Through a partnership with Better World Books, Phi Theta Kappa is responsible for saving approximately 450,000 pounds of books and putting them into the hands of students and readers, or sending them to recycling centers to be turned into new paper products. According to Mary Murphy of Better World Books, Phi Theta Kappa purchases and donations diverted more than 325,700 pounds of books, and sent more than 123,700 pounds of unusable books to be recycled. The yield from recycling is equivalent to saving 63,560 pounds of methane emissions, 198 cubic yards of landfill space, and 673 trees by providing recycled paper. The partnership saved 960 million BTUs of energy and 346,380 gallons of water that would have been used in producing paper products, and more than 86,400 pounds of solid waste. In addition, almost 20,000 pounds of carbon emissions were diverted. The recycling effected by the partnership produced 40 tons of copy paper and 60 tons of reusable fiber. "Better World Books and Phi Theta Kappa continue to make an impact on the world, by giving the gift of learning to areas in need, by providing low-cost textbooks and by helping save our natural resources," said Society Executive Director Rod Risley. "We salute Better World Books and our participating chapters for this outstanding joint venture." Phi Theta Kappa members may purchase used textbooks at a discount from Betterworld.com; and chapters may also be reimbursed for books collected at campus book drives.
Posted: September 2008
