Green Living > Recycling > PaperJuly 28, 2010

Print On The Back Side Of Paper

Instead of throwing away copy paper that has been run through the printer or copier, I have started to save them. Place the used paper in a file folder or appropriate sized box to keep the corners flat and paper unwrinkled. I then use the back of these sheets to print proof reading copies or other things where it doesn't matter if the back has already been used. It can really save money and resources. I do this at home and at work and feel good about getting all the use I can out of every sheet of paper.

By Bebe52 from Lambert, MS

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By
07/30/2011

I tended to waste an awful lot of paper when I first got my printer. What I do now is, I fold and cut A4 paper into 4 pieces (unused side) rather than 'bin' them. When there are enough to make a decent scribble pad, staple together. Hey presto! No more buying pads from the Stationers. This also saves trees.
patsone south Australia

By
07/30/2011

I also save them and let my grand-kids draw or color on them. They are always wanting a blank piece of paper.

By
07/30/2011

We have been doing this for years. We ask friends to reuse the blank side of paper, & if they don't, give the paper to us! Good way to the message around to conserve trees and energy, by example..

By
08/06/2010

Unless it is something that is very important, remember to set your printer on "fast draft" to save ink too.

By
07/30/2010

Excellent idea, one which I used for years at our business. Sometimes, it was difficult to tell if it was for re-cycle, or which side was the new side info. So, I started to ink a big X on the no-longer-needed side before re-use. That proved too time-consuming, so since our printer had a side load for copying on the back side, I placed a stack of paper in and put one page with an 'X' on under the copier lid, then ran the stack through, easily X-ing out the print side, so I knew then it was info. no longer needed. I hope this makes sense! Blessings.

By
07/30/2010

I also use the back-side printing for printed copies of online financial transactions, orders, etc. once posted on their site, or received email confirmation, I shred the document. Also check your printer setting to see if the setting is at about 300dpi, some are set at 600dpi, which is a waste of ink for just everyday printing.

By
07/29/2010

I also use the paper for jotting notes,grocery lists, for grandkids drawings and paintings.

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Re-using Printer Paper

Often when I print out items from the internet, like free knitting patterns, and so on, I end up with pages of almost empty printed pages. I gotten into the habit of saving them to use when I happen to run out of paper. You see, if I feed them into my printer with the printed side UP (you will have to check your own printer), I can them print on the opposite side. When I put together my stash of paper to re-use, I realized that I had quite a bit of paper there! It's a good practice to get into.

By Pam from Los Angeles, CA

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Shared on: 12/28/2011

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I decided a bit ago to recycle the paper that comes from our printer, we always for some reason get an extra one or two when we print something. I used to tear them up for scratch paper, but I started turning them over and put them back into the printer to use again. My husband thought that was a good idea.

By Jamish from Ransom, Kansas


RE: Reusing Printer Paper

It's possible that your printer is set up to deliver more than 1 copy of each printing job. It's simple to fix, but you might need to look up the instructions for your particular printer. (08/21/2007)

By cookwie

RE: Reusing Printer Paper

do you get many paper jams? (10/07/2007)

By larry ziegler


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