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16 Mar 01 - tire care; incentives; cleaning products; arsenic-treated lumber; junk mail; Dear Abby ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- From Susan Salterberg, Center for Energy and Environmental Education, University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA: Does anyone know of good tire care curriculum materials? We sure need them here in Iowa. Please let me know. E-mail: ssalter [AT] netins [DOT] net -------------------- Excerpted from a message from Barbara (Nichols) Zaccheo, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, WasteWise Program, Washington, DC, responding to the 3/12/01 posting seeking suggestions for incentives to give consumers, as part of a statewide waste reduction campaign: One idea is handing out gift certificates for services from businesses - car washes, movies, etc. I know it would take coordination with businesses, but it could be great advertising for them. E-mail: Zaccheo [DOT] Barbara [AT] epamail [DOT] epa [DOT] gov -------------------- From Sandra Nussbaum, Hennepin County Environmental Services, Minneapolis, MN, responding to the recent postings on safer alternatives to cleaning products for institutions, such as schools and government agencies: There is some good information at the Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse: http://www.carbohydrateeconomy.org (Institute for Local Self-Reliance). Also, their Spring, 2000, newsletter had an article titled, "University of Minnesota Cleans House" (unfortunately, not available on the web site), which related the University's experience with replacing its petroleum-derived products with less-toxic cleaners derived from plant matter. The institution also reduced waste by cutting the number of approved chemicals it purchases from 500 to 135. A facilities management division contact is listed as Marshall Skule at (612) 626-7560. E-mail: Sandra ( D O T ) Nussbaum ( A T ) co ( D O T ) hennepin ( D O T ) mn ( D O T ) us -------------------- Link to articles by Julie Hauserman in the 3/11/01 St. Petersburg (FL) Times on the dangers of arsenic-treated lumber (this follows up on postings on this subject in January, 2001): http://www.sptimes.com/News/031101/State/The_poison_in_your_ba.shtml Arsenic-treated lumber is also known as CCA lumber, for chromated copper arsenate. -------------------- Link to a 3/13/01 Scripps Howard News Service article by Ryan Alessi about how households and businesses can reduce junk mail: http://www.knoxstudio.com/shns/story.cfm?pk=JUNKMAIL-03-13-01&cat=LC ------------------- Letter and response that ran 3/11/01 in the "Dear Abby" column by Abigail Van Buren, syndicated by Universal Press Syndicate: DEAR ABBY - In an effort to solve the problem of unwanted solicitations in the mail, I tried an experiment in the first six months of last year. My system worked and continues to work. My unwanted mail has been reduced by 80 percent to 90 percent. My system is: 1) Purchase a rubber stamp that says, "Please remove this name and address from your mailing list." Approximate size: 1 inch by 1/2 inch. Approximate cost: $7. 2) Open every request for donations. If you do not want to make a donation or hear from them again, take your rubber stamp and stamp the request in several places in the area containing your name and address. 3) Place the request in the envelope provided and return it to them. 4) Do not put your name and address on the outside of the envelope. 5) Be consistent and persistent. It may take several months before you see results. I had to notify some organizations more than ten times before they got the message. Many send solicitations from more than one address. Signed - SMARTER THAN THE AVERAGE BEAR DEAR BEAR - You're not only smarter than the average bear, but you're also more patient. - Abby - end -