Still reading a newspaper? Their prolonged decline in the U.S. is viewed as a calamity, but if newspapers can successfully convert to economically viable newssites, it might not be such a bad thing. The manufacture of paper – and this includes paper for magazines, catalogs, copiers, etc., as well — emits the fourth highest level of CO2 of all industries. Only the chemical industry, petroleum and coal products, and primary metals are worse offenders.
     Breaking down wood fiber to pulp requires a lot of energy. But it doesn’t stop there. Giant logs are cut and trucked to paper mills; rolls of paper weighing tons are carted to printing plants; fleets of trucks deliver to newsstands; and gas-burning vehicles may even take the newspapers and magazines to your front door. (Congratulations if your town still has enterprising paperboys on bicycles.)
     And if you do not have an active recycling program in your community, those same tons must be transported to landfills, because of the 62 million newspapers printed daily, we throw away 44 million.
     And then there are the trees, nature’s allies in our quest to sequester CO2. Vanity Fair told us a year ago that it takes 17 trees to make a ton of newsprint and that each edition of the Sunday New York Times chews up 62,860 trees.
     So, think about switching to reading your newspaper online.
     Then there are those magazines that pile up unread. Consider canceling subscriptions to those you do not regularly read with any thoroughness.
     Next, those unwanted catalogues that stuff the mailbox. When each arrives, make it your practice to call its 800 number and ask them to discontinue. Or, for a modest fee, an outfit like Shield of Green will do it for you, with some of their fee going to a mix of environmental and relief organizations.
     You’re not putting people out of work by saying “stop”. Unwanted catalogs are those you have no interest buying from. You’re saving trees and doing catalogers a favor by saving their money.      - Stephen Wilson