WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ARCHIVE   BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX

09 Apr 99 - subsidized compost bins; better building ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------------------- The first two postings are in response to the 4/7/99 excerpts from a letter from a composting systems wholesaler in California to a retailer in Washington State, criticizing government-subsidized distributions of home compost bins and worm bins and claiming that the vast majority of the bins distributed in these subsidized sales "sit idle in backyards because people don't understand their real purpose or make the effort to compost": --------------------- >From Monte Hilleman, Minnesota Office of Environmental Assistance, St. Paul, MN: I have to say I strongly disagree. Subsidized bin distribution programs are an excellent way to encourage those who might not otherwise spend the money on a bin to get involved in backyard home composting. Government has a responsibility to protect the health, safety and welfare of a community and should be allowed to form partnerships with private enterprise that further this goal (especially when the private sector is not meeting the needs of the community). Ultimately, the strategy of subsidized bin distribution is intended to save taxpayers money by defraying waste management costs. Government subsidizes many different services that cannot be supplied adequately by the private sector, including health care and recycling. It sounds as though this wholesaler needs to reevaluate his/her position and try partnering with a government/environmental agency and see how it might expand the reach of their business. "...we believe the vast majority sit idle in backyards because people don't understand their real purpose..." The City of Hutchinson, MN has data showing that after a year, ninety-five percent of recipients are still claiming to use their bins. I know King County, WA, has similar numbers as well. Even with a discount for those who might be exaggerating, that is still a significant majority of bins in use. As to people not understanding their real purpose -- Most successful distribution programs entail some sort of education effort to make sure those that get bins know how to use them and aren't causing nuisance problems down the road. I would imagine that this education happens more often within government subsidized programs than when buying a bin at a retail location. E-mail: monte [D O T] hilleman [A T] moea [D O T] state [D O T] mn [D O T] us -------------------- >From Blair Pollock, Orange Community Recycling, Chapel Hill, NC: Here in Orange County, NC, about five years ago we conducted a subsidized compost bin sale with a Smith and Hawken product, BioStack, I believe it was. Then our local elected officials requested that we work with private retailers instead to sell the bins and let the public know about the availability of bins locally at lumber yards, garden stores, etc. We produced a resource list of local suppliers, kept it up to date and sent it out in response to all requests for composting bins and information on composting. Also distributed it at our compost demonstration sites. We encouraged retailers to carry bins as part of this public/private approach. For the most part, this approach was a failure in getting people to buy composting bins at the retail price in the stores. We now host one or two subsidized sales per year. Initially we bought and resold truckloads at "cost." Now we host a wholesaler of the bins to come to town and sell truckloads. They own the bins. We work with them to absorb all the day's labor and advertising costs. They and we pay local scout troops and the high school environmental club to work the sales. We sell from 200 to 400 bins each time in our community of ~31,000 homes. From our surveys of the potential users, we don't believe the bins lie idle. About half the bin-buyers in our most recent point-of-sale survey said they planned to add food waste to their compost as a consequence of having a proper bin, whereas previous efforts included only yard waste. E-mail: bpollock (AT) town (DOT) ci (DOT) chapel-hill (DOT) nc (DOT) us -------------------- >From Dave Peters, Kitsap County Public Works, Port Orchard, WA: Here's an update on the newly revised Build A Better Kitsap environmentally friendly construction program. It now includes checklists for single family residential construction, remodel jobs, light commercial construction and developers. Folks can link into the program details via: http://www.kitsaphba.com/ This is the site for the Home Builders Association of Kitsap County. Click on "Build a Better Kitsap" on the left. Build A Better Kitsap utilizes a market-based approach that encourages and promotes the use of efficient development and provides new home and remodeling project buyers with homes that are more energy efficient, provide improved indoor air quality and health benefits and promote sustainable construction practices. Build A Better Kitsap provides additional choices in housing, provides environmental and economic benefits to both the consumer and community, and encourages job creation in recycling, energy-efficient products and materials. The program has received national attention. The Clark County (WA) Home Builders Association is using the program as a model to develop their "Build A Better Clark" program. The National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) Research Center is utilizing BABK as a model for their national "green" building program model for local associations. The Washington State Department of Ecology named Build A Better Kitsap as their 1997 "Most Innovative" Program for Waste Reduction and Recycling. In addition, Build A Better Kitsap has been awarded a Kitsap County Environmental Partnership Award, the NAHB Executive Officers Council Association Excellence Award as the Best Public Relations Program, and a Special Chairman's Award from the NAHB. E-mail: DPeters [A T] MAIL1 [D O T] CO [D O T] KITSAP [D O T] WA [D O T] US - end -