Paper or Plastic: When the Bill Comes Due
Paper or plastic?
It used to be one of the dominant decisions for consumers.
But as more and more supermarkets and other stores have phased out the use of so-called disposable plastic bags, a different environmental question still lingers: Paper or electronic? Bills, that is.
For many people, paying bills online is a no-brainer way to save time and resources. But millions of Americans continue to receive all their bills by mail, which they pay with paper checks, send with postage, and add to the handling of even more paper mail moving around the country.
It’s estimated that if every American household went paper-free for bill-paying the environmental impact would include
• Reducing solid waste in U.S. landfills by more than 800,000 tons a year
• Saving an estimated 18.5 million trees every year
• Curbing the release of greenhouse gases by 2.1 million tons a year
Some hard-copy holdouts cite security concerns in not going paperless. But others are unable or unwilling to cross a psychological barrier. “I choose to get and pay my bills by mail because it feels more substantial to me,” says a 30 year-old colleague who otherwise recycles and reduces elsewhere in her life. “I just don’t think it’s my responsibility to go paperless if it makes me feel insecure.”
Tell us what you think: Should you be responsible for reducing your carbon footprint by putting away the checkbook and paying bills electronically? When the environmentally responsible route makes you feel uneasy, is it personally responsible to override it?
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Paper or Plastic: When the Bill Comes Due
When it comes to the environmental responsibility, I would like to sacrifice my personal feeling. Uneasy does not equal insecurity. Admittedly, holdouts would be understood if their security become compromised. Otherwise, our emotional inconsistencies are secondary in the environmental improvement. We should coordinate our individual attitude and get accustomed to paperless society.
Aaron | 1 year ago
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Rural vs Urban
I wish it all so simple. As it were with those who pioneered the geography to establish our country, so must the internet slowly spread. Those of us of who unfortunately still find the fortune and wherewithal to survive in rural places must deal with the borderline achievements and failures of a paperless society. It still costs us the time at work, gas, electricity, house payment, vehicle payment, satellite uplink, and dog food to afford such a contribution to our environment. The blog should be titled “If you live in a city, take a bus—then pay your bills on the internet.” I think if the mathematical computations were accurate, a much greater contribution would impact our environment.
Jason A. Dunford | 1 year ago
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paper or security
Please remember that when you pay a bill online one time that you have just given the company the right to withdraw money monthly on bill day…The problem with this is that you deposit your money on certain days and if you do not have enough money in the bank to pay the bill you will be charged for insufficient funds…your banks with tell you this is true…by using even a credit card to pay a bill you have also just given that company permission to automatically withdraw your money the next due date…It is a dangerous thing…Maybe companies should stop sending duplicates of mail…Penndot, here in Pennsylvania, sent me 3 letters exactly the same in 3 different envelopes…What say we all about the junk mail we get and just throw away, now there is avoidable waste…There is a problem and we need to all pitch in a bit to help but some things are just dangerous.
stacy gregory | 1 year ago
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Three-fourths of Americans pay their bills online
More Americans than ever, an estimated 63.1 million households or three-fourth of those online, are paying their bills online rather than writing paper checks, according to a recent survey. (Survey: http://phx.corporate-ir.net/phoenix.zhtml?c=94799&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1191071&highlight;=)
To get started or learn more about viewing and paying bills online, you can visit eBILLPLACE.com, a consumer website with a lot of helpful tips, how-to information, and calculators to determine how much time and money you would save and calculate the environmental benefits of going paperless.
You can also search for billers and banks that offer paperless billing and online bill pay. eBILLPLACE is sponsored by CheckFree (now part of Fiserv), the provider of electronic billing and payment services for banks and billers.
Sheryl | 1 year ago
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Get IRS onboard
I’d love to go paperless, but when tax time comes around, I need written proof stapled to all of my other documentation to support my claim on my long form. Ink cartridges are very expensive, and bills are lengthy so printing them out is no less costly and only slightly less efficient going the old route.
Anyone have a solution to this conundrum?
JB | 1 year ago
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Do what you can, but do as much as you can
This article brings up an interesting point. Should we be judging the worthiness of each other’s sustainability efforts? I am pretty computer literate but do not like the feeling of paying my bills online. I also buy hardcover and soft cover books when I could just as easily buy an e-book reader. I just like the feel, the smell, the “book-ness” of the real thing. But, I do as much as I can in other ways to save the planet. I’m a dutiful recycler of everything including our electronics. I take public transportation. I try to buy locally grown food. Competition is not the point. We must praise and salute each other for understanding the planet problem and doing whatever we can. Let’s not make it an “I’m greener than you” contest.
Deborah R Herr | 1 year ago
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Trust issues
I am green person; I recycle, shop second-hand, compost, grow my own veggies and while I do pay a few bills on line, the idea of paying all of them somehow scares me. All my numbers being out there for anyone to access is hard for me to get my brain around that something won’t happen!!
Michelle Holt | 1 year ago
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an additional solution
There is another way to pay bills electronically without technically banking on line.
1 You need a specific FDIC insured checking account that permits the bank to make electronic payments on three specific bills each month.
One of these bills should be your credit card. (Sometimes banks classify these as “savings accounts” although right now the interest you earn is paltry.)
2 Have your pay “checks” or social security
“checks” directly deposited to this account.
3 Authorize the bank to auto pay 2 major recurrent bills each month
AND put everything else on your credit card and authorize your bank to auto pay your credit card bill each month.
This will eliminate the need to use many checks and stamps.
Cecily | 11 months, 2 weeks ago
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Thanks
I have been considering changing from my old habits (I’m 80-old!) of many years and paying my bills online. Your suggestions are very good, and helped push me to look into changing my ways. Thanks much
Anonymous | 10 months, 3 weeks ago
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Paper
I don’t trust computers with money. I have seen a computer create about $50 out of nothing, because communications failed during a transaction.
If I had my way, computers should never be allowed to handle money or personal information.
Anonymous | 10 months, 2 weeks ago
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