Could supplying students with laptops cut back on the yearly waste of paper?

Question

I know that schools must use thousands of trees worth the paper. Can supplying laptops in school cut down on the waste?

Answer 1

While I personally prefer paperless approaches, it has nothing to do with saving trees. This is a common misconception about trees and paper.

It is true that most paper today is made from pulp wood (aka trees) put the paper companies are not going out and clear cutting forests for this wood. Pulp wood is grown as a crop, on farmland. These pulp wood farms look pretty much like any farm, neat rows of plants in well cultivated fields. When the crop reaches maturity, it is harvested and a new crop planted. Since trees are not annuals, the harvest can be delayed for a few years, and this is how the tree farmers balance supply and demand, but eventually, all of the trees planted will be harvested.

As paper demand falls due to recycling or increased use of electronic media fewer trees will be harvested in any year, but as I mentioned above, eventually the crop will be harvested. What will occur if the demand decrease is systematic is that some of the farm land devoted to trees will be shifted to some other crop, maybe wheat to produce bread or maybe corn to make ethanol to blend with gasoline, who knows it will be what ever the farmer thinks is the most profitable. So the net effect will be fewer trees planted.

As I have often said, recycling paper to save trees makes as much sense as recycling bread to save wheat.

Answer 2

I don't think supplying students with laptops would cut down on the use of paper. If students were required to transfer their assignments electronically (via email), then the schools would have to supply the students with internet connections. I am not sure if schools could afford that.

In the business world, the use of email instead of hard copy documents has actually increased the use of paper because people like to print and file the emails and documents that are sent to them.

A better solution might be for schools to implement strong recycling programs and to only use recycled paper. Remember, the use of computers by all of those students will increase electricity use tremendously, and this leads to air pollution. It is not exactly an environmentally friendly solution.

Answer 3

It needs a deep study even manufacturing computers attracts a lot of pollution and after using it for few months or years it is thrown as waste and again this is a cause of pollution. Waste from computers and other electronic products are one of the biggest pollutants today and some of it is not even bio degradable.

Paper has its advantages since it is biodegradable but than we have to cut trees. If we start planting trees and use them for paper making instead of using natural forests certainly this becomes a much better option.

So I vote for Paper being a better option but if we donot destroy naqtural forests.

Answer 4

That depends. If students utilize fully their laptops as well as their professors, then there would be a big savings on paper. Because I know many professors (the older and conservative ones) still prefer to read and correct assignments on hard copies, rather than on emailed or soft copies.

But I think it's more expensive to supply each student with laptops using government money.

Answer 5

I think it could dramatically cut down on wasting paper. The hardest part is getting professors to agree to review everything electronically. I know that a few of my professors just two years ago wanted everything printed because they found it easier to read and write comments on. It's generally the older profs that need to change or retire to make it work. But I think it's a great idea.

Answer 6

Using computers can save paper but there's other downsides. Manufacturing computers uses a lot of resources and causes a lot of pollution. Manufacturing microchips especially uses a lot of toxic chemicals. Batteries are full of toxic chemicals. Computers use energy and they have a short life span and disposal has lots of issues.

Hey computers are great but I wouldn't count on saving the planet by buying millions of computers.

Answer 7

YES,== One even better==Last year I sent a letter to the gov. of the state I live in. It stated to save $$$$$$$$ on fuel, busing, electricity, upkeep of buildings, repair, paying wages, etc. also the kidnapping of these children, rape, murder, thievery, fires, etc.to CUT all this EXPENSE to put schooling computers in each home at the initial cost of the state for certain ages for schooling at home from four main locations that a teacher holds classes from a main location to all the students at home on their computers,( all classes be taught from a main location to all per grade at home) from a main computer to hundreds of children at their homes each day.

Answer 8

That would do depend on rather or not teachers would be willing to check all assignments by e-mail. If they or the school systems they work for did this then the answer to your question is yes.

Answer 9

Yes all though it's going to be a little costly it will definitely save paper shortage.As long as they don't print every thing it will really help.

Answer 10

not a bad idea, but the problem with these types of ideas are initial cost.
most planners focus on short term costs rather than long term savings...