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03 Jun 02 - school cafeterias; green businesses; electronics; bugs; LEED ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- From Paula Kinzer, EcoCents Consulting and Art of Construction, Bend, OR: I have been very concerned with the growing volumes of disposable cafeteria packaging in most schools. On certain days, I have seen as many as 6 different disposable containers for one student lunch, which is appalling when you compare it to the days of yesteryear and reusable trays. I have done waste assessment reports illustrating the waste generation from cafeteria packaging in an effort to persuade our school district to do a few pilot projects with reusable trays (which we have in storage). However, I don't see the trays as a feasible alternative in the high schools and maybe even middle schools. Plastic lunch baskets with a paper liner (as used by some delis) seem to be a more realistic alternative at the secondary level. I would appreciate suggestions and feedback on any case studies and/or programs in the realm of cafeteria packaging alternatives and reduction, as well as information or suggestions on the lunch baskets. Thanks. E-mail: ecocents (A T) bendcable (D O T) com Phone: (541) 385-3039 ------------------- Link to information on awards to Seattle businesses for their "green" practices, presented by the Seattle Business and Industry Resource Venture (BIRV) in May (forwarded by Matt Fikejs): http://www.resourceventure.org/awards.htm Scroll down for information on each award winner. The first award winner listed is Aaron's Bicycle Repair, which won the Waste Prevention & Recycling Award. The two winners of the Mayor's Environmental Leadership Award - Julia's Restaurants and the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center - also have undertaken a number of waste prevention measures. The BIRV's new case studies of these two businesses are at: - Julia's: http://www.resourceventure.org/PDF%20files/Julia%27s%20Restaurants.pdf - Fred Hutchinson: http://www.resourceventure.org/PDF%20files/Fred%20Hutchinson%20CRC.pdf ------------------- Link to information on a new U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed rule that the agency says would promote the reuse and recycling of computers, televisions and mercury-containing equipment (forwarded by Gary Liss): http://www.epa.gov/epaoswer/hazwaste/recycle/electron/crt.htm ------------------- Link to an article by Marty Wingate in the 5/30/02 Seattle Post-Intelligencer, about a field guide to beneficial insects that is published by King County, WA: http://seattlepi.nwsource.com/nwgardens/72427_wingate30.shtml Scroll down to see a photo of the guide, and photos of some of the beneficial insects. This free "good-bug field guide" has been popular with gardeners and educators; King County distributed 15,000 of the guides in just six weeks, at area nurseries and other locations. The goal of the guides is to reduce chemical pesticide use, by teaching people that pesticides can kill good bugs as well as bad bugs. ------------------- Link to information on an upcoming workshop in Annapolis, MD, on the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) rating system (forwarded by Michael Arny): http://www.escperform.org/meetings/MD.htm Scroll down. The workshop, to be held Thursday, July 18, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., is sponsored by the Energy Services Coalition. The workshop is called, "Using USGBC's LEED Rating System to Promote Sustainable Buildings, Energy Efficiency, and Environmental Improvement." (USGBC is the U.S. Green Building Council, which developed the LEED rating system). - end -