Facts About Office Paper Waste

As a part of my project, I dug up some information about one of the many ways paper goes to waste. As I came across these statistics, I realised how little some people choose to care about the safety of their environment when they can make a change if they want to. Offices are littered with paper because of all the faxes, memos, post-it notes, junk mail etc. It's unimaginable how much paper offices waste everyday. So much could be done with this amount of paper given that it doesn't go to waste. Here are some outrageous facts about office paper waste.

1) Typically, a business office produces about 1.5 pounds of paper waste per employee each day.

2) If employers take the appropriate steps to eliminate paper waste from their waste stream, they can cut their waste bill by 50% or more.

3) For every ton of recycled paper, upto 17 trees can be saved.

4) The paper industry plays a significant role in contributing to greenhouse gas emissions - it ranks 4th. Also, it contributes to 9% of the manufacturing sector's carbon emissions.

5) The annual worth of the New York Times newspaper weighs around 250 pounds.

6) In order to print the Sunday edition of the New York Times, it takes around 75,000 trees.

7) With all the paper wasted per year, we could construct a 12-foot-high wall of paper from New York to California.

8) The average American attorney uses upto a ton of paper each year.

9) Recycling one ton of paper could save upto 682.5 gallons of oil.

10) American buyers receive 41 pounds of junk mail each year.

11) 40% of the solid mass in landfills is composed of paper waste.

12) More than 100 million trees are cut down each year to produce junk mail.

13) Paper usage is increasing by 20% every year, with the average office employee using 50 sheets of paper every year.

We really need to get our act together and use paper wisely. I think the government should pass laws and enforce them strongly to reduce this atrocious amount of paper that goes to waste every year. For example, they could set a limit as to how much paper a certain firm can waste annually. Businesses that violate this law should be severely penalised.

Facts About Water Scarcity

I have been doing some research on why water is getting scarce even though water covers 70% of the Earth's surface. The human body is composed of 65% water, a potato is around 80% water, a tomato is about 95% water. Needless to say, living things cannot survive without water - it's a NECESSITY. We all know water is a basic need for all living things but knowing that is not sufficient. We need to educate ourselves about the health effects of water scarcity, its impact on our daily lives and how it can hinder global development. I stumbled upon a very informative article published by the WHO (World Health Organisation) that states ten facts about water scarcity. Reading this article fortified my belief that water conservation is not an issue to be taken lightly.

Fact File

1) Places with a lot of rainfall may also be susceptible to water scarcity. Usage, distribution, conservation and quality of water determine whether or not demands of households, industries and the environment will be met.

2) One in three people in every continent is affected by water scarcity.

3) Almost a fifth of the world's population live in areas where water is physically scarce and almost a quarter of the population live in developing countries where water is scarce because of lack of infrastructure to retrieve water from rivers and aquifers.

4) Water scarcity forces people to depend on unreliable sources of drinking water. It also means they cannot bathe, clean their clothes properly.

5) Poor water quality can cause various types of diseases such as cholera, typhoid fever, dysentery, trachoma, plague and typhus among many others.

6) Water scarcity sometimes leads people to store water in their homes. This can provide a breeding environment for mosquitoes which are carriers of dengue fever, malaria and other diseases.

7) Water scarcity highlights the need for good water management which can reduce breeding grounds for insects such as mosquitoes and other water-borne diseases.

8) Water shortage has led farmers in poor urban and rural areas to use wastewater for their production which is unhygienic since wastewater can contain disease-causing organisms and chemicals.

9) Millennium Development Goal no.7, target 10 hopes to halve the no. of people without access to safe drinking water and sanitation by 2015. Water scarcity can prove to be a hindrance in reaching this goal.

10) Governments and many organisations are making it a priority to supply sufficient quality water to people. Individuals can contribute by learning how to conserve water and other resources in their daily lives.

