9,000 sheets on of paper per tree! A writer's lament!

When I was teaching, I learned that in Colonial times when they did not have enough paper, .......after they wrote across the paper horizontally, ...they then turned the paper 180 degrees and wrote across the lines they had written on. One needed to write very neatly, in order to be able to read the writings that were written on top of each other. Sometimes my school children did some writing exercises, and wrote letters to each other, ....but saved paper, by turning their letters and writing across their own writing. It was really fun. We really do not try to save our trees do we. walkgal Karen

I didn't know that about the trees produces that much paper. That's interesting and kind of tragic. But I do try to use up every inch of the paper so it won't be a total waste. And in the end it makes me feel a bit more comfortable knowing that I didn't use only half the paper. And you're right, writer's need to be more environmentally aware.

I have a box of paper under my desk here at home. It has all been printed on one side for my drafts and other stuff. I put the paper in the box to be printed on the other side when a fresh piece of paper is not necessarily needed. I have a box of used paper that is crinkled so it won't go through the printer. The kids use that to draw on and I also cut them up into note size pieces to use for grocery lists, notes to the family if I have gone out, etc. I recycle as much paper as I can. It is a shame so many trees are being lost because of this. We have to cut back on paper. I think the internet and emails has made a step in that direction.

This is good to know, I didn't know that one tree averaged to 9,000 sheets of paper. When you think about how many trees that are cut down each year. No matter where they are the trees are being used for paper for all over the world. I live in a town that has a tree plant and they make paper. When I was younger there were trees everywhere. Now that things are growing in the town the trees are being cut down for developments and other things. Then when you think of the amount of paper that people use everyday is way over the amount that one tree can produce. Do we really recycle when we can or when we need too. That is something to think about. Just rescently I have started using paper that I printed on an didn't throw away. So I said I have to use it instead of getting more blank paper. When it runs out then I will get more blank paper. Thanks for the info on the trees that was something that I didn't know.

This is one reason I like computers. Programs like Microsoft Word and WordPerfect allow you to edit and revise documents as many times as necessary before you actually print them. They also allow you to store those documents electronically without having to print them if you don't really need to. This saves a lot of paper. I remember the days before computers when everything was either hand written, or done by typewriter. We sure used a lot of paper back then. I wish more companies would go paperless. I know it is impossible for a business to go TOTALLY paperless, but with all the modern conveniences, there are ways to drastically reduce paper use. Paper is not the only thing that we need to find ways to conserve. We should all try to use less water, electricity, gas, and other things as well. Another thing we waste a lot of, especially here in the United States, is food. We should all try to live more conservatively... There are countless ways to save paper. One thing I have learned to do is to save the envelopes that credit card and other companies send with their bills. I pay most of my bills online, so I rarely use those envelopes that come in with the statements each month. I save the envelopes and use them for other things. I have a plastic file folder that I put them in. Even if they have windows in them, I can still reuse them. I use them to put deposits in the night-drop at the bank. I have even used them to mail things to other people. I cover up the windows (if there are any on the envelope) with address labels. Put a stamp on them, and off they go. This saves me money, because I don't have to buy as many envelopes, and it keeps the envelope I use from just being tossed in the garbage. This is just one thing I have learned to do to conserve our resources and save money.