FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE ENR THURSDAY, APRIL 24, 1997 (202) 514-2008 TDD (202) 514-1888 JUSTICE DEPARTMENT TO USE ONLY RECYCLED CONTENT COPIER PAPER New Policy Will Save 20,000 Trees Annually WASHINGTON, D.C. -- The Justice Department announced today that effective immediately all paper orders will be filled with recycled content copier paper as long as the cost is not more than five percent greater than non-recycled paper. In addition, the Department said that because of its efforts to reduce overall paper consumption, it will spend less money on paper purchases than in previous years. Attorney General Janet Reno ordered the new purchasing policy today at the Department's annual Earth Day celebration. "Today's action will move the Department towards 100 percent compliance and quickly realize the many benefits of using recycled paper," she said. "With full compliance, this Department will help protect our nation's forests by saving approximately 20,000 trees annually." At the Direction of the Attorney General, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Colgate sent a letter today to the General Services Administration and the Government Printing Office directing them to fill all of the Department's orders for copier paper with recycled content paper. "The Department's new policy illustrates a commitment all Americans should make to protect our environment and preserve our nation's precious natural resources," said Lois Schiffer Assistant Attorney General in charge of the Justice Department's Environment and Natural Resources Division. In FY 1996, the Justice Department purchased more than 1.1 billion sheets of paper, 14 percent of which were recycled content paper. Today's policy change will save a significant amount of natural resources every year, including almost eight million gallons of water, more than 400,000 gallons of oil, and more than 400,000 kilowatt hours of electricity. An executive order issued by President Clinton in 1993 requires federal agencies to adopt recycling programs and to purchase environmentally friendly products. ### 97-172