Have computers and the internet created a paper free life?

There was much talk when computers first became common within the workplace and in our homes, that paper would become a thing of the past. While it is true that we live in an increasingly digital world somehow intuitively I know that the use of paper is alive and well. Naturally when I read an article in the New York Times online about a family who has made a conscious decision to go paperless, I was inspired.

Paper is used for so many products that we buy in fact according to paperrecycles.org paper and paperboard consumption reached 100.2 million tons in 2006. Of those 100.2 million tons only 53.4% was recovered and sent to recycling facilities. I don’t know about you but I feel a challenge coming on!

Here are some cool ways you and your family can try to reduce paper consumption at home:

• Switch from traditional newspaper to online newspapers…You get the same great news without the waste.

• Turn your unwanted or used newspaper and flyers into items that you use daily…check out the Keesta blog and see what one artist in Los Angeles has done.

• Make sure you fill out a DMA mail preference service form and get off of those pesky mailing lists…not only will you save yourself an annoyance you will be sure to save paper. You can also write “UNWANTED” or “REFUSED” across them and the postal service will take them back.

• Instead of printing information from your computer save a digital copy.• Before you recycle the paper you have only used one side of try storing them flat and reuse them for note/ scratch pads at home and in your office.

• Be sure that you are buying paper made from at least 70% recycled sources.

• Call the credit card company, catalogue or gym that keeps sending you unwanted mail and request to be taken off the list.

• Try switching from paper towels and paper napkins to fabric napkins for at the dinner table and microfiber or cotton towels for kitchen clean up.
Remember that reducing your paper waste only requires small changes to your daily routine…I don’t know about you but I’m going to get back to my online newspaper now!