Britain's trillion-page mountain stacks up
Dreams of the paperless = office dashed=20 as more sheets head for the bin
- The=20 Observer,
![3D""=20](3D"http://static.guim.co.uk/static/90688/common/images/icon_font.gif"=)
The latest threat to the planet is not plastic bags or tin cans - = it's the=20 annual waste mountain of a trillion sheets of paper churned out by = office=20 printers only to be binned within hours, a study has found.
Predictions of the paperless office - first made by Business Week = magazine in=20 a 1975 article on the 'Office of the Future' - have proved greatly = exaggerated.=20 Although an estimated 9 trillion pages a year are confined to computer = screens,=20 the number of printed pages stands at between 2.5 and 2.8 trillion = worldwide and=20 is predicted to grow over the next 10 years.
Behavioural research for the printer manufacturer Xerox found office = workers=20 throw away 45 per cent of everything they print within a day, equivalent = to more=20 than a trillion pages every year. The most popular 'one-time use' = examples are=20 daily assignments, drafts and emails. Others include cover sheets, = e-tickets for=20 flights and directions printed in lieu of maps.
Paul Smith, a laboratory manager at Xerox's research centre in = Toronto,=20 Canada, said: 'Some people use what they've printed only for a minute. A = cover=20 page on a network printer job only survives maybe 30 seconds: you just = recognise=20 your job and then you recycle it.
'You might only take an email to a meeting and then recycle it. Even = if you=20 want to use it a few days later, the study showed that people still = recycle it=20 because they don't want to have to go and look for that same printout. = You've=20 already stored it electronically and you know where you've put it, so = you just=20 print it again.'
A separate study, to be published this week, discloses that British = offices=20 print up to 120 billion pieces of paper every year, the equivalent of a = paper=20 mountain more than 8,000 miles high. This survey, for Fujitsu Siemens = Computers,=20 found the average British office worker prints 22 pages every working = day. More=20 than half admitted to having printed the same document several times by = mistake.=20 Two in five have picked up someone else's printout by mistake and 8 per = cent=20 admit to printing emails before they've even read them.
The YouGov poll of 2,011 adults shows that fewer than half of office = staff=20 say they are careful about printing documents and avoid printing hard = copies=20 unless absolutely necessary. A quarter admit not giving much thought to = printing=20 documents and a further 13 per cent do not worry about how many = documents they=20 print as long as they recycle them.
Only 16 per cent of workers said that their company emails carry a = footnote=20 asking the recipient whether it is necessary to print out the email, and = only=20 two-thirds of companies provide recycling bins for paper.
Paul Parrish, managing director of Fujitsu Siemens Computers IT = services,=20 said: 'Sadly the paperless office remains a myth for many. Office = printing=20 continues to be out of control. This is compounded by the fact that = there is a=20 general lack of guidelines for employees around printing practices, and = most=20 people readily admit to not really thinking twice about hitting the = "print"=20 option.'
Caroline Laitner, of charity Waste Watch, called it 'an enormous = problem'.=20 She said: 'A lot of things get printed out mistakenly or are quickly = thrown=20 away. The publishing and legal industries are prime offenders. People = could take=20 very simple measures to reduce waste, such as switching computers off = instead of=20 leaving them on standby.'
![3D"Print](3D"http://static.guim.co.uk/static/90688/common/images/icon_print.gif=)
Printable=20
versionSend=20 to a friend
![3D""=20](3D"http://static.guim.co.uk/static/90688/common/images/icon_share.gif=)
Share- =
Contact=20 us
-
- Contact the Money editor
gua= rdianunlimited.co.uk=20 - Report errors or inaccuracies:
- Letters for publication should be sent to:
- If you need help using the site:
- Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard:
+44 = (0)20 3353=20 2000
- Contact the Money editor
gua= rdianunlimited.co.uk=20 - Report errors or inaccuracies:
- Letters for publication should be sent to:
- If you need help using the site:
- Call the main Guardian and Observer switchboard:
+44 = (0)20 3353=20 2000
Britain's trillion-page mountain stacks up
This article appeared = on p24=20 of the Main=20 section section of the=20 Observer on . It was published onLatest from money
Last 24 hours
- 1.
- 2.
- 3.
- 4.
- 5.
