Franklin County Begins Responsible Paper Purchasing

CONTACT:
Thomas Linzey, Esq.
CELDF
(717) 709-0457

The paper being purchased by the County - the New Life! brand produced by Rolland, Inc. - contains 80% post-consumer recycled paper content, and has been certified as being processed without the use of chlorine. Use of chlorine in the paper bleaching process is known to create dioxin, a known carcinogen and nervous system disrupter.

"Congratulations to the County in taking this important step towards switching to responsible paper purchasing" declared Tom Linzey of the Legal Defense Fund, which has launched a paper purchasing program in Townships within Franklin County. "We hope that the County continues this trend by switching its entire paper purchasing policy over to recycled paper purchasing."

Steve Baker of GreenLine Paper also congratulated the County, stating that "Franklin County has taken an important step in ensuring that the paper we purchase has not been produced by harming our communities, our children, and our environment. Chlorine-free processing of paper ensures that we are on the road to sustainable paper production."

Franklin County joins Southampton Township as local governments that have switched paper purchasing policies. Several other Townships in Franklin County are currently considering changing their paper purchasing. The Franklin County Coalition, a grassroots coalition of citizen and environmental groups in the County, urge local governments to begin to implement responsible purchasing policies through the Coalition's Declaration of Principles.

For more information on the paper purchasing program of the Fund or on GreenLine, contact the Legal Defense Fund at 709-0457. For more information about the Franklin County Coalition, contact Bill Payne at 352-2842.