Paper is often the major contributor to waste in the office, and it’s the easiest to recycle. The university typically consumes between 54 and 60 million sheets of paper per annum. That’s a lot of paper. Last year IT implemented a new printing management system and already the results are visible.

READ MORE ABOUT IT’s GREEN PRINTING INITIATIVE

A few simple measures can make a huge difference in paper usage in your office.

1. Don’t print all your emails. There’s no need to print and file stacks of paper to read later. Rather organise your emails in folders and delete them when read. Consider including a “think before you print” message to your email signature to remind people.

2.  E-signing software allows you to email proposals, invoices and contracts to clients so that they can virtually and securely sign them, which vastly reduces the need for printed contracts.

3. If your printer isn’t set up to print 2 pages per sheet or print on both sides of the paper, follow these simple instructions to halve your office printing. Go to Print, click on Properties, and choose Page layout: 2 pages per sheet OR go to Print, click on Properties, click on Finishing and choose Print Style: 2-sided printing.

4. To use even less paper, change the margins on your word documents for more words on a page. Click on File, and choose Page set up and change the margins to 2 cm.

5. Buy recycled paper or paper from FSC certified sources. The FSC label ensure that the paper comes from responsible sources.

6. Put bins or boxes which are clearly signed in areas where people can deposit their paper, especially next to printers and copiers. Mondi offers a paper pick up in many areas. Ronnie_Recycler@mpsa.co.za. Visit www.e-waste.org.za to learn how to recycle your office’s e-waste.Die universiteit gebruik ongeveer tussen 54 en 60 miljoen velle papier per jaar. Nogal heelwat papier, né? Informasietegnologie het verlede jaar `n nuwe drukkersbestuursisteem implimenteer en die positiewe resultate is reeds duidelik sigbaar.

LEES MEER OOR IT SE GROEN DRUKINISIATIEF

`n Paar eenvoudige maatreëls kan `n merkbare verskil maak aan papiergebruik in jou kantoor.

1. Moenie jou e-posse druk nie. Daar is geen nut daarin om al jou e-posse te druk vir rekorddoeleindes of om later te lees nie.  Organiseer eerder jou e-pos leêrs beter en lees dit later as jy nie tyd het nie. Oorweeg dit om `n “dink voor jy druk” -boodskap onderaan jou e-pos te sit om mense te herinner.

2.  E-teken sagteware laat jou toe om aanbiedings, rekeninge en kontrakte aan kliënte te e-pos sodat hulle dit virtueel en sekuur kan teken. Hiermee word die  behoefte vir gedrukte dokumentasie geweldig verminder.

3. Indien jou drukker nie reeds opgestel is om 2 bladsye per vel of beide kante te druk nie, volg die volgende eenvoudige instruksies om jou papierverbruik te halveer. Gaan na “Print”, kliek op “Properties” en kies “Page layout: 2 pages per sheet” of gaan na “Print”, kliek op “Properties”, kliek op “Finishing” en kies “Print Style: 2-sided printing”.

4. Om selfs nog minder papier te gebruik, verander die kantlyne in jou Worddokumente om meer op `n bladsy in te pas. Kliek op “File”, kies “Page set up” en verander die kantlyne na 2 cm.

5. Koop herwinde papier of papier van FSC-gesertifiseerde oorsprong. Die FSC-etiket verseker dat die papier van verantwoordelike verskaffers kom.

6. Plaas duidelik gemerkte houers in areas waar mense hulle papier kan plaas – spesifiek langs drukkers en kopieerders. Mondi bied `n papieropteldiens in verskeie areas. Kontak hulle by Ronnie_Recycler@mpsa.co.za. Besoek www.e-waste.org.za vir meer inligting oor herwinning vir die kantoor.