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14 Apr 00 - selling simplicity; waste exchanges; Half.com; dentists; simple living ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- >From Donald Van Dyke, California Integrated Waste Management Board, Sacramento, CA, responding to the 4/7/00 posting of the Vicki Robin opinion piece, "Simplicity Is Not for Sale": The selling of simplicity by Madison Avenue reminds me of a similar irony of the past, their tapping into the counter-culture trend during the latter part of the Vietnam War era. (That was the early '60s to the mid '70s for you young'ns out there.) Back then, what we called "the establishment" sold trendy anti-establishment clothing, perfume, etc. to the majority who were somewhere in the middle. The counter-culture movement gave rise to the environmental movement which is still with us today, as made evident by this waste prevention forum. Unfortunately, the majority is acting the same way they always have, buying things like RealSimple magazine that act like aspirin to kill pain without addressing the illness. It seems to me that these people are not striving to progress toward something, they are running from something else. I think that is what we all must ultimately address. E-mail: DVanDyke [A T] CIWMB [D O T] ca [D O T] gov ------------------ >From Donna Twickler, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) Region 5, Chicago (forwarded by Jeff Tumarkin and Paul Ruesch from the EPA Jobs Through Recycling listserv): Bill Garfield from the Chicago office of the Department of Commerce, Economic Development Administration (EDA), is currently researching waste exchanges throughout the United States. EDA is interested in assessing the feasibility of establishing a national, coordinated effort to link waste exchanges. He would like to find out from those who would potentially use such a network if they think a national waste exchange would be helpful (he is aware of past efforts to establish a national waste exchange). Is it anticipated that it would be used frequently? Are any other discussions currently taking place in other regions of the U.S. on this subject? Any input would be greatly appreciated. Bill Garfield's e-mail: wgarfiel ( AT ) doc ( DOT ) gov ----------------- Excerpted from a column by Michelle Slatalla in the 4/6/00 New York Times: Millions of Americans are purchasing used items online through auction websites such as eBay. Now there is a new website where people can buy and sell used books, music, movie videos or video games: http://www.half.com Unlike the auction sites, the people selling their items on Half.com list their items for a fixed price, which can be no more than half of the manufacturer's original list price. Buyers do not bid against each other. Half.com processes all payments and takes a 15 percent commission. Half.com also makes money by charging a little extra for shipping. If an item is unsatisfactory, Half.com will give the buyer a refund. As of the end of March, Half.com had 2.35 million listings, of which 2.16 million were books. ------------------- >From Katie LeBel, Recycline (forwarded by Stephanie Davis): I am the public relations manager for Recycline, a company that makes a recyclable toothbrush from recycled materials. I am compiling a list of "alternative" dental professionals and am wondering if anyone has a list of dentists who have pledged to go mercury-free. Any assistance you can provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks. E-mail: katie [AT] planetfriendlypr [DOT] com -------------------- Link to the Spring 2000 issue of the Simple Living Newsletter (forwarded by Marcia Rutan): http://www.simpleliving.net/newsletter/front_page.htm - end -