Deforestation
According to an online debate about whether deforestation should be continued, the majority of people are opposed to deforestation (Should We Stop Deforestation?). However, the world is so dependent on lumber as a resource that there are few solutions to this crisis. Trees are a reliable and renewable resource, yet they are consumed at a much faster rate than they can be regrown. At the current rate that trees are being cut down of 12 million hectares per year, the world will be completely deprived of its forests in less than one hundred years (Collins, Jocelyn). The position that supports deforestation argues that economies are dependent on the timber industry. Deforestation also creates jobs. Are these jobs really worth preserving? In the grand scheme of things, preserving the earth’s forests will determine the survival of natural life on our planet.
According to an online debate about whether deforestation should be continued, the majority of people are opposed to deforestation (Should We Stop Deforestation?). However, the world is so dependent on lumber as a resource that there are few solutions to this crisis. Trees are a reliable and renewable resource, yet they are consumed at a much faster rate than they can be regrown. At the current rate that trees are being cut down of 12 million hectares per year, the world will be completely deprived of its forests in less than one hundred years (Collins, Jocelyn). The position that supports deforestation argues that economies are dependent on the timber industry. Deforestation also creates jobs. Are these jobs really worth preserving? In the grand scheme of things, preserving the earth’s forests will determine the survival of natural life on our planet.
Paper Waste
Paper alone makes up 40% of landfill waste. In addition, 30% of timber in the United States is used to create paper (Green Seal’s Choose Green Report). Most of this paper is only used once, and cannot be recycled. With deforestation rates as high as they are, paper towels, bathroom tissue, napkins, and all other variations of disposable paper products are significantly adding to the destruction of forests. In fact, the entire process of paper production, consumption, and disposal is extremely harmful to the global environment. In order to manufacture white paper, it must be bleached with chlorine and other toxic chemicals. Dioxins, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released into the environment where they not only enter the atmosphere as pollutants, but also enter into food chains and harm wildlife (Green Seal’s Choose Green Report), (Hackworth). These chemicals also affect the health of human beings as part of the food chain.
Paper alone makes up 40% of landfill waste. In addition, 30% of timber in the United States is used to create paper (Green Seal’s Choose Green Report). Most of this paper is only used once, and cannot be recycled. With deforestation rates as high as they are, paper towels, bathroom tissue, napkins, and all other variations of disposable paper products are significantly adding to the destruction of forests. In fact, the entire process of paper production, consumption, and disposal is extremely harmful to the global environment. In order to manufacture white paper, it must be bleached with chlorine and other toxic chemicals. Dioxins, hydrogen sulfide, and nitrogen and sulfur oxides are released into the environment where they not only enter the atmosphere as pollutants, but also enter into food chains and harm wildlife (Green Seal’s Choose Green Report), (Hackworth). These chemicals also affect the health of human beings as part of the food chain.
Paper Waste at Rutland
Rutland High School has done little to reduce its paper consumption and waste. Granted, paper is essential for teaching and note taking in class. However, the use of paper towels in the school’s bathrooms is completely unnecessary and wasteful. By investing in hand dryers, the endless purchasing and disposing of paper towels will be completely eliminated, and the money saved will quickly add up and pay for the initial cost. The use of high-speed energy efficient hand dryers is also much more energy efficient and will produce less than half of the carbon emissions of paper towel units (Brady, Roger C.). Excess paper will no longer be wasted every time a student or faculty dries their hands, and custodians will not be left with overflowing trashcans and paper towels strewn all over the bathroom floors.
Rutland High School has done little to reduce its paper consumption and waste. Granted, paper is essential for teaching and note taking in class. However, the use of paper towels in the school’s bathrooms is completely unnecessary and wasteful. By investing in hand dryers, the endless purchasing and disposing of paper towels will be completely eliminated, and the money saved will quickly add up and pay for the initial cost. The use of high-speed energy efficient hand dryers is also much more energy efficient and will produce less than half of the carbon emissions of paper towel units (Brady, Roger C.). Excess paper will no longer be wasted every time a student or faculty dries their hands, and custodians will not be left with overflowing trashcans and paper towels strewn all over the bathroom floors.