If we do not close the loop by purchasing recycled copy paper, GreenDisk diskettes, and remanufactured toner cartridges, they go no where because there is no market for them. To continue to save money by avoiding sending such products to the landfill, we need to purchase products with recycled content , especially those designated by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Recycled products conserve resources.
Over 3 liters of oil and 1 kilogram of plastic are saved by the remanufacture of a single toner cartridge as opposed to a virgin one. Making an aluminum can of raw material requires 19 times the amount of energy required for a recycled aluminum can. These documents direct federal agencies and their contractors to reduce, reuse, recycle, and complete the loop by purchasing recycled products. Purchasing recycled products is also in our contract with the U.S. Department of Energy and a component of the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory's strategic objective of being recognized as the premier environmental laboratory. The Duplicating Shop purchased all the paper for publication and the copy machines, and staff had to purchase paper for their printers from Stores, which only carried the recycled version.