A recent survey found that nearly a trillion sheets of paper are tossed out within one day of their printing, forcing the question: Was their printing really necessary? With April 15 looming around the corner and tax documents being prepared, paper consumption is on the rise.

To decrease unnecessary printing and paper consumption associated with the tax season, Staples is offering a variety of environmentally-friendly printing solutions for 2008 tax returns between April 5-15. To encourage customers to print double-sided versus single-sided and reduce overall paper consumption, Staples will offer free black and white double-sided copies of tax returns, up to 20 pages. In 2006 alone, more than 99,778,437 tons of paper, or 663 pounds per person, were consumed. This number can be reduced by 20 percent annually if double-sided printing is utilized.

“We can all save a considerable amount of money, and have a positive impact on the environment, by taking a few minutes to think before hitting the print button on the copier or computer,” said John Burke, senior vice president of business services at Staples.