Project Update

After seeing the amount of paper and water I waste, I have decided to turn my goal to reduce this waste into a project so that it keeps me motivated. So far I have made it a habit to take down notes of how many pieces of paper I use daily. I also take into account the number of paper towels I use every time I go to the bathroom and tissue papers I use from here and there. At the end of every week, I add them up which enables me to see my weekly progress. As I previously mentioned in my ''Ecological Footprint'' post, one of my objectives was to limit the duration of my showers to upto 20 minutes. For the past three weeks, I have been able to do so for the most part. I don't usually waste drinking water. I'm glad to say that I'm very economical about that. Comparatively, my paper usage has been greatly improved. Before I took on this project, my weekly paper waste was about 70.3 sq feet. As of now, it has come down to about 64 sq feet. I am proud of myself for changing my old habits to an extent but I know that I have a long way to go. I see this as the first step towards steering my lifestyle to a sustainable path.

Ecological Footprint

After completing the complex tables and forms, I have finally figured out my ecological footprint. I was shocked to find out it was 24.53 acres! I had expected it to be much smaller. I mean my lifestyle's pretty simple - I'm a student living in a room of about an area 150-200 sq. feet. But I have found out that I'm much more wasteful than I originally thought I was. Food waste, plastics, paper made up most of my trash. Styrofoam/packing took up little space in my trash. Plastics pile up in the form of straws, plastics bags from Bruin Cafe that I normally dispose of, lids of paper cups. Paper makes its way into my trash mainly in the form of flyers that I pick up from Bruinwalk, Daily Bruin newspapers, paper cups etc.

My average footprint is slightly above the average American's (around 24 acres), mainly because my transportation footprint was off the charts. My family is based in Dubai, UAE. So obviously I have no other option but to fly all the way there. For example, I flew to and fro once during winter break and then spring break again. This summer I'm going back home and I have to do the same thing all over again. Air travel is very uneconomical and expensive when it comes to oil and energy resources (A direct flight to Dubai is about 16 hours long.) However, it's not in my hands since I don't really have any other means of transportation. I don't own a car so I take the bus (which is more environment-friendly) whenever I go out with my floormates/friends if the place is not within walking-distance. These are some situations I can't help control. I must admit that I can however control my paper/plastic/styrofoam usage by becoming more economical. I have decided to pick up useless flyers and use re-usable mugs instead. I try to leave the lights off whenever I'm not in my room and I try not to leave the water running when I brush my teeth. I love long showers with hot water but after seeing my footprint results I have made up my mind against doing so. Hot water consumes a great amount of electricity and should be used only when absolutely necessary.

My short term goals - I plan to halve the amount of paper/plastics/food waste that go to trash per week. I also plan to use much less water during showers i.e. take a 20-minute shower instead of a 30-minute one.

My medium goal is to try and eat lower on the food chain. Even though I love meat, I have begun to cut it out of my daily diet completely. Sometimes I may indulge in Louisianian fried chicken but that's probably once in two weeks. I wish to spread knowledge about the know-hows of reducing one's footprint so more and more people on campus choose to live more sustainably.

My long-term goals include using the bicycle instead of taking the bus whenever possible. I plan to stay in the country during my short breaks instead of going back home. This is crucial since air travel contributes to most of my ecological footprint.

Visiting the McGrath Family Farm

So the trip to the McGrath family farm was an awesome firsthand experience that helped me see just how tough it is to grow fruits/vegetables organically. This farm, situated in the Ventura County in Camarillo, has been in existence for the past 4 generations. Unlike chemical farmers, organic farmers refrain from using chemical fertilizers which is why it takes much longer for organic products to fully grow. I realised that because of this opportunity cost (loss of time) among other factors, organic farmers charge more for their produce. The farm we visited was not only vast, but also very diverse in its plantation. Some flowering plants seen throughout the year are sunflowers, caspia, tuberose, to name a few. Wild flowers are planted to ensure pollinization. Raspberries, blackberries, tomatoes, green onions and sweet corn are just some outputs found in the McGrath farm. One of the most essential guidelines organic farmers follow is that they only grow vegetables/fruits that are in season. However, demand for some products are so high that they are grown all year round (e.g. 4 acres of land are devoted to growing strawberries, 17 acres used for lemons, lettuce, carrots.)

