 7,224 gallons of water, 11,909 BTUs of energy; and
- Annually: 17,924 lbs. of water pollutants, 279,756 lbs. of solid wastes, as well as 29% net green house gases; avoiding the use of chlorine thereby eliminates creation of dioxin. We recommend establishing 100% post-consumer-recycled and chlorine-free paper as the City’s standard for printing and copying.
Goal 3. Optimize City Paper Recycling Rates.
Employees report a need to make recycling easier and more convenient. We recommend the following: (a) standardizing our collection containers and labeling to make them uniform and more easily recognizable in all locations throughout departments; (b) placing additional containers, such as in conference rooms, break rooms, and copier rooms will increase convenience and participation; (c) educating City employees about the new recycling
requirements adopted by City Council effective in January, 2005.
Existing Citywide and Departmental Directives and Policies in support of PWP Campaign
There are a number of City-wide directives and policies that pertain to paper. In addition, individual departments have initiatives and policies relevant to paper:
- SMC 3.04.200 and 3.04.218 (1992), which set goals for purchasing reused, recyclable, and recycled-content products. Specific provisions apply to office and restroom paper products, including purchasing copier paper made from post-consumer-waste and free of chlorine. As a result, the City has been buying 30% post-consumer-waste (PCW) recycled paper for a number of years as our standard for printing and copying. The Code includes a provision for continuous improvement beyond the initial goals. The Code also directs contractors and prospective vendors to print submittals on recycled content paper.
- City Council Resolution 30487 in 2002 to reduce persistent, bio-cumulative toxins (PBTs) in products purchased and used by the City, with particular mention of dioxins. Dioxins are formed during the chlorine bleaching of paper.
- The Mayor’s Environmental Action Agenda reiterated the commitment to reducing paper waste, and two-sided copying and printing. There was an initial push to publicize these policies, however at this time, many managers and staff is not aware of them. During our research for the PWP Project, we have heard from various staff that without a strong voice from the Mayor and/or Department Directors and Managers, they do not feel that
conserving paper is a serious interest of the City.
- In April, 2002, The Department of Information Technology (DOIT) established Citywide Printing Policies that all copiers and printers purchased are duplex capable and that City employees print on both sides. (In practice, however, this is not done consistently) Read the FFD policy (Word document on City InWeb).
- In 1999, the City approved an Environmental Management System containing several specific policies for Recycling and Waste Reduction and Sustainable Purchasing.
- In February, 2001 the Parks Department adopted the Environmental Stewardship Initiative which calls for staff to improve its resource conservation efforts throughout all Units of the Department. Subsequently paper reduction and increase recycling programs were identified as a priority.
- Seattle Solid Waste Comprehensive Management Plan ,1998, and 2004 Update (in process)
- Mayor’s 60% Recycling Plan (Waste Prevention and Recycling goals), 2003 Overview of Employee Knowledge and Attitudes
An initial assessment of conducted by the City Paper Waste Prevention team reports:
- There is a low level of awareness throughout City departments that conserving paper is a City goal.
- There is agreement among staff that the City wastes money by wasting paper.
- Although an ordinance has set the policy, only a very small percentage of printers and copiers in City offices are set to print double-sided by default.
- Employees support the City taking advantage of technological improvements that would significantly increase efficiency in paper use, time and money.
- With the dissolution of the City Print Shop, the City should include environmental standards in its new contracts with outside vendors.
Opportunities
The Mayor can invigorate this campaign by announcing support and issuing an Executive Order, With the Mayor’s leadership, this campaign will:
- Create a cohesive approach for meeting City directives and policies related to paper;
- Institutionalize practices to make paper use more efficient;
- Eliminate the need for individual departments to design separate paper initiatives;
- Leverage our efforts with the work of other jurisdictions to consolidate demand in order to lower prices of greener copier paper;
- Determine indicators to track performance toward goals.
- Provide a model for other cities and government agencies.
Appendix: Paper Waste Prevention Campaign Team
Project Leads:
Jetta Antonakos, SPU, Program Manager
Leila Wilke, Parks, Environmental Stewardship Manager
Shirli Axelrod, SPU, Senior Environmental Analyst
Project Coordinator:
Astrid Cerny, SPU, Intern
Committee Members:
Mindi Aitkin, Seattle Center, Office and Contract Services Assistant
Lynne Barker, DPD, Sustainable Development Planner
Rocky Brannan, DEA, Senior Buyer and Environmental Sustainability Lead
Michael Cox, OSE, Program Analyst
Janice Gedlund, SCL, Senior Environmental Analyst
Anne Hunstiger, SPUIT, Information Technology Analyst
Kate King, SDOT
Martin Kral, Parks, Printing Operations Supervisor
Vern McRae, Police, Quartermaster
Pat Miller, FFD, Warehousing Service Manager
Audrey Nakanishi, Municipal Courts, Facilities Bailiff
Larry Williamson, Library, Property and Procurement Manager
Rochelle Wyatt, DOIT, Technical Support Services Manager
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