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10 Jan 00 - more on paper vs. online; more on coffee; simplicity; eco-advertising ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive --------------------- The first three postings are in response to Peter Allison's 1/6/00 request for "data or anecdotes regarding the source reduction benefits (or costs) of distributing information electronically as opposed to by mail": --------------------- >From Susan Kinsella, Conservatree and Susan Kinsella & Associates, Novato, CA: Beth Eckl made a video when she was at Alameda County, CA, about actions the County had already taken and/or could take to cut down on paper use. One of the most dramatic images was of the interior of a huge warehouse filled with row upon row upon row of stacks and stacks of file boxes filled with social services files that had to be saved for several years. The voiceover says that all that data could be saved on just a few dozen CD-ROMs. Imagine not only how much paper that could save, but also the building, land, operating and many, many other associated costs. I realize that this is not exactly the same as posting regulations, but I think it's a striking example. Also, I remember seeing a few years back that the California Integrated Waste Management Board was able to cut back significantly on the number of reports it sent out by offering them on disk as an alternative. Someone from the Board could give more exact information, I'm sure. One thing to keep in mind is that many people who receive printed copies don't want them and/or never read them, whether or not they "should." So, while some people will print out what they receive electronically, my guess is that only those who really want the information will do that, which will reduce the number of copies made. E-mail: seek [ A T ] susankinsella [ D O T ] com ------------------- >From Beth Eckl, Oakland, CA area: There was an interesting study done on the costs/savings of paper reduction in Alameda County offices (among others) funded by the Alameda County Source Reduction and Recycling Board. Global Futures (415-248-0011) prepared this study, "Profiting from Source Reduction: Measuring the Hidden Benefits." You can get a copy of the report or the summary by going into the reports section of the Recycling Board's web site: http://www.stopwaste.org/reports.html E-mail: epeckl ( AT ) home ( DOT ) com ------------------- >From Bruce Nordman, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA: On "source reduction benefits (or costs) of distributing information electronically as opposed to by mail": I am not aware of any good data on this - I expect that the figures vary considerably from application to application. I'd think that putting information on the web is justified by distributing information to people who might not otherwise get it, and converting people from mail to web posting is justified by cost savings (mainly postage), so the source reduction benefit - if it does exist - is just icing on the cake. E-mail: bnordman [ AT ] dante [ DOT ] lbl [ DOT ] gov ------------------ Also from Bruce Nordman, in response to the recent postings about coffee cups: This whole discussion of reusable cups or better single-use ones brings up the need for an "Improved Folding Cup." Some foundation could do a lot of good and get a lot of good PR by sponsoring a competition for the design of one, giving the winner(s) significant cash but putting the design(s) in the public domain. I have long been concerned about the dismal state of commonly available "folding cups." "Camping cups" that are readily available usually have a low capacity and rickety design, and are much too thick when folded for people to put them in a pant or coat pocket. I believe that a cup could be designed that would be quite thin when folded but still perform well in use. This would allow many people who are concerned about excess disposable cup use to carry one and reduce this use of materials. A thin enough cup could be carried always so that people wouldn't need to make a special effort to remember it. E-mail: bnordman ( A T ) dante ( D O T ) lbl ( D O T ) gov ------------------- >From Paul Dunn, City of Omaha (NE) Public Works Department, responding to Yen Chin's 1/6/00 posting about the negative environmental effects of coffee consumption: Yen Chin wrote: "For example, coffee only grows in climates warmer than we in the U.S. normally enjoy...." Finally, a scientific answer identifying the villain for global warming. It's the evil coffee drinkers who want to grow coffee beans in their back yard! E-mail: pdunn [AT] ci [DOT] omaha [DOT] ne [DOT] us ------------------- Excerpted from a message from the Center for a New American Dream, Takoma Park, MD (forwarded by Marcia Rutan): "Step by Step: Connecting Our Dreams and Actions," is a free monthly e-mail newsletter from the Center for a New American Dream. The Center is a national non-profit group challenging the "more is better" definition of the American dream. We help individuals, communities, and institutions reduce and change the way they consume to improve quality of life and protect the natural environment. "Step by Step" will provide practical tips and ideas. For more information on the newsletter, to look at back issues, or to subscribe, see this web page: http://www.newdream.org/monthly Here's an example of a recent item in "Step by Step": The Center for a New American Dream is launching a national campaign to raise awareness of the unprecedented commercial targeting of children and youth, heighten consciousness of the societal costs of these new trends, and provide support for parents and teachers who want help. A free brochure, "Tips for Parenting in a Commercial Culture," offers positive strategies for raising healthy kids in a commercial world (call toll-free 1-877-68-DREAM or e-mail newdream2 [ AT ] newdream [ DOT ] org). The campaign website, http://www.newdream.org/campaign/kids/, features an on-line version of the brochure as well as comics, links, and statistics on kid-targeted advertising. ------------------- Excerpted from a release from Cecile Andrews, voluntary simplicity advocate, Seattle, WA: BAY AREA VOLUNTARY SIMPLICITY CONFERENCE "Simplicity: Redefining the Good Life," a participatory conference, will be held at the Santa Clara (CA) Convention Center on Saturday, February 12, 2000, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Conference speakers include: Cecile Andrews, author of "The Circle of Simplicity"; Ernest Callenbach, author of "Ecotopia" and "Living Cheaply with Style"; Duane Elgin, author of "Voluntary Simplicity" and "Awakening Earth"; Vicki Robin, author of "Your Money or Your Life"; Richard Anderson, board member, Seeds of Simplicity; Bob Banner, publisher, Hopedance; John de Graaf, co-producer of the Affluenza documentaries; Carol Holst, director, Seeds of Simplicity; Wenda Brewster O'Reilly, editor of "The Organon of the Medical Art"; Linda Breen Pierce, author of "Choosing Simplicity"; Larry Roth, editor of "The Simple Life"; and Michael Schut, editor of "Simpler Living, Compassionate Life." The conference is sponsored by: Seeds of Simplicity, a Los Angeles-based non-profit program of Cornell University's Center for Religion, Ethics, and Social Policy; The Center for a New American Dream; and Hopedance. Registration fee is $10 ($5 low income). For more information, contact Stan King by e-mail at Stan_King ( AT ) Hotmail ( DOT ) com or Patricia Lynch at 408-249-3683. ------------------- Full-page ad for Saturn cars in the Dec. 13, 1999, New Yorker magazine: Striking photo shows a pyramidal stack of bales of recyclables, with a woman sitting on top of the bales (not a babe picture; woman is in long dress, long sleeves). In the foreground, in front of the bales, is a green Saturn wagon. Underneath the photo it says (in the style of a form, with the answers printed to look like handwriting): SATURN SURVEY Name: Jennifer Miller Age: 28 Occupation: Aviculturist If you had to share one story or experience about your Saturn, what would it be? I'm a big believer in recycling. I found out that you reclaim 85 percent of the total waste you generate building Saturns. More than 95 percent of the parts you use arrive in reusable containers. And that last year you recycled over 50,000 tons of waste material. Needless to say, I bought the green one. The tag line at the bottom of the ad says: The new, redesigned (and environmentally friendly) Saturn S-Series. A Different Kind of Company. A Different Kind of Car. - end -