by Teri Lynn Herbert, Library, and Patricia J. Jerman, Sustainable Universities Initiative, School of the Environment, USC

Test results are in, and they're a money saver for MUSC departments that switch to using recycled paper in their photocopiers, fax machines and computer printers.

But does recycled paper work as well? Doesn't it jam the machine?

Back in late June, the MUSC Library and Learning Resource Center became the test site to see if recycled paper (made with 20 percent post-consumer fiber) could be used in photocopiers, fax machines and computer printers (both laser and inkjet) without any change in performance.

Twenty cartons of Springhill Recycled Relay DP paper were purchased. On July 1, four photocopiers, two fax machines, four laser printers and nine inkjet printers were loaded with the paper (white, 20-pound, letter-sized, 20 percent post-consumer fiber content).

Any problems, such as paper jams, misfeeds, and bad printing, were recorded for each machine. The trial extended for three months (100,000 sheets of paper), and then the logsheet entries were evaluated. No comments could be attributed to the use of the paper. The types of problems before the trial period were the same as during the trial period using the recycled paper. In fact, the records indicate there were fewer service calls during this period as compared to the previous three months.

Comments entered on the logsheets included: “Could you possibly encourage the other surrounding hospitals to participate (in using recycled paper)?” “Hooray for MUSC and the environment!” and “Can you get my department to do this also?”

Using recycled paper saves money, at a rate of $3.45 per carton of 10 reams in the library trial. As of July 1998, paper prices were:

• Springhill Recycled Relay DP paper $20.30/carton
• Williamette Xerographic DP Paper $23.75/carton
• IBM Multipurpose paper $26.75/carton

In three months, the library used 20 cartons, with a savings of $69, using the Springhill Recycled Relay DP paper over the Williamette Xerographic DP Paper. If the entire campus switched to recycled paper, the savings would considerably greater.

MUSC collects and recycles office paper, which saves landfill space. Buying recycled paper products creates a market for the paper MUSC recycles. It also saves natural resources, saves energy (it generally takes less energy to make recycled products), reduces pollution in air and water, saves money (it's less expensive to produce a recycled product), and creates more jobs than landfills or incinerators.

What can your department or office do to help?

Have your business manager order only recycled paper products. Look for the recycled logo next to those items in the catalogs. The Collins, Herald, Forms & Supply catalogs all note recycled content of products (state law allows payment of more than the low bid in order to purchase materials with recycled content, and state policy calls for an increase in the use of recycled content materials.).

The library's effort was a part of MUSC's overall participation in the Sustainable Universities Initiative. The initiative is a project sponsored by the state's three research universities to help students understand the interaction among economic, environmental and social factors, to reduce the schools' ecological footprints and to develop productive linkages with the surrounding community. Organizers hope to involve faculty from all disciplines, as well as administrators, facilty managers and others associated with institutional management.

Whenever possible, students will be involved in efforts to make campus operations more economically and ecologically efficient.

For more information about the Sustainable Universities Initiative, contact Michael Schmidt, Ph.D., at 792-9532 or E-mail schmidtm@musc.edu. Individuals can also call Trish Jerman at (803) 777-7760 or e-mail pjerman@environ.sc.edu. The initiative's website address is <http://www.sc.edu/sustainableu/index.html>

For more information about MUSC's Recycling Program or to order a recycling bin, contact Christine Risher von Kolnitz at 792-4066 or vonkolnc@musc.edu.