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18 Aug 99 - life cycle analysis; Bhutan plastic bag ban; shipping materials; Grassroots site ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive ------------------- >From Carl Woestwin, Seattle Public Utilities, responding to the 8/16/99 item about the U.S. Postal Service report describing specific environmental benefits from shopping by mail (reduction in air pollution emissions, reduction in gasoline consumption, etc.): It's great that the Postal Service is attempting a life cycle analysis. It also brings to mind the dueling interpretations of the cloth diaper and disposable diaper industries in the early 90's. If everyone does life cycle assessments using their own assumptions, we are going to have some giant disagreements. E-mail: Carl (D O T) Woestwin (A T) ci (D O T) seattle (D O T) wa (D O T) us ----------------- >From Laura Brannen (forwarded by Wendy Brawer): The Government of Bhutan recently banned the use of plastic shopping bags nationwide. Below is the actual language announcing the policy from the Ministry of Trade and industry. I thought this was so cool that I wanted to share it. If an entire country is banning the use of plastic bags, maybe we should all consider our own usage of them. _____ Royal Government of Bhutan Ministry of Trade and Industry Owing to the vision, far-sight and strong commitment of our leaders and forefathers, we entered the last decade of the present millennium with an intact and pristine environment. Traditional and local beliefs supported and respected the conservation of key ecological areas such as mountains, valleys, rivers and forests as the abodes of gods, goddesses and protective deities. We believed that pollution or disturbances of these sites could result in death, disease or famine. With the onslaught of the plastic age, traditional and local beliefs are being eroded into and fast fading. As plastic bags are light, easy to handle and available at very low costs, we are quickly joining the rest of the world in becoming a throw away society. Plastic bags are being discarded indiscriminately. We are beginning to find them in the remotest villages, highest mountains, valleys, forests, rivers and agricultural fields, not to speak of the drains, the streets and the household garbages in our urban centers. The use of plastic bags is increasing rapidly. They have ended the tradition of shoppers and shops using cloth, paper, and other reusable and easily degraded bags. Plastic bags are non-biodegradable and will persist in the environment over long period of time bringing about serious environment pollution and health-related problems to all living beings. Towards reducing the harm to our pristine environment and to avoid the health hazards to people as well as animals by the wide usage of plastic carry bags, the Ministry of Trade & Industry in conjunction with the Ministry of Health & Education, the Ministry of Communication, the National Environment Commission and the Bhutan Chamber of Commerce & Industry have decided to ban the use/sale of plastic carry bags, doma wrappers and homemade ice cream pouches with effect from 2nd June 1999. Any trader found selling/using plastic carry bags, doma wrapped in plastic and homemade ice cream pouches shall be liable to the following penalties: 1. A fine of Ngultrum 500 for the first offence; 2. A fine of Ngultrum 1,000 for the second offence; and 3. Subsequent violation shall result in cancellation of the trade license. The Royal Government seeks the kind cooperation of all its citizens to implement the ban successfully. All are requested to help conserve and protect our pristine environment and health of all beings by not using the banned plastic items. Shoppers and shopkeepers are requested to use cloth, paper, and other reusable and easily degradable bags. (Note from Tom: I do not know the original sender of this message and I can't vouch for the authenticity of this, but it does sound legitimate to me. Bhutan is a small country in the eastern Himalayas, tucked between China, India and Nepal. On a Bhutan website I did find out that 36 Ngultrum are roughly equal to one dollar U.S.) -------------------- >From Veronica Torres (forwarded by Timonie Hood from the GreenYes listserv): I would like to share my experience with material reuse listings. Here in California we have PROMAX run by Ecology Action where you can post materials wanted and available materials. I recently started a business utilizing the online auctions. I needed shipping materials so I consulted PROMAX. I now have two contacts in my community where I am able to get all of the cardboard boxes, packing peanuts, bubble wrap, shredded paper, etc., that I need. I keep Ecology Action informed as to the quantity I "divert." The only packing material that I have had to pay for is tape (before I found out about #1 below). If you have ever priced bubble wrap, you will realize how big a dollar savings this resource offers. Not to mention doing a good turn for the planet. Two interesting things that might not be common knowledge: 1. The United States Postal Service provides Priority Mail supplies free of charge. This includes tape and various sizes of boxes. They will also pre-print your return address on Priority Mail labels for FREE. All of this can be ordered over the phone and delivered to you by the same carrier that is going to your house anyway. Call 1-800-222-1811 for more information. 2. You can dial 1-800-828-2214 to find out about businesses in your area that will accept packing materials (loose-fill polystyrene "peanuts") for reuse. It is my intent to share this number with my clients to (hopefully) extend the lifetime of the packing material. This system is automated. When I called, I didn't even have to put in my phone number or anything. The system just started giving me the name and contact information for local folks that want these peanuts. I love the idea that one person's trash is another person's treasure. Material exchange listings are great! -------------------- The Grassroots Recycling Network website has some good new articles and other resources on Producer Responsibility and Zero Waste. Go to their site at: http://www.grrn.org/ Click on Resource Library, then click on Producer Responsibility or Zero Waste. - end -