Last 24 hours
- 1. Vince=20 Cable must stand firm on capital gains tax (45 comments)
- 2. The=20 top 10 most useless financial products revealed (44)
- 3. How=20 can I develop a saving habit? (27)
- 4. House=20 prices fell in May, says Halifax, as surveys offer mixed messages = (26)=20
- 5. Why=20 train travel has a bad reputation (25)=20
-
Save money=20 and the environment
Hot=20 water in just 3 seconds
Save energy with Tefal's new Quick Cup water dispenser only = =C2=A353.50
Save=20 money on your heating bills
Energy-saving radiator reflectors - the smart way to save heating=20 energy
Environment network on Twitter
- The Guardian Environment Network brings together the = world's=20 best websites focusing on green topics
- Auto update =
every minute
Our selection of best buys
| Lender | Initial rate | |
|---|---|---|
| ING | 2.99% | |
| Yorkshire BS | 3.05% | |
| First Direct | 2.39% |
| Name | BT Rate | BT Period | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Barclaycard Platinum | 0% | 15 mths | |
| Virgin Credit Card | 0% | 14 mths | |
| Halifax All In One | 0% | 10 mths |
| Provider | Typical APR | |
|---|---|---|
| Sainsbury's Personal Loan | 7.8% |
| Provider | AER | |
|---|---|---|
| ALLIANCE & LEICESTER | 2.81% | |
| ING DIRECT | 2.75% | |
| BIRMINGHAM MIDSHIRES | 2.75% |
Free finance guides
![3Dzoopla.co.uk=20](3D"http://static.guim.co.uk/static/90688/common/images/zoopla-logo.gi=){kind=logo}
Find local professional advice
Search UK-wide for an independent financial advisor or legal expert = in your=20 local area who meets your personal requirements
![3D""=20](3D"http://pix01.revsci.net/E05516/a3/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/0/noscript.gif")
------=_NextPart_001_003F_01CB058B.10ECAB90
Content-Type: application/octet-stream
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Location: http://optimized-by.rubiconproject.com/a/7845/12566/22543-2.html?
![3DQuantcast=20](3D"http://pixel.quantserve.com/pixel/p-e4m3Yko6bFYVc.gif?labels=3DNew=)
------=_NextPart_001_003F_01CB058B.10ECAB90--
------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CB058B.10E383D0
Content-Type: text/css;
charset="iso-8859-1"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Location: http://www.guardianenergycomparison.co.uk/Branding/Branded/Affiliates/TheGuardian/Styles/widget_rhs_styles.css
#friCalculator * {
MARGIN: 0px
}
#friCalculator {
BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; POSITION: relative; TEXT-ALIGN: left; =
PADDING-BOTTOM: 40px; BACKGROUND-COLOR: #f3f3f3 !important; WIDTH: =
300px; FONT-FAMILY: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; HEIGHT: 220px; COLOR: =
#333333; MAX-HEIGHT: 220px; FONT-SIZE: 12px; OVERFLOW: hidden; =
BORDER-TOP: #d3d3d3 10px solid; FONT-WEIGHT: normal
}
#friCalculator H2 {
BORDER-BOTTOM: #999999 1px dotted; PADDING-BOTTOM: 20px; PADDING-LEFT: =
5px; PADDING-RIGHT: 0px; FONT-FAMILY: Georgia; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 5px; =
FONT-SIZE: 14px; PADDING-TOP: 5px
}
#friCalculator A {
TEXT-DECORATION: none
}
#friCalculator P.compare_deals A:hover {
TEXT-DECORATION: underline
}
#friCalculator FORM {
PADDING-LEFT: 10px; WIDTH: 130px
}
#friCalculator FORM #usage LABEL {
LINE-HEIGHT: 20px; DISPLAY: block
}
#friCalculator #usage_lowLabel {
MARGIN-TOP: 10px
}
#friCalculator FORM #usage LABEL INPUT {
MARGIN-RIGHT: 4px
}
#friCalculator FIELDSET#usage {
BORDER-BOTTOM: medium none; BORDER-LEFT: medium none; PADDING-BOTTOM: =
0px; MARGIN: 10px 0px; PADDING-LEFT: 0px; WIDTH: 140px; PADDING-RIGHT: =
0px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-TOP: medium none; BORDER-RIGHT: medium none; =
PADDING-TOP: 0px
}
#friCalculator FORM INPUT#calculate {
CURSOR: pointer
}
#friCalculator FORM INPUT#continue {
CURSOR: pointer
}
#friCalculator #PostCode {
BORDER-BOTTOM: #999 1px solid; BORDER-LEFT: #999 1px solid; =
PADDING-BOTTOM: 2px; MARGIN-TOP: 5px; PADDING-LEFT: 2px; WIDTH: 110px; =
PADDING-RIGHT: 2px; DISPLAY: block; BORDER-TOP: #999 1px solid; =
BORDER-RIGHT: #999 1px solid; PADDING-TOP: 2px
}
#friCalculator P#savings {
MARGIN-BOTTOM: 10px; FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold
}
#friCalculator H3 {
FONT-SIZE: 14px; FONT-WEIGHT: bold
