Everyone needs to do their part to save paper

In the article “Use of paper on campus evens out,” published in University Chronicle on Monday, September 7, 2009, Kyle Nelson discusses an important issue of paper waste at St. Cloud State University (SCSU).

SCSU, as well as other educational institutions, look for an efficient use of paper and solutions to effective recycling.

In the struggle to save money and reduce pollution, people forget about the small steps that we all can take to come up with the great outcome that would benefit the community as a whole.

With today’s technological advances, it is not understandable why we still use paper. Faculty and students of colleges are equipped with e-mail accounts, cell phones, Facebook profiles, websites, and learning programs.

Despite the ideal goal of these “technological miracles,” we still use tons of paper every year.

I sadly realize that most of the professors at SCSU do not use the D2L program, which provides an opportunity to store class-material, submit papers, access class lists, and allow written class discussions.

Instead of convenient and electronic access to the class material, we all carry stacks of unorganized papers. Campus advertising with flyers and brochures can be easily substituted with e-mail notifications or social network communications.

Workshops and individual recycling programs should be introduced to the campus community to create awareness and stimulate proactive behavior.

For example, the University of Minnesota came up with a program that requires students to use recycling bins instead of general garbage in all classrooms, cafeterias, and dormitories.

If we all take action and substitute paper with technological communication, the waste of paper and pollution will decrease as a problem. SCSU and the local community can definitely find great benefits from rethinking, reacting and recycling.