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08 Aug 00 - suitcases; Dump & Run; landfills; auto salvage yards; computers ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- >From Renee Kimball, waste prevention advocate, Portland, OR, responding to the 8/7/00 item about "Suitcases for Kids," a national program started in 1996 by 11-year-old Aubyn Burnside in North Carolina to collect suitcases to give to foster children (Aubyn had heard that the average child in foster care moves three to four times, and that they traditionally carry their personal belongings from home to home in black garbage bags): SUITCASES FOR STUPIDITY It seems that no matter how ridiculous or timewasting a project is, if a child comes up with the idea it somehow becomes worthy. Little Aubyn's suitcase program is probably one of the most ill-thought-out projects I've seen in a long time. 1. Like moving their things in a garbage bag is these kids' biggest worry or problem. 2. Who assumed the garbage bag would automatically get thrown out when the child arrived at the new location? I guess it doesn't matter if the family uses 30 bags a week for trash as long as we save that ONE BAG used every two years in the move. 3. Remember: The media is all about controversy, catastrophe and carnality and little about truth or the facts - I wonder how many kids REALLY move their things in garbage bags. 4. What a perfect reminder each time they moved that, "Don't worry, you won't be here long so keep your suitcase handy." 5. How many resources were wasted in the process of implementing this program, which probably does nothing to help these kids' self-image, sense of security or "homeless" state? a. All the suitcases have to be gathered, transported, stored and distributed (gas, infrastructure costs for storage such as heat, light, cleaning and disposal costs, etc., etc., etc.). b. And of course all the ones donated are useful and NONE are garbage. This is a perfect example of THINKING in sound bites. Isn't it bad enough we make decisions from VISUAL and AUDITORY sound bites without trying to take shortcuts in our reasoning? E-mail: rrrrenee [ AT ] aracnet [ DOT ] com Note from Tom: For more information on this program, see the program website at: http://www.suitcasesforkids.org ----------------------- >From Samanthe Sheffer, Seattle Goodwill, Seattle, WA, responding to the 8/7/00 news item about Dump & Run Inc., a new nonprofit service on the East Coast that is starting programs to collect college students' castoff items in the spring and sell them to incoming students (at the same college) in the fall, with the proceeds going to charity: I think the Dump & Run idea is a great one. The only challenge in this region could be the storage issue. So often, even if there is someone on campus (i.e. a student, for enviro credit) trying to organize this type of collection with Goodwill, the types and quality of goods are best suited for use by other students, who won't be shopping at Goodwill until months after the items donated in June have been rotated off the sales floor. E-mail: SAMS [ A T ] seattlegoodwill [ D O T ] org ------------------------ Links to two articles about landfills by industry veteran Rob Arner on the "Solidwaste.com" website (forwarded by Rob): Part One - http://www.solidwaste.com/read/sp20000801/201723 Part Two - http://www.solidwaste.com/read/sp20000807/203392 Although these articles primarily deal with technical landfill issues, Part Two does advocate source reduction and recycling requirements, as a condition for landfill permits. ------------------------ Excerpted from articles about auto salvage yards by Chris O'Malley in the 8/7/00 Indianapolis Star: HOW TO DECIDE WHETHER TO SHOP FOR USED AUTO PARTS AT SALVAGE YARDS Buying used auto parts from salvage yards may be a good idea if: - Your vehicle is older and has fallen in resale value. - You have more time than money and have some mechanical skills. - The used parts are in good working condition. - New parts are relatively expensive and scarce. - You are environmentally conscious. But used parts may be trouble if: - It's difficult to determine the condition of parts until they're installed. - A salvage yard won't permit you to exchange its defective used part for another one. - A yard resells defective parts that were returned from its customers. - Your mechanic refuses to install a used part. - The used part is just as worn as the one you're replacing. - Reliability is critical. - It's extremely time-consuming and expensive to install the used part. (Sources: Norbert Brown, professor of automotive technology at Vincennes University, Vincennes, Indiana; and Indianapolis Star staff.) Potentially good buys at auto salvage yards are nonmoving parts, including side-window glass and wheel-bearing spindles - pricey items when new. The worst parts to buy used include things like spark plugs and hoses. They're inexpensive to buy new. Risky used parts also include certain electrical modules and parts that must be reliable because they involve much labor to install, such as in-tank fuel pumps. ----------------------- Link to a long article on computer disposal, recycling and reuse by Trevor Maxwell in the 8/6/00 Portland Oregonian (first seen in Jim Schrock's "Delete this Newsletter"): http://www.oregonlive.com/outdoors/index.ssf?/news/oregonian/00/08/lc_11comxx06.frame - end -