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Recycled Copy Paper

According to one estimate, only about 9 percent of the copy paper on the U.S. market is made with recycled fibers. (Green Seal)

In Minnesota, purchasing recycled paper is a priority. The state's office supply contract has featured recycled copy paper for years.

Their experience with new recycled copy papers has been excellent. Recycled papers are virtually indistinguishable from their non-recycled counterparts, with similar performance, color and cost.

Federal standards and testing

The federal government has set high goals for buying recycled paper. Executive Orders issued by the President have recognized that the federal government can spur the development of recycled products by incorporating recycled content into its huge contracts. In the case of copy paper, required recycled content has increased from just 10% post-consumer content to a minimum of 30%.

The federal goverment is commited to buying recycled copy paper. The U.S. General Services Administration (GSA) made the decision to purchase and sell only postconsumer recycled-content copier paper to federal agencies. Copier paper accounts for over 28 percent of all the paper purchased by the federal government with approximately 10 million sheets being used every work hour. This effort has been hailed as a major step forward in efforts to "green" government purchasing.

Testing recycled copy papers

To ensure that there are quality products which met these goals, the federal government tests products for performance. The U.S. Government Printing Office (GPO) maintains a list of qualified high-speed recycled copy papers that met stringent specifications. Those specifications include a minimum of 30% post-consumer recycled fiber, being free of lint and fuzz, and having not more than one paper-caused jam per 5,000 continuous copies.

State of Minnesota

Minnesota has made recycled copy paper a priority purchase for public entities — state agencies, counties, cities, the Legislature, courts and school districts. Recycled copy paper with at least 10% post-consumer content is specified by state law. (Minn. Stat. § 16B.122) The Minnesota Department of Administration supports the federal standard of 30% post-consumer recycled paper, and strongly encourages state and local government purchasers to adopt the higher standard.

The Department of Administration and the state's Office Supply Connection (OSC) have offered recycled copy paper at competitive prices for years. In fact, recycled copy paper from OSC is actually less expensive than virgin paper; these papers meet or exceed the federal standard for postconsumer recycled content.

Recycled Copy Papers from Office Supply Connection Use these stock numbers when ordering recycled copy paper from the state's Office Supply Connection. Percentages reflect post-consumer recycled content.   Last updated December 2006

Cascades ReproPlusBrite 92 Bright (30% recycled) #1070 Letter size, white #1071 Legal size, white #1073 Letter size, 3-hole punched, white #1074 11" x 17", white

New Life DP 100 (100% recycled, PCF) #1080 Letter size, white

Domtar Colors 30% recycled Letter size, colors  #1013-1019 and #1021-1027 Legal size, colors  #1031-1037 and #1043-1049

Success Stories

Minnesota Department of Transportation

In the early 1980s, recycled papers were still in the development phase, and some state agencies in Minnesota had some trouble using the paper in their machines. Common complaints included excess amounts of paper dust (linting) and more frequent paper jams. As a result, some agencies stopped buying recycled paper.

As recycled papers have improved, many offices are giving recycled-content papers another try. The Minnesota Department of Transportation (Mn/DOT) is one such example. Mn/DOT had changed over to recycled paper in their laser printers and low-speed copiers, but chose to use non-recycled (virgin) paper in high-speed copiers like their Xerox DocuTech. In the summer of 1999, Mn/DOT re-examined this practice. They tested Union Camp's Great White recycled copy paper in their high-volume office equipment. A single machine was monitored over a 10-week period; nearly 120 cartons of recycled paper were run through the machine. Kay Tkachuck, Reprographics Unit Supervisor, says, "The copier using recycled paper continued to operate the same as the other machines still running virgin paper." As a result, all of the DocuTech machines now run recycled paper.

Recycling at Work (National Office Paper Recycling Project)

During the fall and winter of 1998, three major manufacturers of office equipment — Canon USA, Hewlett-Packard and Lexmark — evaluated the performance of three brands of 30% PC multipurpose recycled content paper. Combined with the tests by the U.S. GPO, over 2 million sheets were tested on various types and models of copiers, laser printers, and ink jet printers. Physical properties and performance were tested, including paper feeding, reliability, image quality, toner fixability, smoothness, and curl. The study showed that papers with 30% postconsumer content equivalent performance to virgin papers and papers that had less recycled content.

Paper handling: Proper care ensures performance

Paper jams are often unfairly blamed on the paper, but the performance of all copy papers will be affected by improper storage and handling. Here are some paper handling tips that will help prevent paper jams in your office printers and copiers.

• Fan paper before loading the copier to reduce static.
• Look for the arrow on the ream wrapper or package label. This indicates which side of the paper should face up when loaded into the copier or printer.
• Avoid storing paper on the floor or in humid areas. Keep paper in its ream wrapper until needed — the wrapper has a plastic moisture barrier layer to keep out humidity.
• Keep paper flat when it is not in a paper tray.

Additional resources on copy paper

• Green Seal is a nonprofit environmental labeling organization that awards the "Green Seal of Approval" to products that cause less harm to the environment than other similar products. Their Choose Green Report has featured recommended copy papers. The issues are provided here with permission.
  January 2000 (330K)  |  October 1998 (230K)
  
  
• The U.S. EPA has assembled an excellent website on federal Comprehensive Procurement Guidelines for recycled products. Visit the section on buying recycled paper.
  
  
• The Office of the Federal Environmental Executive website includes a great deal of information about procurement of recycled copier paper, including the decision by the General Services Administration (GSA) to stock and sell only recycled copier paper with 30% recycled content.
  
  
• The U.S. Government Printing Office maintains lists of recycled papers which qualify with Executive Order 13101. For the most current list of tested and qualified copy papers (JCP-065), contact Sylvia Subt at 202-512-0782 or email her at ssubt@gpo.gov.