}
#friCalculator .errorMessage {
POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 120px; BOTTOM: 10px; COLOR: #f00; =
FONT-WEIGHT: bold; LEFT: 10px
}
#friCalculator .tariffName {
MARGIN: 4px 0px 10px
}
#friCalculator .tariffName IMG {
MARGIN-TOP: 10px; DISPLAY: block
}
#friCalculator #unableToGetQuickDeal P {
WIDTH: 140px; MARGIN-BOTTOM: 1em
}
#friCalculator P.compare_deals {
POSITION: absolute; WIDTH: 130px; BACKGROUND: =
url(../Images/Gas_130x73.jpg) no-repeat right top; RIGHT: 10px; =
PADDING-TOP: 82px
}
#friCalculator A {
COLOR: #005689
}
------=_NextPart_000_0000_01CB058B.10E383D0
Content-Type: application/octet-stream
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Content-Location: http://www.guardianenergycomparison.co.uk/Content/scripts/jquery/1.4.1/jquery-1.4.1.min.js
/*!=0A=
* jQuery JavaScript Library v1.4.1=0A=
* http://jquery.com/=0A=
*=0A=
* Copyright 2010, John Resig=0A=
* Dual licensed under the MIT or GPL Version 2 licenses.=0A=
* http://jquery.org/license=0A=
*=0A=
* Includes Sizzle.js=0A=
* http://sizzlejs.com/=0A=
* Copyright 2010, The Dojo Foundation=0A=
* Released under the MIT, BSD, and GPL Licenses.=0A=
*=0A=
* Date: Mon Jan 25 19:43:33 2010 -0500=0A=
*/=0A=
(function(z,v){function =
la(){if(!c.isReady){try{r.documentElement.doScroll("left")}catch(a){setTi=
meout(la,1);return}c.ready()}}function =
Ma(a,b){b.src?c.ajax({url:b.src,async:false,dataType:"script"}):c.globalE=
val(b.text||b.textContent||b.innerHTML||"");b.parentNode&&b.parentNode.re=
moveChild(b)}function X(a,b,d,f,e,i){var j=3Da.length;if(typeof =
b=3D=3D=3D"object"){for(var n in b)X(a,n,b[n],f,e,d);return =
a}if(d!=3D=3Dv){f=3D!i&&f&&c.isFunction(d);for(n=3D0;n","
"];c.fn.extend({text:function(a)=
{if(c.isFunction(a))return this.each(function(b){var =
d=3Dc(this);d.text(a.call(this,b,d.text()))});if(typeof =
a!=3D=3D"object"&&a!=3D=3Dv)return =
this.empty().append((this[0]&&this[0].ownerDocument||r).createTextNode(a)=
);return c.getText(this)},=0A=
wrapAll:function(a){if(c.isFunction(a))return =
this.each(function(d){c(this).wrapAll(a.call(this,d))});if(this[0]){var =
b=3Dc(a,this[0].ownerDocument).eq(0).clone(true);this[0].parentNode&&b.in=
sertBefore(this[0]);b.map(function(){for(var =
d=3Dthis;d.firstChild&&d.firstChild.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1;)d=3Dd.firstChild;=
return d}).append(this)}return =
this},wrapInner:function(a){if(c.isFunction(a))return =
this.each(function(b){c(this).wrapInner(a.call(this,b))});return =
this.each(function(){var b=3Dc(this),d=3Db.contents();d.length?=0A=
d.wrapAll(a):b.append(a)})},wrap:function(a){return =
this.each(function(){c(this).wrapAll(a)})},unwrap:function(){return =
this.parent().each(function(){c.nodeName(this,"body")||c(this).replaceWit=
h(this.childNodes)}).end()},append:function(){return =
this.domManip(arguments,true,function(a){this.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1&&this.ap=
pendChild(a)})},prepend:function(){return =
this.domManip(arguments,true,function(a){this.nodeType=3D=3D=3D1&&this.in=
sertBefore(a,this.firstChild)})},before:function(){if(this[0]&&this[0].pa=
rentNode)return this.domManip(arguments,=0A=
false,function(b){this.parentNode.insertBefore(b,this)});else =
if(arguments.length){var =
a=3Dc(arguments[0]);a.push.apply(a,this.toArray());return =
this.pushStack(a,"before",arguments)}},after:function(){if(this[0]&&this[=
0].parentNode)return =
this.domManip(arguments,false,function(b){this.parentNode.insertBefore(b,=
this.nextSibling)});else if(arguments.length){var =
a=3Dthis.pushStack(this,"after",arguments);a.push.apply(a,c(arguments[0])=
.toArray());return a}},clone:function(a){var =
b=3Dthis.map(function(){if(!c.support.noCloneEvent&&=0A=
!c.isXMLDoc(this)){var =
d=3Dthis.outerHTML,f=3Dthis.ownerDocument;if(!d){d=3Df.createElement("div=
");d.appendChild(this.cloneNode(true));d=3Dd.innerHTML}return =
c.clean([d.replace(Fa,"").replace(V,"")],f)[0]}else return =
this.cloneNode(true)});if(a=3D=3D=3Dtrue){qa(this,b);qa(this.find("*"),b.=
find("*"))}return b},html:function(a){if(a=3D=3D=3Dv)return =
this[0]&&this[0].nodeType=3D=3D=3D1?this[0].innerHTML.replace(Fa,""):null=
;else if(typeof =
a=3D=3D=3D"string"&&!/