XN000022-1977-03-17 — Page 6

THURSI AY, MARCH 17, 1977

PREVENTION OF PAPER WASTE

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THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT WHICH USES SOME :,400 TONS OF PAPER EVERY YEAR FOR OFFICIAL PUBLICATIONS IS DOING EVERYTHING IT CAN TO PREVENT WASTAGE.

IN ORDER TO MAXIMISE THE USE OF EVERY SHEET OF PAPER, THE DEPARTMENT HAS ADOPTED THE STANDARD +A SERIES SIZE PAPER.

THEY ARE A-ZERO WHICH IS EQUAL TO A FULL SHEET OF 33 INCHES BY 46.8 INCHES- A-ONE WHICH IS JUST HALF THE SIZE OF THE A-ZERO- AND A-TWO WHICH IS HALF OF A-ONE, PRESERVING THE PROPORTION THAT EACH FOLD IS ONE HALF OF THE OTHER.

+BY INTRODUCING THIS SYSTEM, WE HAVE SUCCEEDED IN MINIMISING WASTAGE,+ A SPOKESMAN FOR THE PRINTING DEPARTMENT SAID.

THE SUCCESS, HE ADDED, WAS ALSO DUE TO THE CO-OPERATION OF VARIOUS GOVERNMENT DEPARTMENTS.

+WE DO NOT HAVE MUCH LEFT OVER IN ODD SIZES WHICH WE CANNOT MAKE USE OF,+ HE POINTED OUT.

HOWEVER, HE CONTINUED, IF THERE WERE LEFTOVERS, THEY WOULD BE STOCKED AND SOLD TO SUCCESSFUL BIDDERS IN JANUARY EVERY YEAR. THE AMOUNT INVOLVED IS BETWEEN 60 AND 70 TONS AND IS MAINLY FROM TRIMMINGS.

+ IF WE COMPARE THIS FIGURE WITH THE 2,400 TONS OF PAPER WE USE EVERY YEAR, IT MEANS ONLY ABOUT THREE PER CENT OF IT ARE GOING TO WASTE, IF THAT IS THE RIGHT WORD.+

HE EXPLAINED THAT THE SO CALLED PAPER WASTE COULD BE REPULPED TO PRODUCE SECOND GRADE PAPER SUCH AS THE ONES USED FOR WRAPPING.

+AS FOR HOW MUCH WE CAN GET FROM THESE SALES,+ HE WENT ON, IT REALLY DEPENDS ON THE SUPPLY AND DEMAND SITUATION BUT WE ARE NORMALLY OFFERED ABOUT $1,200 PER TON.+

HE ADDED: +ALL THE PROCEEDS WILL GO INTO GOVERNMENT'S GENERAL REVENUE WHICH AGAIN SHOWS THAT PAPER WASTE DOES NOT HAVE TO BE WHAT ITS NAME IMPLIES.+

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