Are regular pencils or mechanical pencils better for the environment?

Question

Are regular pencils or mechanical pencils better for the environment?

Answer 1

As already mentioned Mechanical if you don't toss it when you are done. A good refillable pen and mechanical pencil can last generations.

If you are looking for back to school supplies. Terracycle has a great recycled school supply line. I've seen them at Office Max. They make penils, mechanical pencils, pens and markers from recycled material. They also have craftpaper recycled binders, pencil holders made from juice packs and other cool things.

Answer 2

In longer term, both will have the same effect to environment Both are made from Earth resoucres. Regular pencil is made from wood and carbon graphite rod whereas mechanical pencil is made from metal or plastic case and again carbon graphite rod.

Answer 3

I just found these pencils and pens that are made with recycled paper that are better for the environment!

pencils-http://www.myobon.com/pencils

pens-http://www.myobon.com/pens

Answer 4

Number 2 pencils are totally recycled.

Do you know why they call them #2 pencils?

They're made from Number 2.

Why do you think your teacher was always saying....

"Don't chew on your pencil"

Mr. Doody

Answer 5

Regular pencils.

Both use the same material for "lead," but the barrel of a regular pencil is from a renewable source, wood. The plastic barrel of a cheap mechanical pencil is an oil-based product.

Better than either is a quality mechanical pencil made of metal, in which you only replace the lead. You can get 20 or 30 years out of a decent one.

Answer 6

Mechanical, but only if you refill them instead of replacing them.

They don't need wood from trees, and over their lifespan use less material and create less waste.  Also, nearly all of the graphite is utilized, whereas in a wooden pencil much of it is shaved away during sharpening.