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13 Nov 02 - durability; Postal Service; copiers RFP; McDonald's; Hummer; Scotland ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- From Gina Hawkins, City of Gainesville, recycling program, Gainesville, FL, responding to the recent postings about proposed National Waste Prevention Coalition projects, including a "War on Obsolescence" or "Campaign on Obsolescence": I liked John Crisley's idea of a broad-based campaign for reduction, repair, reuse and other waste prevention strategies. However, instead of "Campaign on Obsolescence," I would suggest the "Campaign for (or "on") Durability." This would be much more positive - and easier to spell - and we wouldn't want anyone to think we are promoting obsolescence. Other suggestions are: "Campaign for Livability," "Campaign for a Lasting World," or "Campaign for Endurance" (the imagination runs wild). I especially like the word "Sustainability," as in "Campaign for Sustainability," but it may have become ignored due to its overuse. E-Mail: hawkinsrm ( AT ) ci ( DOT ) gainesville ( DOT ) fl ( DOT ) us -------------------- The next three postings are in response to the 11/5/02 posting about the change in U.S. Postal Service regulations, which will make it easier for post offices to donate undelivered product samples and other undelivered items to food banks, homeless shelters and other charitable organizations. The National Waste Prevention Coalition, the Reuse Development Organization (ReDO) and King County all played a major role in helping the Postal Service develop these regulations. ------------------- From Barb Nesheim, Minnesota Technical Assistance Program, Materials Exchange Program, Minneapolis, MN: Congratulations on the breakthrough with the U.S. Postal Service! My sister works there and hearing her talk about the stuff they throw out is heartbreaking, knowing that the need is so great! E-mail: neshe005 [AT] tc [DOT] umn [DOT] edu -------------------- From Tim Bernthal, Hopelink, Redmond, WA (Hopelink is a non-profit that operates six food banks, a shelter and other services in the Seattle area): That's great news on the U.S. Postal Service front. Our food banks will be helped out by access to these products. We have already been working with the Seattle Times to receive undelivered samples that have been destined for their customers. It's a little hit or miss how useful the products have been but it has gotten us some food samples and some cosmetics and toiletries. It's really interesting how much potential there is out there for further recovery of free product if you can find the right person at the right time. We have received $5,000-10,000 worth of first-quality clothes from businesses that put logos on for sporting events, fundraisers, company giveaways, etc. These seem to accumulate as a normal part of their business in these large quantities. E-mail: tbernthal [ AT ] gowebway [ DOT ] com -------------------- From Barbara Frierson, City of Fremont, environmental services, Fremont, CA: I wonder if the U.S. Postal Service would be able to divert all those undeliverable America Online CDs to deserving non-profits!? I like the idea of AOL doing penance for its wasteful ways by providing an endless stream of free internet service to needy customers. E-mail: BFrierson (AT) ci (DOT) fremont (DOT) ca (DOT) us -------------------- From Robin Hawley, City of Portland, Office of Sustainable Development, Solid Waste and Recycling, Portland, OR (forwarded by David Allaway and Steve Apotheker): REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - GREEN COPIER PROJECT The City of Portland Office of Sustainable Development (OSD) Solid Waste and Recycling Division has issued a Request for Proposals (RFP) for a Green Copier Pilot Project. The project is a partnership with Metro, the Oregon Department of Environmental Quality and other local governments and will consist of the design and implementation of a targeted marketing and education campaign to increase the use of two-sided photocopying, recycled-content paper, and recycling of toner cartridges. OSD is seeking proposals from firms or teams with demonstrated experience in marketing, education, and/or behavior change, particularly with respect to office environments. OSD proposes to engage the contractor to develop, implement, and evaluate the pilot project to reduce waste associated with photocopying practices. The contractor will work with one or more local office equipment service providers (sales/leasing/service company) during the implementation and evaluation stage of the project. The deadline for submitting the proposal is November 25, 2002, at 4 p.m. Please download the RFP at the City of Portland website. You will need to register as a vendor in order to get access to the RFP. You can download it at: http://cityofportland.ebidsystems.com/public/solicitationDetail.asp?Solicitation=OSD003 If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at (503) 823-7037 or rhawley ( A T ) ci ( D O T ) portland ( D O T ) or ( D O T ) us --------------------- Link to the McDonald's Corporation's first Social Responsibility Report, published in April, 2002 (forwarded by Bob