In today’s so-called “digital world,” why are we still receiving printed syllabi, assignments, case-studies and other paper hand-outs during class?
Paper waste in a college environment is amplified compared to lower-level schools because of the multitude of students. Reducing paper waste should be towards the top of the priority list.
At Colorado Mesa University (CMU), our class sizes stay comparatively small. The student to faculty ratio is 20:1, as stated on the Fast Facts page of CMU’s website. With the average syllabus being 10 pages long, this is a whopping 100 pages printed for one class, assuming the syllabus is printed on both sides of the sheets. That’s only one class’s worth of paper for one class period.
Once the course work begins, we start receiving paper handouts with most of these hand-outs being a one-time use.
I understand that in some subjects, such as math or science, paper is the most useful tool to take notes with, as equations are so prevalent, which is not what I’m bothered by. What I am discouraging is the unnecessary use of extra print-outs.
If students decide to keep the hand-outs, a semester’s collection of papers adds so much weight to a backpack. Plus, organizing such papers can feel like a separate task. A large majority of college textbooks are accessed through a digital platform subscription. With the subscription, access to online homework is ncluded.
A better resource for a college to be connected with because students have access to all of their course materials in place. Textbooks no longer have to be printed and homework is online.
However, it is then an inconvenience to have separate folders or binders to organize paper materials. These can cause a separation in studying.
If a student is given a hand-out and decides to dispose of the papers, very few classrooms have a separate bin for recycling materials, and if they don’t, they are often contaminated with trash.
All paper waste goes into the normal trash bins. Not only are papers printed and only used once, there is no place to dispose of the papers in an environmentally responsible way.
In order to help manage paper waste on CMU’s campus, printed hand-outs should be limited to only necessary study tools. There are inevitable moments where paper will be used. For these cases, recycling bins should be placed in classrooms for use when paper is disposed of.
