Source: eurekarecycling.org
Published: May 3, 2017
Every spring and fall, Eureka Recycling coordinates a buying cooperative that allows individuals, businesses, and organizations in the Twin Cities area to purchase recycled paper and compostable products at a reduced cost. By combining smaller orders, we get a bulk discount from the supplier and pass the savings on to you. And, we do all the research for you! We’ve sifted through information on recycled content, chlorine bleaching, and various certifications, so we are sure that the paper and products we offer are the best choices for the environment.
About the Paper
We offer the best quality, highest postconsumer content available—which for most of our paper is 100% postconsumer recycled content. Continuing to buy paper with the highest post-consumer content available shows manufacturers that “closing the loop” through paper recycling is important to you as a consumer because it benefits our communities and the environment. Participating in the Recycled Paper Co-op shows your commitment to these values and helps illustrate the continued demand for higher postconsumer content. Thank you!
100% Post-consumer Recycled Content
Paper made from 100% postconsumer waste is produced entirely from paper that comes directly out of someone’s recycling bin. Using postconsumer recycled paper helps eliminate the need for harvesting more virgin materials, and closes the recycling loop by increasing demand for the paper we recycle. Paper that comes from paper, not new trees.
Process Chlorine-Free
All the paper we offer is process chlorine-free (PCF) from start to finish. Whitening paper without the use of chlorine or chlorine compounds eliminates the discharge of dioxin; a potent, cancer-causing gas, as well as other pollutants that contaminate water.
High Quality
We realize that some people have concerns about the performance of recycled paper in copiers and printers, and we want you to know that postconsumer recycled content paper performs as well as virgin paper. In fact, Eureka Recycling and our co-op partners have purchased and successfully used over 22 million sheets of 100% postconsumer recycled paper in the last five years!
See our Buy Recycled Paper Fact Sheet for more details on the benefits of purchasing postconsumer recycled paper.
About the Compostable Products
This Fall we are also offering BPI-certified compostable products: plates, bowls, utensils, hot cups, cold cups and bags. As more and more people in the Twin Cities area have access to commercial-scale composting through collection or drop-off sites, we are seeing many products on the shelves making claims to be compostable, bio-degradable, “green”, etc. Unfortunately, there is not much oversight to these claims and not all are truly compostable. Purchasing through Eureka’s Co-op ensures that the plates, utensils, and cups that you are putting in your compost are truly turning back into dirt*. Of course reusable is always best but if that’s not an option and you are planning to compost at your upcoming graduation parties, family picnics, and small summer events, these products are a good alternative, and at a budget-friendly price.
Compostable products are made out of plant-based materials that have been designed for commercial-scale composting facilities. So, they won’t break down in your backyard bin (at least not for a LONG, long time). Some of the cups and cutlery look a lot like plastic, but everything for sale through the Co-op has been tested and certified that it will indeed breakdown and turn back into dirt.
*It’s important to note that the real environmental benefit these products offer is realized only when they are composted (We’re not certain they are much better than any other disposable items if they are sent to an incinerator or landfill in terms of their environmental and health impacts).
Prices
We work to help small organizations purchase the most affordable, highest-quality, post-consumer recycled paper and BPI-certified compostable products. We get a bulk discount from the supplier and pass the savings onto you. Our prices are some of the best available for 100% post-consumer recycled copy paper. Some organizations have even found that it is comparable to virgin paper.
Ordering Instructions: Online Store
Check back next spring for the dates of the next Zero Waste Buying Co-op. Click here for the prices for the Spring 2017 Co-op. We anticipate similar pricing for Fall 2017.
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