Harvard will switch from 100 percent recycled paper products to partially recycled paper products this fall.

But University officials say the swap--from Fort Howard to Scott products--will actually save paper and end up helping the environment.

Rob Gogan, Harvard's recycling coordinator, says that because 100 percent recycled paper tears easily, people waste more of it than they do partially recycled paper.

People will use fewer of the University's new paper towels, made from 40 percent recycled materials, Gogan said.

However, Fort Howard District Sales Manager William L. Harper disagreed, noting that 100 percent recycled paper is more absorbent than the partially recycled variety produced by Scott.

"For a long time, the College has used 100 percent recycled paper." said Harper, "There is some truth to the fact that recycled fiber...may not be quite as strong, but we are drying hands. We are not talking about ripping towels."

In late August, Harvard terminated its contract with the Fort Howard company, which had supplied the University for eight to ten years, according to Milton F. Hughes, manager of materials in the Facilities Main- tenance department at Harvard. Hughes saidHarvard signed with the rival Scott paper companyshortly afterward.

Hughes said Scott offered a more ecologicallysound package than Fort Howard. He said thatthough Scott's paper has a lower percentage ofrecycled fiber, it is of better quality than ForHoward's paper.

Gogan said he was favorably impressed by therecycling program which Scott instituted atNortheastern University last year.

Scott and Northeastern entered into apartnership promoting long-term recycling goals byconverting the university's waste paper intousable paper products.

Price was not a factor in the change, Hughessaid, as both companies offered similar prices.

"Their pricing was so close to each other, but[Scott] was going to do more for us ecologically,"he said.

According to Hughes, Scott's offer includesinstallation of high capacity dispensers, whichuse less packaging and are more ecologicallyefficient.

Scott has already installed some of itsproducts in the Science Center and will soon beginwork on other buildings, Hughes said. He said eachbuilding will be fitted with individualizedproducts.

"We are looking at the Law School as our nextadventure," said Hughes, adding, "But we don'twant to be disruptive."

Gogan said Scott will soon begin to look atinstalling dispensers in the Medical School aswell