Today was a day for purging paper. As a thesis advisor for Red River College, I am required to keep the thesis projects for a period of two years. However, out of sight, out of mind.
It was a journey down memory lane. The software development projects are to a degree, a marvel of development. Some of the students were able to create absolutely phenomenal products with a tool kit that was rather slim.
One of project compromised three 6 inch binders, CDs and training manuals. When I took the paper out of the binder, I realized that these binders cost about 20.00 each when they were purchased. Paper was about 12.00 a ream. Individual CDs were expensive by today’s standards. The total cost of the thesis documentation was just under $200.00.
The paper and CDs can be recycled. The documentation had to be shredded. The CDs were shredded as well to ensure the privacy of the clients was maintained. But, the binders are going to the local landfill. For the life of me, I can’t figure out why no one wants to reuse binders. I have binders that I use over and over but I don’t have room in my life for another 50 or so 4 – 7″ inch binders.
Schools won’t take them, business won’t take them and the thrift shops won’t take them either. My team and I did our best to find these binders a home. But! No luck. If anyone knows of a place that will take the binders, let me know. I’ll even ship them as long as it is on this planet.
The nugget for today is “recycle what you can and look to find a home for items in good shape and suitable for use. If you can’t, leave the guilt at the green garbage bag that will go to the landfill.”
