Greensleeves

Although I can’t speak to forestry practices cited in Frank Erickson’s letter, “Forests in Turmoil,” [Letters, November] I can tell you that newspaper publishers respond to their customer base. More national publishers are asking for “greener” paper. If you want more recycled content, ask them to use it or to increase the percentage of post-consumer content. The Star Tribune uses an average of 40 percent post-consumer recycled content and the Pioneer Press uses roughly 25 percent. Many local papers use less, and they should hear from readers. One Ontario supplier of newsprint (Bowater in Thunder Bay) for Minnesota is ISO 14001 certified, which means that it complies with the highest environmental standards, and they use a lot of Minnesota’s old newspaper, magazines, and catalogs to make your newspaper. A Duluth mill (Stora Enso) makes recycled pulp used in many newspaper inserts and is also ISO 14001 certified.

Paul Gardner, St. Paul
Executive Director Recycling Association of Minnesota