Recycling Fact - How Much Tree Goes Into a Ream of Paper?

Thanks to Jeff Henrie from DOPL for providing us this information. We have often heard that we are saving trees by recycling paper, but what are the actual numbers involved? It depends on the type of paper and on whether the paper is coated (see full article at http://conservatree.org/learn/EnviroIssues/TreeStats.shtml); here are some numbers:

SOME TYPICAL CALCULATIONS

1 ton of uncoated virgin (non-recycled) printing and office paper uses 24 trees

1 ton of 100% virgin (non-recycled) newsprint uses 12 trees

A "pallet" of copier paper (20-lb. sheet weight, or 20#) contains 40 cartons and weighs 1 ton. Therefore,

1 carton (10 reams) of 100% virgin copier paper uses .6 trees

1 tree makes 16.67 reams of copy paper or 8,333.3 sheets

1 ream (500 sheets) uses 6% of a tree (and those add up quickly!)

1 ton of coated, higher-end virgin magazine paper (used for magazines like National Geographic and many others) uses a little more than 15 trees (15.36)

1 ton of coated, lower-end virgin magazine paper (used for newsmagazines and most catalogs) uses nearly 8 trees (7.68)

How do you calculate how many trees are saved by using recycled paper?

(1) Multiply the number of trees needed to make a ton of the kind of paper you're talking about (groundwood or freesheet), then

(2) multiply by the percent recycled content in the paper.

For example,

1 ton (40 cartons) of 30% postconsumer content copier paper saves 7.2 trees

1 ton of 50% postconsumer content copier paper saves 12 trees.

So what about E-readers like iPad and Kindle- are they saving trees? Here are couple of articles about their environmental impact:

Should You Ditch Your Books for an E-reader?
http://www.slate.com/articles/health_and_science/the_green_lantern/2010/08/should_you_ditch_your_books_for_an_ereader.html
How Green is My iPad?
http://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2010/04/04/opinion/04opchart.html

Homemade Laundry Detergent

Our Think! Energy Homemade Laundry Detergent/Potluck event was a huge success! A big thank you to those who came and spent your lunch time with us! We wanted especially to thank Laurie and Elissa from the National Energy Foundation who took time to participate and make some laundry soap with us.

Thank you also for sharing your do-it-yourself recipes for fabric softener/dryer sheets and granite cleaner. All recipes are below.

Carolyn’s Homemade Laundry Detergent Recipe:

2 cups finely grated soap (Fels Naphta, Zote, Ivory, Castile)
1 cup washing soda
1 cup Borax

Use 1-2 tablespoons/load

This recipe is safe to use in HD washing machines. You should be able to find all the ingredients at the laundry detergent aisle. Try Walmart, Target, Winco, Axe Hardware, Big Lots etc.

More homemade laundry detergent (both powder and liquid variations) and some tips: http://www.sunflower-soap.com/LSGuide1.pdf

Easy homemade fabric softener and dryer sheets can be found here:
http://www.diynatural.com/homemade-fabric-softener-dryer-sheets/

Granite Cleaner - Can be used for counter tops, appliances and other non-porous surfaces.

½ C Rubbing Alcohol
1 C hot water
10-15 drips Dawn dishwashing soap
Few drops of essential oils (for smell)

Pour all ingredients into a spray bottle and mix.

Congrats to our door prize winners: Ryan Johnson, Chenille Hutto, Kurtis Hughes, Teresa Reinders, Adele Bancroft, Liz Blaylock, Sheila Johnson, Su Chon, Louise McMillian, Eric Orton, and Mark Long.