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22 Mar 99 - paper reduction; signs; cereal box notebooks; Free Market; te rminology; Absolut waste ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition --------------------- >From Beth Eckl, Alameda County General Services Agency, Oakland, CA: How do you use less paper? We could use your ideas... Recent articles state the trend is toward more paper, not less, as electronic technology is made available. We believe we can modify some of that behavior/trend with training. One project underway to reduce paper at the County government level is to incorporate paper reduction training (tips/tricks/methodologies, for lack of a better term) into existing computer training classes offered to all County employees. How can you use e-mail and not print? How can you send and receive multiple drafts for edits and only print the final copy? We are developing a list of tips/tricks/etc. for two applications: (1) Microsoft Word applications (such as adjusting margins, font changes, revision marking, etc.) and (2) for Microsoft Outlook e-mail (such as file folders, archiving files, sending attachments efficiently). The goal is to train employees on ways to use less paper at their desk in computer applications, specifically in Word and Outlook/e-mail as part of their normal training. How do YOU use less paper at your desk? Your ideas are welcome. Beth Eckl, Recycling Program Coordinator, Alameda County GSA Phone: 510-208-9629 E-mail: eeckl (AT) co (DOT) alameda (DOT) ca (DOT) us -------------------- >From Brian Foran, California Integrated Waste Management Board, Sacramento, CA: Has anyone seen or heard about nicely-designed color signs to place on paper hand towel dispensers in commercial buildings that encourage users to minimize the number of towels they use? A few of us at the California Integrated Waste Management Board have considered designing such signs, but have never followed up. If we could find some ready-made signs, we just might use them (if our property manager allows us to). Our paper towel dispensers are approximately 1 1/2 ft. X 2 ft. on the front side, and use individually-dispensed multi-fold towels. In a recent waste audit of our two-building facility, paper towels were the third largest component of our disposed materials (behind organics and food packaging). We really need to do something to get our staff to think twice before using three or four paper towels when one will do! E-mail: bforan ( A T ) CIWMB ( D O T ) ca ( D O T ) gov -------------------- >From Eric Nelson, King County Environmental Purchasing Program, Seattle, WA, responding to the 3/19/99 posting about the University of Michigan environmental group project that makes notebooks from cereal boxes and paper that has been used on one side: As we thought about forwarding this item to our printshop-clients (we have several within King County government, and many among our other clients), we wondered if the people on this listserv might be able to offer a few other ideas, or links, that could be combined with this one to comprise a set of inspirations for waste-reduction, recycling, and environmental purchasing in printshops. It seems likely that this has been done before, so information about prior efforts would represent an appreciated time-saver. Thanks. E-mail: eric ( DOT ) nelson ( AT ) metrokc ( DOT ) gov --------------------- >From Anne Frisch, Neighborhood Energy Consortium, St. Paul, MN: Recent postings on the Waste Prevention Forum referred to the Free Market, an Internet-based listing service for reusable goods that is offered to Saint Paul residents. The Saint Paul Neighborhood Energy Consortium (NEC), which hosts the Free Market, has a 1998 year-end report for this project. If anyone would like to receive an e-mail copy of the report, contact me at the e-mail address below. I would be happy to send it on to you. E-mail: annef [A T] spnec [D O T] org -------------------- The next two messages are in response to the 3/19/99 posting discussing the use of the terms "recycle" and "reuse." ---------------------- >From Dan Klusman, King County Dept. of Natural Resources, Seattle, WA: As some of you know, I am leaving the waste management field.... Let me go out with a bang by responding to the recent posting about terminology. For many years reuse has had negative connotations. We have felt this for some time in the buy recycled business. We often talk about recycled products being "remanufactured" from curbside recyclables. We've found that if we use the term reused, it hits a sour note for many people. They equate reused with inferior quality and "having to make do." Overcoming that barrier is difficult. For better or worse, the word "recycling" has taken on a greater environmental meaning for most folks. Our audiences often think in different terms than we do. E-mail: dan [ D O T ] klusman [ A T ] metrokc [ D O T ] gov ------------------- >From Renee Kimball, waste prevention advocate, Portland, OR: In response to the 3/19/99 posting regarding the interchangeable use of the terms "recycle" and "reuse": It seems the focus should be more on the fact that people are doing the act than what they call it. Unlike us, most people do not consider this interest a major focus in their lives. I'm ecstatic if they reuse anything (and they can call it whatever they want). As my dad was fond of saying, "Let's not sweat the small stuff." If they are reusing/recycling/whatever and it makes them feel good about themselves and a part of the solution -- I'm certainly not going to be a damper on their enthusiasm by correcting their terminology. Also -- I'm working on a project and we're looking for a cast-off item in the shape of a sling-shot handle. We want to use something from a production line that would normally go to landfill (we need an ongoing supply of them). We would like it to be maybe 10-12 inches long and about 7-8 inches wide at the fork. The handle should be 1-2 inches in diameter. These are all guestimates and we're happy to look at anything that is sling-shot shaped. Any ideas/sources would be greatly appreciated. E-mail: rrrRenee [A T] aracnet [D O T] com -------------------- >From Tom Watson, King County Solid Waste Division, Seattle, WA: Being sort of a newspaper junkie, I get home delivery of the New York Times. I especially look forward to the Sunday paper. So, you can imagine my delight when I got a special gift tucked in the plastic bag with yesterday's paper. "Absolut Spring," read the card that came with it. "In celebration of Spring, Absolut Vodka and kate spade new york would like you to have this limited edition rain poncho. Stay dry." Yes, I got a free plastic rain poncho with my newspaper! It was that really smelly kind of plastic, 10 ounces worth, and it even has a picture of the Absolut Vodka bottle on the back! When I called the New York Times circulation department to ungraciously complain about my free gift, the person I talked to was surprised, because she thought they were distributed with the papers just in the New York metropolitan area, not in other places.... So, if you're ever in Seattle and happen to see someone walking down the street in a cheap plastic rain poncho with a picture of a vodka bottle on it, it won't be me. But keep this in mind for any awards for wasteful marketing! ------------------- A reminder: If the lines of text are broken up on these Forum e-mails (we just changed e-mail systems in my office), view the messages full screen, and that will hopefully solve the problem. Thanks! - end -