SUMMARY:
It is nearly impossible to look at all paper purchases due to purchasing methods, but paper purchased for copiers and public printers (Copy Paper) and paper purchased by the Reprographics department is easily trackable and can be used as an indicator. Copy Paper is calculated in cases of 8 1/2" X 11" sheets. Reprographics paper is purchased in many different sizes, but standardized to 8 1/2" X 11" for these tracking purposes.
Paper use increasing
According to paper purchasing records, paper use in copiers and printers (from now on referred to as "White Paper") and paper used at Reprographics has increased annually for the past few years by about 15% to 16%. Counter-records from departmental copiers show decreasing rates of annual increase beginning at 24% between 93-94 and 94-95, and dropping to a 9% increase in 96-97. The majority of the campus-wide increase can be attributed to the White Paper, as opposed to Reprographics paper.
Per person paper use
The size of the College community can account for some of the increase in paper use. However, it does not account for all of it. When considered on a per-person basis, the paper used by Reprographics has held steady at about 1/3 of a case per person on campus. The copy/computer paper has increased from about 1/3 of a case per person on campus in 94-95 to nearly 1/2 of a case per person on campus in 96-97.
Recycled Paper
On a positive note, the standard paper used in copiers and printers on campus is at least 10% post-consumer recycled. Much of the paper used by Reprographics also has post-consumer recycled content. Unfortunately, the Hammermill Unity DP paper, which was 100% recycled and unbleached, has been discontinued. The college is seeking a substitute at this time that will be either non-chlorine bleached and/or of a high recycled content.
Photocopiers
The College rents photocopiers for use on campus. We currently have 52 office copiers. Of the 52 copiers, 27 are capable of automatic duplexing. (models 1080, 2050, 3050, 4050, 4210, 4233, 5350, and 5420) Nineteen are smaller copiers that will only duplex if the paper is hand-fed. (models 2010 and 3170) These copiers are located in areas with low use, such as the Residential Life office, Le Chateau, Gifford Annex, and Wright Theatre, and are used because they are less expensive to rent than the larger copiers. Users in these areas have the choice of hand-feeding to double-side copy or sending orders to Reprographics, which is often cheaper. Normally departmental copies are 5 cents each while Reprographics copies can be as low as 3 cents each.
Below is a chart of the ratio of duplexing and manual-only copiers for the past 4 years. On average, about 60% of the copiers have been capable of automatic duplexing. Many of these machines will be replaced by June 1998 with models that are capable of double-siding.
We also have 5 public use copiers (3 in Starr Library, 1 in the Science Center Library, and 1 in the Music Library.) These are not capable of automatic double-siding and charge 10 cents per copy.
WHITE PAPER TYPE AND RECYCLED CONTENT:
| Boise Cascade Aspen Xerographic |
20% Post Consumer |
| Union Camp Great White |
25% Post Consumer |
| Hammermill |
10% Post Consumer / 40% Pre Consumer |
PURCHASING RECORDS OF PAPER FOR COPIERS & PRINTERS ("WHITE PAPER") AND REPROGRAPHICS:
| Fiscal Year |
Cases White Paper |
Cases Repro Paper |
Total Cases |
% Increase |
|---|
| 93-94 |
830 |
1025.13 |
1855.13 |
| 94-95 |
1,010 |
1080.16 |
2090.16 |
12.67% |
| 95-96 |
1,247 |
1038.77 |
2285.77 |
9.36% |
| 96-97 |
1,428 |
1113.61 |
2541.61 |
11.19% |
| Fiscal Year |
Reprographics Envelopes |
|---|
| 93-94 |
1,501,375 |
| 94-95 |
1,532,100 |
| 95-96 |
1,056,100 |
| 96-97 |
1,125,500 |
| Fiscal Year |
Per Person Cases White Paper |
Per Person Cases Repro Paper |
Total Cases Per Person |
% Increase |
|---|
| 93-94 |
| 94-95 |
0.35 |
0.37 |
0.72 |
| 95-96 |
0.41 |
0.34 |
0.75 |
4.74% |
| 96-97 |
0.46 |
0.36 |
0.83 |
9.72% |
DEPARTMENTAL COPIERS:
| YEAR |
AUTOMATIC DUPLEXING COPIERS |
MANUAL-ONLY DUPLEXING COPIERS |
% DUPLEXING |
|---|
| 93-94 |
27 |
19 |
58.70% |
| 94-95 |
34 |
16 |
68.00% |
| 95-96 |
33 |
16 |
67.35% |
| 96-97 |
33 |
19 |
63.46% |
| YEAR |
TOTAL COPIES |
% INCREASE |
|---|
| 93-94 |
2,341,816 |
| 94-95 |
2,909,409 |
24.24% |
| 95-96 |
3,304,535 |
13.58% |
| 96-97 |
3,598,377 |
8.89% |
| YEAR |
COPIES PER FAC/STAFF POPULATION |
% INCREASE |
|---|
| 94-95 |
3,208 |
| 95-96 |
3,308 |
3.12% |
| 96-97 |
3,573 |
8.03% |
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. Continue use of recycled paper. The College should continue to support recycling efforts by purchasing recycled content paper when possible. A substitute low grade paper to take the place of Hammermill DP should be identified that has a high recycled content and/or is unbleached.
2. Address rising public paper use. It is obvious that changes in technology and paper policies have resulted in dramatic increases in paper consumption at Middlebury. Education, incentives and disincentives should be employed to turn this trend of wasteful behavior around. It may be time to begin charging a per-sheet fee in the public computer labs.
3. Convert copiers to standard duplexing option. The College saves money on the cost of smaller copiers that do not automatically duplex. However, it is much less likely that people will take the time to duplex manually. By converting these copiers to models that duplex, the college will probably spend more on the copier rentals, but save money spent on paper. Having this option more easily available will also send a message that the College is interested in reducing paper use and will facilitate efforts to address the rising use of paper on campus. Copiers for public use should have a double siding option as well.
4. Standardize collection of paper use data. The data for this chapter were extremely difficult to compile. Reprographics compiles data based on calendar year, while White Paper purchases are compiled by fiscal year. As the majority of data on campus is collected according to fiscal year, perhaps Reprographics should consider moving towards that method. Counter-measurements from departmental copiers were once compiled monthly, but this ceased in 95-96. It was difficult to piece together the counts from old records and tracking would be greatly facilitated by reinstating the regular compilation of these data.
SOURCES:
Scott Stone - Reprographics
Bobby Preseau - Receiving
Gail Smith - Purchasing
Betty Anderson - Operations
COMPILED BY:
Jennifer Hazen
(NOTE: Data from Reprographics were in annual year format and were divided to match with fiscal year format of other data. Some fine points may be lost in the translation, but all data were included.)