Langert): http://www.mcdonalds.com/corporate/social/report This report includes detailed information about environmental impacts of the McDonald's restaurant chain, and the efforts of McDonald's to reduce those impacts. Statistics in the report include: - McDonald's is the world's largest foodservice company, with more than 29,000 restaurants, serving nearly 46 million people each day in 121 countries. - In the U.S., the average McDonald's restaurant uses about 1,000 pounds of packaging per week, while serving approximately 10,000 customers. - The packaging McDonald's uses for customers is primarily paper-based (ranging from 75 percent to more than 90 percent worldwide), and the rest is mostly plastic. The packaging used for shipping and transport is typically corrugated cardboard boxes, with secondary shipping packaging consisting mostly of polyethylene plastic film. Corrugated boxes for all supplies delivered to McDonald's totals an average of 600 pounds per week per restaurant. - At McDonald's restaurants in Australia, approximately 25 percent of water use is on landscaping. By reviewing landscape watering times and frequencies and the type of plants used in different climates, this is being reduced. McDonald's environmental goals listed in the report include: - In 2003, develop a McDonald's Environmental Management System (EMS) that can work in all of the countries in which McDonald's operates. This will include a set of minimum standards, with an ongoing process to establish and review targets and measurements for continuous improvement toward sustainability. The goal is to develop a process that recognizes the large differences among countries and encourages the flexibility required in attaining sustainability goals. - Starting in 2002, work with the Natural Step program to detail McDonald's sustainable impacts at two levels: 1) The restaurant: factors that staff can control and influence, such as energy use and waste management; 2) Regional/corporate: factors beyond the restaurant, such as purchasing practices for food and paper or constructing new or remodeled restaurants. This information will serve as a foundation for future decision making that moves McDonald's closer to sustainability. -------------------- Excerpted from an article by Danny Hakim in the 11/2/02 New York Times: DETROIT'S HOTTEST SELLER IS ITS BIGGEST GAS GUZZLER Detroit can't seem to sell enough cars or trucks these days without piling on rebates and free financing - with one exception. Three months into an experiment to bring a smaller and cheaper version of the militaristic Hummer vehicle to a broad audience, General Motors has struck a chord. Put aside the difficulty of selling a $50,000 sport utility vehicle (SUV) in a bear market and stagnant economy, or of marketing an automobile that gets about 11 miles a gallon when there is renewed focus on oil consumption. Dealers say they are selling as many of these vehicles as they can get. Hummer is the only Big Three brand selling largely without any national incentives. Many buyers of this low-end Hummer, called the H2, sound like evangelists. "You can't believe the attention it gets," said Robert Fishelson, 65, whose family runs a wholesale liquor company in Fond du Lac, WI. "It's like I'm a movie star." Environmentalists are incensed that G.M. is building up a new brand that will probably be the industry's most fuel-inefficient mass market vehicle line, producing higher emissions of smog-causing pollutants and greenhouse gases than do cars and many sport utility vehicles. Not to mention the annoyance to other drivers: the H2, at more than three tons, weighs a ton more than the Ford Explorer and twice what a Ford Taurus weighs and is one of the tallest and widest passenger vehicles on the road. It is difficult to pinpoint the gas mileage of Hummers because both the original Hummer, a diesel, and the gasoline-fed H2 are so heavy that they do not fall under normal federal fuel economy regulations that govern cars, SUVs and most pickups. As a result, the Hummer's fuel economy does not have to be reported to the government. The Sierra Club is planning a campaign against the Hummer, along the lines of its effort against the huge Ford Excursion, which the environmental group dubbed the Valdez after the oil tanker that ran aground in Alaska. Ford recently discontinued the Excursion. The Hummer and the H2 are descended from the Humvee, the military transport used in the Persian Gulf war and still in use. G.M. has sold the Hummer for several years, at about $100,000. Through a national network of dealerships, G.M. plans to sell 100,000 Hummers within five years. In just three months 7,500 H2's have been sold; among its biggest markets are Los Angeles, Miami and Texas. G.M. hopes to sell as many as 40,000 next year. --------------------- Link to the environmental performance report for the Scotland government, "Improving Our Environment," published in October, 2002 (first seen in the WasteCap Wisconsin Bulletin): http://www.scotland.gov.uk/library5/environment/envman2.pdf This report includes information on a variety of activities in the Scotland government to reduce waste, recycle, conserve energy and reduce water consumption. - end -