by becca morrison

Guest Writer

Did you know that of the approximately 38,000 pages printed at the ITC, only about 1,400 were made on recycled paper last month? In recorded estimates provided by Dan Lindh in ITC, the total printing in the Center for the month of September reached about 38,683 copies. Of the four printers there, one of them is a recycled paper printer. Members of the Environmental Stewardship Coalition wonder if students do not realize the printer is available or if they do not care enough to bother with it. The ESC wants to change both the ignorance and the nonchalance as soon as possible. Ben Hoff, the ESC's chair, voiced his strong wish to publicize and, through students' awareness, to create a bigger demand for 100% post consumer recycled content paper.

``The recycling paper industry is actually shutting down in some areas due to lack of demand,'' Hoff said. ``The demand obviously needs to go up for the industry to be stimulated and keep going.''

While the recycle process is a relative success in manufacturing goods such as cardboard, Hoff said that the desire for 100 percent post consumed paper just is not there. Some people may wonder which is worse; cutting down one more tree, which will be replaced, or using chemicals for the recycling process that then have to be dumped? Hoff said that recycling is still better for the environment.

``In the process of making regular paper, chlorine is used for bleaching the paper white,'' he said. ``Chlorine is harmful and produces toxic waste. But hydrogen peroxide is used to bleach the recycled paper. It's not nearly as toxic. Not even percentagely.

``On the other hand, if you cut down the trees, you destroy a natural ecosystem and try to make your own,'' he added. ``It basically becomes a tree farm. The diversity drops and it's ultimately not sustainable. Animals require a variety of plants, so with no variety of plants, the animal variety won't survive and you'll get a monoculture. It's all the same.''

For several years Calvin has been supplying 30 percent and 50 percent recycled paper, but this is the first year 100 percent has been offered. This needed change has come about through the ESC's efforts last year. Early in 2000, members of the ESC discussed the idea of changing Calvin's campus to recycled paper. They searched the web for ideas and discovered a useful guideline for converting a college campus to tree-free paper. Their newfound enthusiasm for the idea wavered, however, when they realized the magnitude of the process-- including financial demands-- ahead of Calvin if this was going to work. They grew demoralized and tossed the idea...in the recycle bin.

Later in the year they were attending a meeting and expressed to each other their dissatisfaction with the progress and effectiveness of the ESC. The juices started flowing and ideas began pouring out. The recycled paper topic came back up as a core issue of change. Again it was researched. They wondered and sought to find out how much paper was actually consumed and wasted on Calvin's campus.

They wrote a petition to change Calvin over to 100 percent recycled paper. The ESC researched the idea to the point of picking a prospective recycling company to get Calvin's paper. They supplied the name, address, and samples of this dependable, relatively cheap paper in the petition. Six hundred plus signatures from students approving the move were added to the petition. The ESC handed the petition over to faculty, but hit a dead end when the faculty didn't seem very interested in the idea. The goal-oriented group didn't stop however. They got a meeting together with Henry DeVries and President Byker to pursue the matter farther. One hundred people, some holding painted signs that read ``Reconsider!'', gathered on the lawn outside the meeting office.

Despite this, Hoff said the group was discouraged that ``nothing really happened.'' The idea stalemated in the minds of the ESC members, but last summer DeVries voiced his interest in their idea. His interest prompted a printer to be removed from an upstairs lab and relocated to the ITC. It is now loaded with 100 percent recycled paper. The Printing Services in the Spoelhof Center is now supplied with the same paper. The recycle option is posted on the front desk. Step one of the ESC's goals is completed.

``This is the beginning of what I hope will be a big change.'' DeVries said. ``It's the time for students to make an informed decision. This new idea will be tested for results, but students ultimately make the choice to change by using the recycled paper we now provide! Sacrifice may even be necessary.''

Even though options are being looked into, the fact is that 100 percent post consumer recycle content paper is more expensive. Right now, Calvin is paying double the amount for recycled paper that they do for the regular paper. Along with that, complaints have been issued that the recycled paper is of a lower grade than other paper. It's thinner and grainier and tends to get jammed in the printer. Hoff said that these temporary setbacks are just a part of the change process. The ESC plans to become more involved with the change as it stands now. New paper companies will be looked into and alternative ideas will be brought up. As it stands now, students may have to pay extra for this benefit.

``Better quality recycled paper is out there. It's just a matter of whether Calvin uses it or not.'' Hoff said.

Students interested in using the recycled paper should hit print. When the print preview comes up, hit the down arrow on the printer option. Highlight `Recycled Paper Printer'. Hit print.