Happy Earth Day, everyone! The CIA wants you all to know that it is at the forefront of conservation by… shredding and burning documents. They sent out this official Earth Day press release highlighting its "sustainability and conservation initiatives":

The Central Intelligence Agency's practice of shredding and burning classified papers-often referred to in movies and books as "burn after reading"-is one of several ways the CIA conserves energy, reduces its impact on the environment, and lowers costs through its sustainability efforts. Exhaust from the Agency's on-site incinerator generates steam to heat water at CIA Headquarters. In addition to saving fuel, that process reduces the amount of waste-which would otherwise be destined for landfills-by nearly 1,000 tons per year.

Huh, and here we thought they shred and burned documents to keep people from reading them. Those CIA spooks are turning into a bunch of hippies. What's next, composting toilets? Ethanol-fueled predator drones in Pakistan?

[Image via Getty]