Part of the McGrath Family Farm seen from a distance

I was introduced to the Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) which serves to promote local agriculture. Basically, people in and around the community where the farm is located come together to pledge support for the growers. Consumers benefit from the produce while growers/entrepreneurs bear the risk. Merits of organic farming are highlighted in the society with the assistance of residents in the area. Unlike conventional farming, this type of farming consists of a higher degree of consumer involvement with the farmers which results in a better consumer-producer relationship. I personally think this is a great program to raise awareness about the advantages and disadvantages of organic and chemical farming respectively.

As we were walking around exploring the farm, I saw the cutest lamb, foal and rabbit there! The ducks were adorable too but their high-pitched quacks scared me off. It was during the end of the trip that I got to interact with them and to be honest, I just wanted to take the lamb home with me. The strawberries I ate (mostly sneakily) were one of its kind. To sum it all up, it was a great learning experience and the place just appealed to me aesthetically. If given another chance, I'd definitely go there without thinking twice.

Radical Simplicity

Honestly, when I envision my future 10 years from now, I expect to have completed grad school by then, hopefully I will be married with kids and occupied with a job that makes me happy. (Notice, I haven't mentioned any plans concerning sustainability.) I guess it is natural for human beings to prioritize their needs according to the material aspects of life as opposed to the immaterial things. I admire individuals who care enough about the environment to take a stand against the majority and lead their lives in their own environment-friendly way. This takes a lot of courage as one has to abandon a lot of luxuries in life to live sustainably, or try to. Unlike Jim Merkel, people with large families can't just give up a high-end job for the sake of environment's safety. However that doesn't nullify the fact that we can lead a supportable life without damaging nature. We should at least consider preserving our surroundings in our everyday lives, for example, eat meat only during one meal per day, turn the lights off whenever we leave our rooms etc.

I must say RS is in fact a riveting read. I used to think that impoverished people couldn't lead a sustainable way of living even if they wanted to. Merkel's description of Kerala changed my point of view when he mentioned that the inhabitants of Kerala ''organized and defeated a dam project that threatened an intact evergreen forest called Silent Valley.'' (It should be noted that Kerala is not an impoverished place; people just opt for a simpler life.) Merkel mentions his rendez-vous with a well-spoken man called Somadas who lives with his wife and two kids in a house without any furniture and appliances. Houses and shops are simple in this part of the world. I was shocked when Merkel revealed the price of his tailor-made shirt - 75 cents only! Thanks to local materials from the bioregion, products made in Kerala are bound to be cheap since no transportation energy is used up and no resources are used in advertisement and promotion. However, it's quite the opposite in countries like the USA, UK, Canada to name a few, which have been affected by globalisation. Clothes are far more expensive although stores that offer reasonable prices exist.

I have started considering eating less meat (it's a huge deal for me since I love meat) since it's much more environment-friendly but more importantly because I want to live longer! My material wants are pretty basic as I have previously mentioned. I don't want too much of anything since that's how we become corrupt. Merkel's list of questions concerning the non-material aspects of life helped me analyse my future needs (material aspects are not as important.) I found out that laughter and fun in life mean the most to me followed by fair relations with other species and other people. I realised that once in a while I must take some time out to check whether or not I care about others and I feel cared for. Although non-material aspects are significant, we should prioritize our material wants first. As a result, one will discover that some of our material ''needs'' are not really needs, but more like wants.

