Crisis Confirmed: The Great Copy Machine Epidemic Strikes Schools Across America
by Kenny Luna, North Babylon, NY 
on 03.20.08
With confirmed cases in New York and Florida, and with rumors coming out of California, Texas, and Maine about possible outbreaks there, it’s clear that what experts are calling the Great Copy Machine Epidemic has struck schools across America. The symptoms include the tendency of school photocopy machines to chew up trees at an amazing rate, and furthering the use of enormous amounts of energy to create the paper on which they print, contributing to global warming.
Of course, the students and faculty on the crisis team at the Robert Moses Middle School where symptoms of the disease were first observed are working feverishly to uncover the cause. And they’re asking schools across America to join them in a national day of action to help stop global warming on April 17th by putting their school photocopier under quarantine for the day, and asking teachers and students not to make or use any photocopies in class.
Now that may help cure the problem but it won’t uncover precisely what disease is striking the machines. Fortunately there’s a great, fun way that you can help do just that by putting together a crisis team in your school to creatively demonstrate what you believe is making your photocopier sick. Then taking a photograph and emailing it to copy crisis headquarters for further analysis by the deadline of April 19th to help solve the crisis.
The most creative entries that convey the message that the use of excess paper contributes to global warming will be chosen as finalists and posted on the site where everyone is invited to come and vote.
The winning school will win the title of “Copy Crisis Team of the Year” along with a $100 grant to plant a tree on school grounds that's being provided by teacher and crisis team coordinator Mr. Luna, who points out that “There is no better time than now to get schools involved in a positive way in the fight against global warming. Unfortunately, the world will not stand still if we sit by and do nothing.”
To get involved head over to www.greatcopyepidemic.com and find out how easy it is to get your school on-board.
See also: Reports Indicate Strange, Contagious Disease Striking School Photocopiers and Causing Global Warming, Reports Indicate Outbreak is Spreading Among School Photocopiers
via:: Copy Crisis Headquarters
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My wife's a science teacher. Her students learn via notes, classwork, labs and homework. That's probably 3 sheets of paper per day on average: one photocopy and two looseleaf (540 per year). Without the photocopies that could go up -- seeing as 11-pt font packs more information per page than pen and ink.
I suppose she could go totally paperless if every student had a tablet PC to work on. But I have to ask -- with the materials to produce (and the power to run) a tablet PC for every student, how many sheets of paper would have to be saved per year to make it a net gain for the environment?
Since switching from photocopies to class notes wouldn't reduce paper use, are there any suggestions of what to do instead?
Sorry, but the photo-copier is the way of the future. Textbooks are on their way out, and customized, online lesson plans are the way of the future.
In the end, it will mean less paper/fuel consumed distributing texts around the country that are largely unused and unuseable in favor of more economic printouts.
The school copy crisis is not due to teachers like your wife, it is due to teachers who print multiple page packets per week/month on one-side paper. It is also due to administrative offices that make most of their parent and teacher notices one-sided (often with minimal text that could be combined and reduced to a single page or two) or make these entirely paperless (e-mail). Student take home materials should ALL be double-sided, if not emailed. And new or old, copiers should also be serviced pretty regularly to keep running efficiently. There are plenty of other ways to reduce copier waste, just needs a little thought (sometimes KIDS are even the best at finding these ideas if given the chance!). PB
My HS uses a ton of paper everyday. There's an "environmental" club that usually picks up all the paper recycling from the classes that do have bins (not all of them do) and dump them in the big recycling bin outside. It's not effective since we just reuse cheap boxes, and sometimes the janitors mistake them for trash. Plus not everybody at any HS recycles unless they're bred up that way.
I heard Microsoft is developing a new technological school solution that would pretty much be paperless. I can't wait to see it.
Copiers out-gass toxins. These toxins have health risks. These copy machines end up being us in and the polluting the air in so-called green LEED buildings.
everybody cannot imagine the days without copiers ,coumputers,but why our forfathers can live without them???
http://www.madeinchina.comhave a look ,here are some pictures fuuny!
better to stop coal fired power plants and stop the greenwashing Forest Certification groups like rainforest alliance et al...
We commend the starters of this epidemic and look forward to more like it. Contact our education team and they are sure to help you out!
Tree Blessings.
Warmly,
Cindy Katz "Tree Angel"
Founder and CEO, Plant a Tree USA
www.plantatreeusa.com
1-877-A-Tree-4-U
I think, as a previous poster said, we must change the way electricity is produced. Also, paper made from wood pulp (trees) is the least durable of all. Paper made from other fibres, such as cotton, hemp and bamboo, last much longer than paper made from wood, yet it is virtually unused. The reason is obvious: rapidly deterioration paper must be replaced more frequently which means profit for the manufacturers who are often large corporations who basically control our governments.
I work in a school office and I am so ashamed of myself every single day when I have to misuse paper. I believe all information should go via e-mail and ONLY when the situation trully justifies a hard copy, then paper coud be used.
Also, I believe that the printers and copiers should be programmed to print double sided ALWAYS. Then single sided could be the aditional option.
And in these modern days the school system should be able to recognize all those families with internet access. that would help to minimize the senseless waste of paper, time and money.
---Have you considered the time that is spent going to the copier rooms and the chances it promotes to interrupt an activity?
Schools and every other office on the planet misuses and does not adequately recycle paper. There should be a serious limit on how much paper should be used on average at the work place. Also, crappy printers that mess up the printing jobs are a serious problem when it comes to wasting paper. I am appauled that we even have any trees left, considering how many offices around the world treat paper like it is infinite in abundance. Something must be done or the logging companies will win this battle. I work at a university and it disgusts me every day to see everyone print their exams, minutes whatever on so much paper and nobody cares about double sided, they prefer single sided since it looks prettier. My God!!
that is a cool copy mesinne
Hi!I am a person who likes trees.STOP USING PAPER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Check out an alternative to Xerography called Copy Press Technology. It has many benefits including: less ozone emmission, fewer jams, and uses less toner.
although I agree that a lot of paper used for class handouts in unnessesary, we cannot oust copiers... I personally believe that, like previously mentioned, students handwriting material will be using MORE paper in the long run... however they are more likely to hold on to that handwritten item for a longer period of time than the handout which most just stuff into another folder.
we have a lot bigger issues to tackle before photocopiers can be considered a significant problem... besides if you really want to get someone for using paper ineffectively look at Billboards, Advertisements printed on cardstock and handed out, flyers, etc. Schools will always need paper... until we have the true utopia where everyone lives in the rich neighborhoods with laptops for all students.
There are many ways that a copy machine become an asset for a conservation strategy rather than a burden. Modern copy machines allow you to save paper by scanning paper documents into electronic format for archiving and distribution. Copy machines also allow multiple drafts to be created on computers and then printing of only the final draft. A printed document allows for more text per page over a hand drafted document. Most copy machines can take paper with up to 30% post consumer recycled content. furthermore the use of one copy machine instead of multiple small printers allows cost saving by reducing the total amount of electricity used in an organization, as well as decreased use of manufactured supplies. The ink used by some manufacturers is made out of soybeans and wax and presents few hazards to people's health, though I wouldn't recommend eating it. With conscientious administration a copy machine can go from a net negative to a net positive in your conservation strategy.
Also regarding the out-gassing of toxic chemicals from a copy machine, the toxic gas is ozone which is produced by an assembly called a corona wire in the copy machine. Modern copy machines have filters to prevent this from being released into the environment. Mid-size and smaller copy machine's don't use a corona wire, they instead utilize a charge roller and thus don't produce ozone. If you notice a smell from your copy machine contact a qualified service professional and they can replace the machine's ozone filters.