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Janitorial Paper Supplies
Did you know that the average human grabs exactly 3 paper towels to dry their hands after they visit the restroom? We’re not kidding – check it out. Just try not to stare.
In fact at many workplaces, paper towels are the highest volume waste material produced in kitchen, restroom, maintenance shop, and clean-up areas. Paper towels, paper napkins, toilet tissue and facial tissue combined represent a huge volume of wastepaper that gets discarded and can never be recovered. Most of us never think about where this wastepaper will end up nor the environmental concerns associated with its manufacturer and disposal. However, simple solutions exist for making positive choices in this area.
Purchasing recycled content paper products can save energy, water, and trees; reduce air, water, and land pollution; and create markets for papers collected in local office and community recycling programs. Manufacturers now offer these products unbleached or bleached with chlorine-free processes, which prevents dioxins, an extremely potent toxin, from being formed and released into the environment.
Environmental and Human Health Benefits
Recycled Content: By purchasing recycled-content paper towels, you help keep recyclable paper out of landfills and incinerators. Manufacturing recycled-content paper towels uses considerably less energy and produces less pollution than manufacturing paper towels from freshly cut trees.
Less Hazardous: Buy chlorine-free paper products to reduce pollution. Choose paper labeled as "processed chlorine-free" (PCF) to reduce emissions of dioxin, a highly toxic chemical, generated during the paper bleaching process. Dioxin poses a significant environmental threat as it persists in the environment, builds up in the tissue of humans and wildlife, and is poisonous.
Regulations and Guidelines
In 1991, City Staff developed a Recycled Products Procurement Policy to complement the City’s recycling program. This is an administrative policy of the City’s Finance Department developed at the request of City Council. The policy requires the following:
· Whenever practicable*, products should be purchased which contain in order of preference:
1.) the highest percentage of post‑consumer recovered material available in the marketplace; and
2.) the highest percentage of pre‑consumer recovered material available in the marketplace.
* “Whenever practicable” means a) the recycled products can perform the function intended at least as well as a product produced from only virgin material, and b) the cost of the recycled product reasonably approximates the cost of the product produced from only virgin materials.
Performance
Today’s recycled content paper towels, paper napkins, toilet tissue, and facial tissue perform very well for their intended use. These products are for one time use anyway and their useful life is typically less than 20 seconds.
Cost
The cost of recycled content products is comparable to virgin tree fiber paper products. Depending on certain variables, it can cost slightly more or slightly less, especially when buying unbleached or natural paper products.
Specifications
The current gold standard is to purchase products certified by Green Seal or Ecologo. These products meet strict specifications covering recycled content, bleaching, packaging, dispensing units and more.
At a minimum, “post-consumer recycled” content should equal or exceed that established by U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and the State of California:
· Paper towels 40% post-consumer content
· Bathroom tissue 20% post-consumer content
· Paper napkins 30% post-consumer content
· Facial tissue 10% post-consumer content
Higher percentages of pre and post-consumer recycled content are available and desirable.
Buying unbleached or natural looking paper products is best. If white paper is absolutely required due to complaints from people who absolutely must have bleached white paper products, chose products that are processed chlorine free (PCF).
Look for minimal packaging and/or products sold in bulk. Products should be packaged in materials that are recycled and recyclable.
Vendors and Availability
The following vendors carry recycled content janitorial supplies, such as paper towels and napkins, toilet tissue and facial tissue. Contact your supplier or one of the following vendors for the most current information available.
Bay West
(800) 723 0001
B & L Mastercare
909-923-0061
http://www.bandlmastercare.com/
Office Max Solutions
800-542-4524
http://www.officemaxsolutions.com/index.shtml
Clean Source
800-644-1382
Corporate Express
818-678-4027
http://www.corporateexpress.com/
Gale Supply Company
310-477-6591
http://www.galesupplyco.com/index.html
Grainger
Hillyard – The Cleaning Resource
800-464-5927
Kirk Xpedx – Packaging & Facility Supplies
(800) 468-0204; 562-803-0550
Office Depot
800-685-8800
The Real Earth Environmental Company
310-457-6331
Unisource Maintenance Supply Systems
310-532-4800
(800) 767-5677
http://www.unisourcelink.com/index.asp
Note: Visit the following website for retailers of recycled content products http://www.nrdc.org/land/forests/gtissue.asp
Sample of Performance Measures from the GBC Program Checklist
· Select products with the least packaging and/or which have easily recyclable packaging
· Purchase recycled content toilet paper, tissues and towels
· Use unbleached and/or chlorine free paper products
Resources and Websites
The Alameda County Waste Management Authority, located in the Bay Area, has put together and excellent fact sheet on janitorial paper supplies. In fact, some of the content and inspiration for this information sheet came from theirs. Thanks Alameda County.
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