Sustainable Purchasing

1. By Chelsea Feyerherm Alex Fortune Josh Liebeskind Sustainable Purchasing

2. Data - Paper • 2005-2006- $28,749 on copying and printing charges outside of the building • 2005-2006- $2,800 on paper in the school (800 reams of non-recycled bleached paper) • 2005-2006- $4300 on paper in the school without paper donations

3. Data - Paper • 2007-2008- Contract with Willamette Education Services • Used to buy paper from Office Max, WES has more selection and bulk deals • About $6000 per year for in school paper purchasing, $2000 for specialty paper • General paper- white bleached bond paper, 20 lb a ream • Specialty paper- Astro bright (class projects), card stock (graduation documents)

4. Data – Ink Cartridges • Prices range from $20 up to about $100 for ink cartridges. • The district has a contract with Associated Business Systems. Higher price, but more services. • $8000 a year on ink cartridges and toners.

5. Data - Others • Lights: N/A • Cafeteria: N/A • Cleaning Supplies: • Purchase once a year • $1000 for two of the main chemicals

6. Data Gathering Process • Talked to: • Paper: Denise Purdy and Kay Eilers • Ink Cartridges: Kay Eilers • Lights: (John Meyer) • Cafeteria: (Sharon Gibson) • Cleaning Supplies: Ellen Trask

7. Sustainable Practices • Paper: • Double side prints, use smaller handouts, utilize websites instead of handouts, class sets, occasional use of one sided paper • Don’t purchase golden rod anymore • Ink cartridges: • Recycle them to OfficeMax for credit • Tried rapid refill • Associated Business Systems saves us money and resources on buying new printers

8. Sustainable Practices Continued • Lights: • CV uses T8 fluorescent lighting – more efficient • Cafeteria: • Uses food grow in the green house • Cleaning supplies • Use window cleaner for white boards • Use vinegar and water for final rinses, scrubbing floors, and on whiteboards • Most disinfectants use green chemicals

9. Unsustainable Practices • Paper: • No recycled paper use or purchasing • Wasting of one sided paper that could be printed on • Buying astrobrite paper • Buy solely based on prices • Ink cartridges • Biases on rapid refill cartridges • Buy solely based on prices • Private used printers are unsustainable • Reckless printing leads to increase in ink cartridge purchasing

10. Unsustainable Practices Continued • Lights • Class lights are left on when not in use • Cafeteria • Food thrown out after meals • Food bought mostly by price not by locality • Cleaning supplies: • Use of some noxious chemicals, like white board cleaner • Profuse cleaning

11. Next Steps • Paper • Implement use of one sided recycled paper • Purchase recycled paper that is efficient • Replace astrobrite paper with recyclable colors • Choose contracts that benefit both the school and the environment • Ink Cartridges • Try different refillable ink cartridges from different brands

12. Next Steps • Ink Cartridges (continued) • Program teacher computers to only print black and white • Spread awareness about using ink efficiently and only for necessary tasks • Chose contracts that benefit school and environment • Lights • Leave lights on only when necessary –spread awareness

13. Next Steps • Lights (continued) • Look into LED lights and/or more efficient lights • Cafeteria • Buying locally and based on nutritional value • Buying biodegradable utensils • Buying recycled/biodegradable napkins, cardboard containers, cups and lids • Cleaning Supplies • Purchasing based on environmental friendliness • Energy efficient vacuums and waxers