topic Re: Paper Shortage in Community Chat

Paper Shortage

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:46:34 GMT

Just heard on the news that the latest shortage looming is paper, that is real paper, not just toilet paper. It's expected to affect everything from stationary, wedding invitations, paper bags, computer paper to book publishing. The price of paper pulp is up 50% so their will inevitably be price increases. Also included is cardboard for shipping containers which could affect Christmas shipping.

The delta varíent of covid, causing labor shortages, is being blamed.

Re: Paper Shortage

qualitygal — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:36:54 GMT

WEll, I'm a person who likes to make notes, lists, etc. Plus journals, calendars, etc. I've got a lot of paper, not a lot of TP but, I can note up a storm. LOL

Re: Paper Shortage

Lucky Charm — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:41:47 GMT

When I see all the cardboard boxes and brown paper stuffing they use when packaging in everyone's recycle cans, I always wonder how long it takes to recycle that. (I've actually have heard that many things don't get recycled, which I HOPE is not the case.)

Did they explain how the Delta variant is causing labor shortages?

Re: Paper Shortage

World Traveler — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:42:55 GMT

@Kachina624 Interesting that you say that, because just 30 minutes ago I got a call from the local printer who has something to print from the company where I work. It should have been printed first thing this morning.

The communication to me was: The press room just called and told me that we do not have enough high bright paper to run your job. We have more coming next week so we could do it then or we can run it on newsprint and do it now. What would you prefer? This whole Covid thing has caused a paper shortage (just like everything else). It has made it difficult to stay stocked.

Re: Paper Shortage

millieshops — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:44:17 GMT

@Kachina624 maybe a subset of the shortage of skilled sawmill workers that spiked the cost of lumber??

Re: Paper Shortage

HonestLife — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:51:14 GMT

@Kachina624 Very interesting. September/October is when I organize/print recipes I have collected. Guess I should grab a few reams quickly. Also get some wrapping paper. Sigh...

Re: Paper Shortage

chickenbutt — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:51:15 GMT

@qualitygal wrote:
WEll, I'm a person who likes to make notes, lists, etc. Plus journals, calendars, etc. I've got a lot of paper, not a lot of TP but, I can note up a storm. LOL

I also do notes and lists a lot. I have a huge supply of post-it notes but, also, when I have papers that would just be tossed, I cut them into fourths and have them in a pocket on the front of the cover for my Vitamix. These are used for my grocery lists. No sense in tossing a paper that has nothing on the back side, if I can use it for something like that.

I'm not a freakshow, like those 'extreme cheapskates' folks, but I do a lot of little things to save and to not waste. Paper is one of those areas where it's easy to re-use or somehow re-appropriate.

Re: Paper Shortage

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:54:26 GMT

@Lucky Charm wrote:
When I see all the cardboard boxes and brown paper stuffing they use when packaging in everyone's recycle cans, I always wonder how long it takes to recycle that. (I've actually have heard that many things don't get recycled, which I HOPE is not the case.)

Did they explain how the Delta variant is causing labor shortages?

@Lucky Charm No, they didn't but I've heard from other sources that the Chinese, who make many products, will shut down an entire operation as they've done with ports, if just one employee tests positive. The vaccine they use in China is only 50% effective.

Re: Paper Shortage

millieshops — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 18:54:45 GMT

@Lucky Charm a huge percentage never gets recycled either because good cardboard got mixed with wet or food contaminated pieces, but also plenty of all sorts of trash we intend to see recycled has no market.

My garbage goes into a common corral- the county provides open bins so we can separate paper from plastic, glass, and tin. The property manage frequently Emails reminders about what goes in bins and wh5 goes into the garbage, but I would guess the percentage of compliance with the rules is quite low which means whole trucks of what is picked up will end up in the landfill.

Re: Paper Shortage

SilleeMee — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:24:27 GMT

I just hate it when there a shortage of a product. Then people panic, start hoarding and that only exacerbates the problem.

