Friday, April 20, 2007; B03
Here's one, but you won't like it: Stop publishing The Post.
First, it would save paper. Even recycled paper still needs to be processed, packaged and shipped; that costs money and puts cars on the road.
Second, quiet presses do not use fossil-fuel-generated electricity.
Third, finished papers need to be delivered, which pollutes. Neighborhood delivery is now done by old men in 1980s polluting cars rather than by eco-friendly bicycling kids.
Fourth, with no paper, there will be no need for writers to be commuting, reporters to be traveling and the wealthy owners to be jet-setting around the world. There will be fewer vehicles on the highways and in the skyways.
Finally, with The Post shut down, there will be no need to use electricity, gas or any other utilities in its many buildings. Less pollution all around.
So, when can we expect you all to shut your doors for the good of the planet?
-- Tim Dudenhoefer, Silver Spring
Editor's note: We're giving your wisdom serious consideration. This may be your last newspaper.
Why don't we all cancel our subscriptions to your Post and save a tree? The Sunday edition alone would save a forest! Seriously, you have a lot of nerve suggesting folks use less paper when you make a living printing on all the paper you do! Hypocrite! Why don't we just move back into caves, use candles and walk everywhere?
-- Cory Correll, Germantown
Editor's note: We may move into a cave, but we're too young to play with matches.
Have The Washington Post stop publishing the free Express newspaper. Not only are you killing trees to publish this newspaper, but they lay wet, unread, in plastic bags on the driveways and front stoops all around the Washington metropolitan area. Not environmentally friendly and unsightly litter all in one free newspaper.
-- Jody Krieger, Kensington
Editor's note: There is no home delivery of the Express, so that must be some other newspaper littering driveways and front stoops.
Newspapers can be a friend to the environment. When finished reading the paper, 10 pages of the paper, with hay over it, provide a very effective, organic and inexpensive mulch. Water is retained, and the weeds don't grow. Your feet lie on soft hay, and you don't get dirty.
-- Ellen McGee, Severna Park
Editor's note: Sorry, Mr. Dudenhoefer , Ms. McGee has persuaded us to continue publishing The Post.