What ever happened to reducing, reusing, and recycling?

There couldn't be a better example of when to implement this practice when it comes to printing receipts in Canada.

The majority of Canada's organizations don't offer electronic receipts, nor do they offer consumers the option to decline the printing of their copy.

Not only does this increase the amount of waste being produced, it increases the amount of BPA (bisphenol A) being introduced into our bodies and environment.

Canada declared BPA a toxic substance in October, 2010 and low-dose exposure may be linked to ADHD, autism, obesity, type II diebetes, and cancer. High-dose exposure is linked to sexual dysfunction in males and possibly females.

94% of thermal paper receipts contain the chemical BPA and when handled approximately 46% of it is absorbed into our bodies.

By recycling thermal paper receipts we're contaminating recycled paper used to produce consumer friendly products.

When these receipts end up in landfills we’re contaminating the surrounding ground water.

Environment Canada says:

"It is concluded that bisphenol A is entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that have or may have an immediate or long-term harmful effect on the environment or its biological diversity."

"As such, it is concluded that bisphenol A be considered as a substance that may be entering the environment in a quantity or concentration or under conditions that constitute or may constitute a danger in Canada to human life or health."

Sign this petition addressed to Rona Ambrose, Minister of Health, Leona Aglukkaq, Minsiter of the Environment, and Mr. Allan William Pope, Chief Review Officer of Environmental Protection Review Canada so we can reduce the risks associated with the production and use of thermal paper receipts containing BPA by giving consumers the option to decline the printing of their copy or to receive an electronic receipt.

Sources:

http://www.reuters.com/article/2010/10/14/us-bpa-idUSTRE69D4MT20101014

http://ngm.nationalgeographic.com/geopedia/Bisphenol_A

http://blogs.discovermagazine.com/80beats/2009/11/11/study-the-chemical-bpa-in-high-doses-causes-impotence/#.U9rreIDvaec

http://www.rbej.com/content/12/1/37

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21939283

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/21030062

http://www.saskwastereduction.ca/recycle/resources/paper/bpa-receipts

http://ec.gc.ca/ese-ees/default.asp?lang=En&n=3C756383-1