WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ARCHIVE   BACK TO ARCHIVE INDEX

26 Jul 99 - syrups; computers; landscapers; procurement guide ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive ------------------- >From Christine McCoy, National Recycling Coalition, Alexandria, VA, responding to the 7/20/99 query from Mark Clayton asking for ideas on packaging for syrups for soft drinks: Mark - I would suggest using refillables. If your customers are already using your syrups to reduce waste, one would think they would take it a step further by rinsing and reusing the containers in which they purchase the syrup. As for storing the syrups at your store - what about reusable/refillable/recyclable steel drums? I think I've seen such containers with the same type of pour spout that you see on many of the plastic syrup containers used by other businesses and restaurants. I have a report conducted by Franklin and Associates on the economic and waste prevention benefits of reusing steel drums. Let me know if you would like a copy. Hope this helps. E-mail: ChristineM [A T] NRC-Recycle [D O T] org -------------------- >From Tom Kacandes, New York State Environmental Management Investment Group (formerly the New York State Office of Recycling Market Development), Albany, NY, and president, Reuse Development Organization: Our office is moving so I'm up to my eyeballs in packing and picking (pulling reusable stuff out of the trash barrels). As a result, I don't have time to retype text from the 7/21/99 Wall Street Journal, page 1, about how "application service providers" are providing software over the web sans packaging (not just selling packaged software electronically). Software packaging (and constant updates) have always bothered me from a solid waste point of view (those annoying "mini-binders" that couldn't be reused!). Interesting points from the article: -The trend is so strong that a venture capital firm reports NO new software startups are proposing to sell packaged software - it's all web-based; -CDs with digital photos are on the way out - just download the images you need (it's also more profitable for the providers); -Microsoft and others are trying to adapt to the ability of web-based software providers to essentially rent use of software without that software even being installed on a PC. This means that PCs can be replaced by terminals in some cases and operating system software is not needed. Silicon Valley types are saying that this will allow old PCs/Macs to return to service because they would only need to run web-browsers and have Internet connections. Wow. Might save us from having to recycle all those 486's and original Pentiums if this situation develops as fast as other web trends! E-mail: TKACANDES ( AT ) EMPIRE ( DOT ) STATE ( DOT ) NY ( DOT ) US --------------------- Excerpted from an article by Paul Freeman in the July 19, 1999, Puget Sound Business Journal (thanks to Jim Schrock and his "Delete This Newsletter" for pointing out this article): LOW COMPUTER PRICES RESHAPE SECONDHAND MARKET "Over the next 12 months people in the used personal computer (PC) business will have to look at their business model and see what their advantage is," said Christine Arrington, an analyst at International Data Corp., a technology research firm based in Framingham, Massachusetts. The buying and selling of used PCs and related equipment and software is a big and growing enterprise. A report on used-PC sales prepared by Arrington estimated that more than 6.4 million used PCs were shipped in 1998, mainly to small businesses and offices, local governments and school systems. This year, that number - which includes Apple Macintosh computers - is expected to top 7.4 million. By 2000, it will reach 8.1 million, she said. A driver of the growth in used PC sales is the new-PC market. As new PCs become faster and cheaper, users - both individuals and businesses - have more incentive to buy new models and sell the old equipment. Arrington said one of the most surprising things she learned in preparing her report was that "some large businesses were purchasing volumes of used machines." Despite the growth of the used PC-market, those serving this market face tough challenges. For one thing, technology is evolving more quickly than in the past. When a technology emerges, existing equipment without it, including equipment in a used-PC dealer's inventory, immediately loses value. Another and potentially bigger problem is a change in the way new PCs are marketed. To attract customers, some computer companies offer buyers free Internet access for a period of time, and some Internet service providers (ISPs) subsidize part or all of the cost of a new PC for anyone signing a long-term service contract with the ISP. Some companies even give away PCs to those that agree to look at online advertising. The upshot is that the price of new PCs has plummeted so dramatically that the price spread between new and used equipment has narrowed significantly. Some new, lower-end PCs retail for just a few hundred dollars; buying a new computer with a few bells and whistles can run less than $2,000. Faced with this reality, some used PC-dealers are reinventing themselves. One is Computer Renaissance, a franchise operation and part of Grow Biz, a public company based in Minneapolis. Founded in 1988, Computer Renaissance has 224 stores in the U.S. and Canada. Last year, it added 80 stores and may add as many as 40 more in 1999, said marketing manager Russell Freeman. While Computer Renaissance stores sell both new and used PCs, the firm is probably known primarily for the used side of the business. But that may be changing. Nine Computer Renaissance stores in Washington state are focusing heavily on selling new Renaissance Computer PCs, which are built in Washington state. The nine stores still buy used equipment, but the primary purpose of buying it is not to be in the used computer market but to offer a service that other sellers of new computers don't provide. -- The full article is on the Puget Sound Business Journal website at: http://www.amcity.com/seattle/stories/1999/07/19/focus8.html --------------------- >From an article in the June, 1999, "Flashpoint," the King County (WA) Hazardous Waste Management Program Internet newsletter: A new project of the City of Seattle, King County and the Washington Association of Landscape Professionals (WALP) will establish an environmental certification process for landscapers. The first pilot test for the new certification took place May 15. The goal of the certification is to provide landscapers with the knowledge they need in order to offer environmentally friendly services to clients. In a survey conducted by the local Natural Lawn Care Project, a quarter of those who hire a landscape firm would like to switch to a firm that practices natural lawn care. King County and Seattle have agreed to promote environmentally certified landscapers through the Green Business Directory, advertising and other means. Environmental certification will also help landscapers qualify for EnviroStars status. The new process consists of an additional test for already-certified landscapers. In order to become a certified landscape technician, a landscaper must pass a rigorous, though basic, test. The test covers a range of topics, like first aid, plant identification, grading and sodding, tree planting, and using a chainsaw. Each candidate also selects a specialty in installation, maintenance or irrigation. The new environmental test will measure candidates' knowledge of environmentally friendly methods of mowing, fertilizing, pest control and irrigation, and will consist of both written and field tests. Over the course of the next year, the City of Seattle, King County and WALP will work with landscapers to fine tune the test, offer seminars for test preparation, and promote environmental certification to the landscape industry. Next spring they hope to have their first certified environmental landscapers. For information on this program, contact: - Carl Woestwin, City of Seattle E-mail: Carl (D O T) Woestwin (A T) ci (D O T) seattle (D O T) wa (D O T) us - or Annette Frahm, King County E-mail: Annette [D O T] Frahm [A T] metrokc [D O T] gov --------------------- The final version of the guide, "Purchasing Strategies to Prevent Waste and Save Money" is now available. This guide on source reduction procurement is published by the Source Reduction Forum of the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), in conjunction with Inform, a nonprofit environmental research group based in New York City. The guide costs $5 for NRC members and $10 for non-members. To obtain a copy, give the name of the publication and send a check (payable to National Recycling Coalition) to: NRC Publications, 1727 King Street, Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314-2720. You can also get more information on the guide and order it by going to the NRC website at http://www.nrc-recycle.org/ and clicking on "NRC Councils" and then clicking on "Source Reduction Council." Then click on "Forum Publications" and scroll down to the listing for the Source Reduction Procurement Guide. - end -