Being Green in 2013: Week 13

Recycled School Supplies

Start out the semester a green wolverine!

So you stepped on the M and now you're done for... you're going to fail your next Blue Book exam! Well what if we told you you never have to take a Blue Book exam again? Head on over to Ulrich's and buy yourself a Green Book instead! U-M students can also get free Green Books from the Alumni Association. Made with 30 percent post-consumer recycled paper content, Green Books are one example of school supplies made from recycled materials. Maybe, just maybe, the U-M Dept. of Myth Enforcement (or whoever deals with that stuff...) will cut you some slack and pass you for using recycled school supplies!

You can find school supplies made with recycled content at all major school and office supply retailers. Recycled notebooks come in anywhere from 30 to 95 percent post-consumer recycled content, and many are made from 100 percent recycled materials (including both pre- and post-consumer waste). Other products including printer paper, Post-It notes, and even calculators can also be found with recycled content.

There are recycled options for pens and pencils as well. Pilot brand's B2P "Bottle-2-Pen" is the first pen made from recycled plastic bottles and contains 89.9 percent post-consumer plastic. Shepenco is the maker of Newsprencil-- a pencil made from 75 percent recycled newspaper and TreeSmart makes pencils from 100 percent recycled newspaper. Cardboard pens are also a popular options and some brands, including Logomark, are made from 100 percent post-consumer recycled material.

Ever wondered what to do with your writing utensils once they run out of ink? Recycle Write!, a program of U-M Recycling and Procurement Services, allows U-M students, faculty, and staff to dispose of pens, pencils, and markers in an environmentally responsible way. Send or bring your recycled instruments to Recycle Write!, Plant Building & Grounds Services, 109 E. Madison, Campus Zip 2993. Click here for more information on the Recycle Write! program.

Responsible waste disposal is extremely important, but is not where recycling ends. Close the loop and keep the cycle going by purchasing recycled content materials!