'Would you like a receipt for your transaction?' We've all been asked that question at gas stations, ATMs and elsewhere. There are approximately 8 billion ATM transactions in the United States every year. According to Market Watch, if everyone in the United States would select the no-receipt option at the ATM for a year, it would save a roll of paper more than two billion feet long, or enough to circle the equator 15 times.
Saying 'No' to the question 'Would you like a receipt?" not only saves paper, but it also reduces the chance the receipt will end up as litter. Most of the time people take their receipt, crumple it up, never look at it ever again and then throw it away. Once in the habit, you'll probably never miss handling paper receipts. In this day and age, you can review all of your ATM and gas station transactions at your bank's or financial institution's web site, as well as keep tabs on credit-card expenses via online statements.
Some hotels and other companies are now giving the option of receiving your receipt via e-mail rather than a printed one. If this is offered to you, choose the e-mail receipt instead of the paper receipt.
Just say 'No' to automated receipts and maybe you could be help to save some trees in the process and reduce waste. Pressing a single button can be the greenest thing you do all day. Just another way to reduce your carbon footprint.
I've been saying 'No' to automated receipts for a couple of years now. It is now habit for me to press the No button and to see all of my financial tranactions online. I hate clutter and my old receipts only added to that clutter. Sometimes it's good to say 'No'.
