The Green Government Guide, published in 1996, promotes good environmental practice in all Departments and by extension, in the wider public sector. The guide, inter alia, encourages organisations to use recycled paper and envelopes, or products with the maximum recycled content. Local authorities, and bodies under the aegis of my Department, have been asked to implement the guidelines within their organisations.
My Department uses recycled paper only. Arrangements are also in place to minimise paper usage, including through use of e-mail, double-sided copying and printing, and the use of discontinued paper stocks and waste paper for internal documents. It is a long-standing practice within my Department to reuse envelopes for the circulation of internal post.