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14 Sep 00 - phones; kudos; WasteCap; bubble wrap; decking; spa covers; global warming; electronics ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- Excerpted from message from Bill Ewing, Maryland Food Bank, Baltimore, MD, in response to the 9/12/00 posting from Leslie Bullock Goldsmith, wondering why Verizon Wireless in her area (southwest Iowa) does not have a program to reuse old cell phones, and seeking advice on dealing with Verizon and other companies on this issue: I have a friend at Verizon, who is looking into this and has agreed to try to help Leslie. My friend has learned that Verizon does have some programs to take back old cell phones and donate them to the "Call to Protect" program, but not everywhere. E-mail: EWING (AT) MDFOODBANK (DOT) ORG Note: The website for the Call to Protect program is at: http://www.donateaphone.com -------------------- >From Sandy Grant, City of Santa Monica Task Force on the Environment, Santa Monica, CA, following up on her 9/12/00 posting seeking information about communities that have implemented paper waste generation reduction programs with their local businesses: Thanks. I've gotten about nine replies already! You run a really excellent service! E-mail: sgrant51 (A T) earthlink (D O T) net -------------------- >From Steve Long, Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, Boston, MA, in response to the 9/12/00 posting from Sandy Grant referred to above: In response to the request for information on business waste reduction programs, WasteCap of Massachusetts (website: http://www.wastecap.org/) is a non-profit organization formed to help businesses reduce and recycle non-hazardous solid waste. WasteCap was created as a public-private partnership between Massachusetts businesses and the Department of Environmental Protection to provide a range of free, confidential services. One of WasteCap's services is Waste Reduction Assessment Training. Offered to colleges, universities, and trade associations, Waste Reduction Assessment Trainings introduce opportunities for waste reduction and recycling in specific industries. Topics covered include solid waste management (understanding weight versus volume, waste stream characterization by industry sector, and cost factors), approaches to waste assessments, waste reduction and recycling opportunities, and employee involvement and participation. For further information, contact: Dan Ruben, WasteCap's Buy Recycled and Source Reduction Program Manager, (617) 236-7715. E-mail: Stephen (DOT) Long (AT) state (DOT) ma (DOT) us ----------------------- >From Blair Pollock, Chapel Hill Solid Waste Management Department, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, responding to recent postings, including Tony Kingsbury's 9/12/00 posting about TREX decking: Regarding bubble wrap, many of our local mailing houses are happy to have it, as they are the styrofoam pellets used for sending out packages. Regarding TREX, our experience is that it is quite treacherously slippery during the time of first frosts/hoar frost, when people are less likely to be thinking about icy surfaces. After two serious backwrenching slips on the TREX surface due to moisture buildup, when I think a wooden surface would have absorbed the small amount of morning condensate, we painted our TREX deck with a non-slip sand paint and have had no problems since then. Our deck has been in for four years and looks good. It cuts "like" wood, though you will probably go through more saw blades as it is a little denser. Don't misunderstand, I like and recommend the product, just a cautionary note, especially where it is used in public places. E-mail: bpollock [A T] co [D O T] orange [D O T] nc [D O T] us -------------------- >From Charlotte Becker, Association of Oregon Recyclers, Gresham, Oregon, following up on the recent postings about pool covers: I have a question. When we moved into our home 4 years ago, we became the proud owners of a spa. I wasn't aware of it when I began my adventure as a spa owner that the covers have to be replaced every 2-3 years. They become water-logged and it takes most of your friends and a couple of levers to flip open the cover. And then if something punches a hole in the top of the cover, the water-logging happens even faster. Anyone who owns a portable spa or hot tub is faced with the problem. Yes, I know the covers have zippers. But the people who make the covers don't refill them with new polyfoam. They throw them away, or you get to do it. The previous owners of our home just threw their old spa cover into the woods behind the house. What a nice surprise!! Now, to my question. Has anyone heard of a company that will actually replace the insides, if the vinyl exterior cover isn't damaged? I don't understand why they make them with zippers if they can't be refilled. All comments and suggestions welcome. Thanks. E-mail: aor [ A T ] mindspring [ D O T ] com ---------------------- >From Jim Hill, California Department of Conservation, Sacramento CA: This 9/14/00 story from the Reuters news service underscores our need to educate people that waste prevention and recycling help reduce global warming: http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm?newsid=8169 E-mail: jhill [ A T ] consrv [ D O T ] ca [ D O T ] gov ---------------------- >From Ted Smith, Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition, Campaign for Responsible Technology, San Jose, CA: I thought people might find this 9/13/00 Detroit News article (on electronics waste) interesting. Check it out. http://www.detnews.com/2000/technology/0009/13/a01-119191.htm E-mail: tsmith (A T) svtc (D O T) org - end -