Paperchains

It’s good to see organisations doing away with unnecessary paper. Filing official returns online is one way we can reduce production and transport of paper, and so reduce the number of trees that are cut down, the fuel used to carry it all around and the pollution that goes into the air.

The New Zealand Companies Office is making online filing mandatory (though with exceptions for those who still lack decent Internet connections) — Important changes to the way you do business with the Companies Office:

Here at the Companies Office we are committed to providing the New Zealand business community with sustainable, efficient and cost effective company administration. As part of this commitment, the Companies Office is introducing changes to the way that you do business with us.

From 1 July 2008 it will become mandatory to file certain documents with the Companies Office via our online services.

They are also providing training and support to see people through the transition. Sensible, and efficient!

[Via Xero News: Companies Office promotes online.]

In New Zealand it seems you can’t stop a so-called ‘free’ newspaper from being delivered. And once you have it, you have to dispose of it somehow:

This really bugs me. Someone somewhere is cutting down a forest, burning fossil fuel to transport and manufacture newsprint, wasting electricity to apply ink and then creating more air pollution to deliver to my letterbox something I absolutely don’t want. I don’t buy or read newspapers! Why would I want a ‘free’ newspaper?

Then I have to spend time and energy carrying this detritus up the path to be collected by the recycling truck who are burning fossil fuel to take it away again.

I wish it were email spam. Then I could unsubscribe and the law would make them stop sending me their junk.

[Via : What's worse than email spam? Dead tree spam.]

The refusal of a local ‘free’ newspaper to stop delivering their paper to me is one impetus for this blog.

I’ve no objection to paper itself — many of my friends tell me how much they like reading books on paper, for example. That’s fine.

But do we really need all those advertising pamphlets? Do I have to receive a newspaper I don’t want? Does the tax department still require paper copies of bank statements and receipts?

Or can we find ways to reduce the amount of paper that’s wasted in the world today?

And by reducing paper, can we make a difference, in even a small way to the problems of pollution and scarce resources that face us all?

This blog looks at all aspects of paper, where it comes from and where it goes, how we use it, and how we can reduce its waste.

Join in, leave comments, suggest a post, contribute ideas and thoughts. And welcome!

I’m Miraz Jordan, and I want less waste in the world.