All News Releases By Date

EPA Grant to Spur Nevada, Arizona Use of Recycled Paper

Release Date: 11/15/2002
Contact Information: Wendy Chavez, Press Office, 415/947-4248

Funding Helps Promote America Recycles Day

     
     SAN FRANCISCO   The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently gave a $25,000 grant to a San Diego-based recycling cooperative to encourage organizations, businesses and municipalities in Nevada and Arizona to increase their use of recycled paper.

    Today's announcement coincides with America Recycles Day, a day in which millions of people will learn about recycling and will commit to increasing recycling activities and  purchasing more products made from recycled  materials.   More than 800 America Recycles Day events are expected to take place across the nation.

     The Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative will use the funding to expand a program it has targeted California entities for the past four years, with assistance from EPA funding.

     "The Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative has devised a great program that allows business to help green the economy without going in the red," said Jeff Scott, division director from the Waste Division in the EPA's Pacific Southwest Office in San Francisco.  "This is a great way we can support and call attention to America Recycles Day by funding on-the- ground projects with proven track records of success."

     The cooperative works to provide recycled paper at prices that meet or beat an organization's existing price for virgin fiber paper.  The overall volume that the co-op represents has resulted in reduced prices for 30 percent postconsumer recycled paper.  Even though co-op members are in different locations and aren't necessarily buying in bulk, the distributor has still agreed to adhere to a pricing schedule that makes it possible to buy recycled without paying more.

     Recycled paper represents about 9 percent of the printing and writing paper market. Nearly half the trees in North America go to paper making.  The Department of Conservation estimates that for every ton of 30 percent postconsumer paper purchased, eight full grown trees are saved.  

                The Process

Interested parties should contact the Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative to discuss volume, delivery and pricing.  Once a pricing schedule is established, the cooperative submits a first order and then gives the member a purchasing number.  This number guarantees the co-op's discount pricing and is used to buy paper direct through the supplier for all future orders.

     For more information on this issue, call the Recycled Products Purchasing Cooperative at (760)436-7986 or visit the web site at: "http://www.recycledproducts.org"

               Background on America Recycles Day

     To find out about America Recycles Day events in your community, to pledge online, or for more information about the campaign, please visit the Web site at www.americarecyclesday.org

     America Recycles Day, Inc. is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization, which sponsors this annual campaign.  America Recycles Day, Inc. is sponsored by Alcan Aluminum Corporation, 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance, Environmental Defense, Ford Motor Company, The Home Depot, National Recycling Coalition, National Soft Drink Association, Office of the Federal Environmental Executive, Recycling Alliance of Texas, Solid Waste Association of North America, Staples, U.S. Conference of Mayors, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and Waste Management / Recycle America, Inc.