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18 Feb 00 - drill bit reuse; cloth diapers; school lab haz waste ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- Excerpted from message from Mike Hancock, A Better Bit, Inc., Wylie, TX: My name is Mike Hancock and I am vice president of A Better Bit, in the Dallas area. We are looking for contacts so that we can purchase used steel ship auger bits. At the present time hundreds of thousands (perhaps millions) of these are being dumped into landfills, or sold for scrap metal. We recondition these bits. Some background on my company: A Better Bit has for the last two years been designing and engineering mass production automated machines capable of taking dull, bent, rusted worthless steel ship auger bits back to factory specifications. This technology is patent pending. These drill bits drill large holes (1 to 2 inches, for example) and are used by electrical contractors and electrical utility companies throughout the world. Every telephone pole has at least six holes drilled into it with a ship auger bit. Every new house built uses several of these bits. Once dulled, these bits have a scrap value of 5-10 cents and in many cases are simply thrown away. We wish to purchase these used bits, in any size and/or condition, for $1.00 to $1.50 each, depending on the region and arrangements. We invite any recycling agencies interested in a joint venture to collect these old bits. We will pay the agency and/or the contractors. We will even pay for the shipping. If you have any questions, comments, or ideas, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail. A Better Bit, Inc. 2015 Stone Rd. Wylie, TX. 75098 Phone: 1-972-442-4804 Fax: 1-972-429-5717 Website: http://www.abetterbit.com/ E-mail: abetrbit [AT] airmail [DOT] net Note from Tom: After looking at this company's website and talking to Mike on the phone, my feeling is that this could be a legitimate reuse market opportunity. But, as always, enter into any agreements at your own risk, ask for references, etc. The National Waste Prevention Coalition does not endorse this company, nor any companies. ---------------------- >From Kae Ono, Contra Costa County (CA) Community Development Department: Does anyone know of any good program that promotes use of cloth diapers at 1) hospitals, 2) childcare facilities and/or 3) residential homes? I created brochures that explain positive things about the use of cloth diapers. I was going to send them to local hospitals and childcare facilities. And I thought that there have to be some ways to more effectively reach communities and send the important message out (and actually change their consumption behavior). If you have any information with regard to this, please let me know. E-mail: kono ( AT ) bicd ( DOT ) co ( DOT ) contra-costa ( DOT ) ca ( DOT ) us --------------------- >From Joy Kirschenbaum, Center for Ecological Technology, Pittsfield, MA: In response to the 2/16/00 request for information on hazardous waste in schools: There has been a lot of work on this issue done by Western MassCOSH (Western Massachusetts Committee on Occupational Safety and Health). Their e-mail address is: wmcosh [ A T ] javanet [ D O T ] com There is also a kit for schools from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency on Indoor Air Quality. Good luck. E-mail: CETPitts ( A T ) aol ( D O T ) com ---------------------- A reminder: Tom will be out of the office for a few days. The next installment of the Forum will be next Thursday or Friday, Feb. 24-25, at the earliest. Thanks! - end -