Re: Paper Shortage

Duckncover — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:29:33 GMT

I will pick uo a ream of computer printer paper tomorrow when I run errands. That will be the extent of my "hoarding"

Re: Paper Shortage

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:33:56 GMT

@millieshops Can you believe this... We have mandatory Waste Management service. They're going to start videotaping our garbage going into the truck. If we try to sneak in a forbidden substance like glass, they're going to fine us.

Now instead of Big Brother, Big Garbage Man is watching us.

Re: Paper Shortage

chickenbutt — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:38:50 GMT

@Duckncover wrote:
I will pick uo a ream of computer printer paper tomorrow when I run errands. That will be the extent of my "hoarding"

You reminded me of my printer paper stash. Some time back (several years, probably) the husband was on a job where they were tossing a whole slew of reams of paper, so he brought me a bunch of them. I will never need to buy more paper as long as I live and it was free. They are all packaged and everything. I cannot imagine a single reason why they would just throw away perfectly good paper.

It's amazing the things that companies will throw away. He's a project manager and we've gotten furniture, file cabinets, office chairs, etc, from the banks that he's done reno work on. They will throw away perfectly good stuff when they replace it. It's a shame, really.

Re: Paper Shortage

Kachina624 — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:45:50 GMT

@chickenbutt It's a crying shame they don't donate stuff. So many non-profits would love to have it.

Re: Paper Shortage

SilleeMee — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 19:57:47 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@chickenbutt It's a crying shame they don't donate stuff. So many non-profits would love to have it.

I think many companies just write it off as a loss then claim the loss on tax filing. That's probably a better deal than deducting a donation.

Re: Paper Shortage

Sunshine Kate — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 20:04:30 GMT

I'm sure this paper shortage will not last too long.

Re: Paper Shortage

Lucky Charm — Tue, 14 Sep 2021 23:06:25 GMT

@Kachina624 wrote:
@millieshops Can you believe this... We have mandatory Waste Management service. They're going to start videotaping our garbage going into the truck. If we try to sneak in a forbidden substance like glass, they're going to fine us.

Now instead of Big Brother, Big Garbage Man is watching us.

Wow here we can put glass in recycle, but not at our other home. Of course, it has to be rinsed out. So then you're using water which is such a precious element!

I get so confused sometimes I'm afraid I'm going to get busted for putting something in the trash that could've been recycled.

I also re-use the blank pages that come with certain invoices that say at the very top: This page is blank. <Duh!>

Re: Paper Shortage

FiddleDeeDee — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:15:46 GMT

@millieshops wrote:
@Lucky Charm a huge percentage never gets recycled either because good cardboard got mixed with wet or food contaminated pieces, but also plenty of all sorts of trash we intend to see recycled has no market.
My garbage goes into a common corral- the county provides open bins so we can separate paper from plastic, glass, and tin. The property manage frequently Emails reminders about what goes in bins and wh5 goes into the garbage, but I would guess the percentage of compliance with the rules is quite low which means whole trucks of what is picked up will end up in the landfill.

@millieshops This is why the county we once lived in stopped picking up recycling; it was not cost effective.The Baltimore Sun did a story about this a few years back as did a national paper (WSJ maybe) about how so many of these compaines are closing their doors because it was too expensive to do the sorting/how so much can't be recycled due to food. I attended a hearing in Annapolis regarding this on a state level and it came down to counties being responsible for offering it or not.

Where we currently live, only paper products are picked up and the can NOT be food items (milk cartons, pizza boxes, food delivery items). Everything else we throw in with the regular garbage.

Re: Paper Shortage

bikerbabe — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:22:05 GMT

Of the few paper mills left in this country, some have converted to just making cardboard boxes, no printer or magazine type paper.

Re: Paper Shortage

Patriot3 — Wed, 15 Sep 2021 18:36:45 GMT

I saw the posted signs last week to that effect when I got groceries. Today it was the same thing in the paper and water aisles........limit two! Signs still up.

Wonder what will be rationed next. Anyone else concerned? JMO............