Published by the MIT News Office at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Mass.

Program Is Now Institute Wide

RECYCLING REVISITED
Program Now Institute Wide

Physical Plant's recycling program for white paper has grown from the 
initial pilot program begun last April to an Institute-wide effort since 
October that's saving trees and money. 

"We're collecting between 10 and 15 tons of paper a month," said John C. 
Berlinguet, superintendent of support services and building maintenance 
in Physical Plant and coordinator of the recycling program. 

He noted that the Institute is saving an average $100 per ton of paper 
collected, minus minor costs incurred. That sum includes money saved in 
dumping fees and money paid to MIT by the recycling companies for our 
paper. Every ton of recycled paper also saves about 17 trees, three 
cubic yards of landfill space and 4,200 KWH of electricity (enough to 
heat your home for half a year).

Mr. Berlinguet reports that participation in the program is high. "Our 
building services people tell me that the vast majority of people are 
cooperating at separating paper at the source--at their desks, or Xerox 
machines," he said. "We're even getting calls from people asking for 
additional [recycling] wastebaskets." (If you need extra wastebaskets, 
tell your department's administrative officer. He or she can put in a 
request to your building's head custodian.)

In addition, we are now buying back recycled paper. Copier paper made 
from recycled material is available from the Office of Lab Supply. "We 
are selling it, and it's going very well," said Diane J. Shea, manager 
of purchasing at the office. "We received many requests for recycled 
paper. That's why we brought it in in November 1989," she said. Demand 
has increased steadily since. "Every time we reorder it's for a larger 
amount," Ms. Shea said. The office is currently selling about 74 boxes a 
month--a box contains 10 reams of paper.

Ms. Shea notes that recycled paper is more expensive, "but only by a 
couple of dollars per case." Regular copier paper costs $30.10 per box; 
recycled paper $33.40. In both cases, "the more you buy, the cheaper it 
is," Ms. Shea said. Elizabeth Thomson