Although I admire Merkel's emphasis on simplicity and his courage to radically change his lifestyle, I feel that we can still contribute to the environment's well-being without being so drastic. In his chapter ''Sharing the Earth,'' Merkel lists four points we can follow in order to ''take less'' which are 1) Earn less, taking less of the available work 2)Consume less 3) Make wiser choices 4)Purchase local products. First of all, I don't think it's natural for a person to forgo a job with a high salary for a low-paying one. More money means more luxuries. As far as consuming less goes, we can always give up some things that are not required. For example, we can buy less frozen food/meat, that way less power will be used up by the refrigerator and opt for more vegetables instead. I guess it goes without saying that ''making wiser choices'' should be considered by everyone, even when it's not enforced. Without each individual changing his/her life drastically, we can definitely make an impact collectively. Purchasing local products is not always easy since there are some stores that do not give information about where the product has come from. However, it's a rare case. For example, Whole Foods sells fruits that are mostly from countries in South America. And even the ones that are locally grown are out of some people's budgets! It's a tricky situation but that's how it is. Those of us who have backyards can make use of them by planting seasonal vegetables and fruits.

In my eyes, Merkel's life choices are a bit too extreme for those who have families and those who do not have enough savings to pursue a life for about $5000 a year. I plan to have a family of my own one day and I don't think that would be the best route for me. Although I definitely want to lessen my negative environmental impact in future.

Trash Inventory

Keeping track of my trash backlog helped me realise a number of things. First of all, there aren't as many categories as I had expected. A lot of the stuff can be categorised as paper, plastic or food waste. It made me realise how easy it is to be wasteful! Living in the dorm (which does not provide students with a kitchen), I don't have the option to cook for myself even if I wanted to. By that I mean, if I were able to cook on my own, I would use my dishes over and over again. A lot of the times, I bring packaged food back to my room which causes a large amount of food boxes to accumulate. A drink is complementary with the food so needless to say, a lot of paper Pepsi cups and plastic straws pile up in my trash too.

Now that's just my situation. If we take into account the trash compiled by the thousands of students here...let's just say that's a whole lot. We can easily recycle these items (separately if possible) and save ourselves some more environmental damage. I have noticed that the lights in the DeNeve dining hall remain lit throughout the night which is very uneconomical. Also, UCLA students are served buffet which leads to some people taking more food than they are going to eat. I think we have begun to take the limited resources we have for granted since we don't pay for the plates/cups in restaurants. If we were in fact made to pay for them or offered an incentive to bring plastics/paper cups back so that they can be recycled, then we would be contributing a lot more to a sustainable living.

Secondly, after having observed the huge amounts of paper/plastic that go to waste each day that could be otherwise recycled, I have started to believe that eating in the dining halls more often is a better idea since at the end of a meal, all plates/glasses/cutlery are placed on the trays that are sent back to the kitchen. Although it should be noted that it is more convenient for a lot of students living on campus to take packaged food back to their rooms, perhaps because the location of the cafes is more convenient than that of the closest dining hall or because of a time conflict with their classes and the opening hours of the dining halls. In either case, students should be made to take their own plates/mugs to cafes so that packaging of food can be avoided. This way, even if people are unwilling to cooperate with recycling their trash, we will be forgoing far less potential recyclabes.

I used to think that my lifestyle was a fairly sustainable one until I was made to do this exercise (Thank God.) The numbers in the trash inventory spreadsheet staring back at me were kind of ridiculous. I have definitely made it a point to up my standard of living. Merkel divides ''global living'' into material and non-material aspects and lists questions we should ask ourselves so that we can identify our actual ''needs.'' This was an eye-opener for me as some of my answers were unexpected, even to myself. For example, when I asked myself the question - ''Does my employment (which relies upon material flows) restore the Earth, further damage the Earth, or is it neutral?'' - I instantly knew that the Earth was really worse off. (In this case, ''student'' was my occupation since I don't really work.) Taking into consideration the amount of paper I use in copy machines every week and all the stationery I buy every month, the Earth couldn't possibly be better off! Living equitably wasn't a concept I was familiar with until I came across ''Radical Simplicity.'' I think Merkel brought up three excellent types of equity that can help us analyse whether we are living equitably or not - interspecies, interhuman and intergenerational. When looked into deeply, it's very clear that we ought to be more cautious for the sake of other co-existing species, humans and generations to come.