Local Library Going Green
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By Staff Report-
As part of our Going Green initiative here at the library, we will no longer be purchasing plastic bags for distribution.
For years, WCPL has offered free plastic bags to carry home materials. Many of these bags are thrown out after one use and are not reused. They are also not "free" as there is a cost to the library and the environment when they are discarded.[[In-content Ad]]Here are some facts:
In the United States, about 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.
It can take a plastic bag up to 1,000 years to decompose.
More than 100 billion plastic bags are used and discarded in the Unites States each year.
Effective now, WCPL will offer reusable library bags that will last for years and are available at a reasonable cost of $1.60 apiece. The new "Get Your Green On @ the Library" bags will be available at the circulation desk.
Additional green efforts include an irrigation system that operates on a flexible schedule to decrease water usage, using energy efficient Star-rated fluorescent tubes, turning off computers when we leave for the day, recycling newspapers from our periodical section, recycling electronic devices retired from inventory, making it a habit to turn off the lights when we leave any room for an extended period of time, using environmentally friendly detergents, solvents and cleaners whenever possible and utilizing natural light when we can. In addition, printing in draft mode whenever feasible as well as posting employee manuals and similar materials online, rather than distributing print copies.
For more information on going green, check out these resources in our library: "Your Natural Home" by Janet Marinelli; "Greening Your Cleaning" by Diedre Imus; "Easy Recycling Handbook" by Dee McVicker; "Crafts from Recyclables" by Colleen Van Blaricom; "Mother Earth News" and "Natural Home" magazine.
These are just a few of what we have to offer so plan a visit soon.
As part of our Going Green initiative here at the library, we will no longer be purchasing plastic bags for distribution.
For years, WCPL has offered free plastic bags to carry home materials. Many of these bags are thrown out after one use and are not reused. They are also not "free" as there is a cost to the library and the environment when they are discarded.[[In-content Ad]]Here are some facts:
In the United States, about 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.
It can take a plastic bag up to 1,000 years to decompose.
More than 100 billion plastic bags are used and discarded in the Unites States each year.
Effective now, WCPL will offer reusable library bags that will last for years and are available at a reasonable cost of $1.60 apiece. The new "Get Your Green On @ the Library" bags will be available at the circulation desk.
Additional green efforts include an irrigation system that operates on a flexible schedule to decrease water usage, using energy efficient Star-rated fluorescent tubes, turning off computers when we leave for the day, recycling newspapers from our periodical section, recycling electronic devices retired from inventory, making it a habit to turn off the lights when we leave any room for an extended period of time, using environmentally friendly detergents, solvents and cleaners whenever possible and utilizing natural light when we can. In addition, printing in draft mode whenever feasible as well as posting employee manuals and similar materials online, rather than distributing print copies.
For more information on going green, check out these resources in our library: "Your Natural Home" by Janet Marinelli; "Greening Your Cleaning" by Diedre Imus; "Easy Recycling Handbook" by Dee McVicker; "Crafts from Recyclables" by Colleen Van Blaricom; "Mother Earth News" and "Natural Home" magazine.
These are just a few of what we have to offer so plan a visit soon.
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