10 Habits That Will Save Paper
Author: Laura Bissonette
Date: April 2001
Summary: 339 word tips on reducing paper useage for small offices
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TEN HABITS THAT WILL SAVE PAPER
1. USE TEMPLATES. Set up standard letters and forms and store on your
computer. Besides cutting down on the number of drafts printed out,
this will save valuable time in rewriting similar documents.
2. PREVIEW AND USE SPELLCHECK. If it isn't going out to a
customer, then go ahead and make corrections by hand.
3. USE FEWER WORDS. Try to fit everything you have to say onto one
page. This will also cut down on postage.
4. PRINT ONLY THE PAGES YOU NEED. Make sure employees know that they
have the option of choosing only certain pages instead of printing
all by default.
5. PRINT ADDRESSES DIRECTLY ON ENVELOPES. Most printers can produce
nice looking envelopes. This eliminates both the need for labels and
the time involved in peeling and sticking.
6. USE A ROUTING SLIP. Instead of making copies of memos and reports,
staple a list of readers' names to each. Cross off the names of
those
that don't have to read it, and have each person cross their name
off as they read it. This also works well with magazines and flyers
that come in. One subscription per office should be enough.
7. PREVENT PAPER JAMS. Schedule routine maintenance on printers and
copiers. Make sure you put the paper in properly. Read the manuals
for suggestions that will make your equipment operate at its best.
8. USE BOTH SIDES. Keep a box near every desk for reusable paper and
encourage all employees to contribute to it and to use it when
possible.
9. MAKE SCRATCH PADS. Just cut paper into halves or quarters and
staple or leave loose in a container slightly larger than the papers.
10. REUSE ENVELOPES AND FILE FOLDERS. After folders have been written
on both sides, labels can be applied over top and renamed again. As
well as using envelopes to store coupons, bills, money and all kinds
of small things, they can be cut into strips and used like elastic
bands for keeping papers grouped together inside file folders.
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Laura Bissonette is the owner of A1 Priorities. "Helping Busy
People Get Organized." For a ton of organizing ideas see
www.a1priorities.com.