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06 Mar 06 - windows; ICI waste; ink; RFP; litter; reuse; phones; hybrids; parts
** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM **
-- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition
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Forum archive: http://www.nwpcarchive.org
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From Jean Ponzi, EarthWays Center, St. Louis, MO, responding to the 2/21/06
posting about the new "Windex Clean & Shine" cloths, which are being
advertised as reusable:
Atypical consumer me! I ignore all manufacturer claims to superior,
reusable, economical cleaning capabilities of things like the "Windex Clean
& Shine" dry microfiber cloths and persist in using white vinegar and water
in a bottle that originally contained some other spritzing substance, and
sheets of the St. Louis Post Dispatch for cheap, healthy, streak-free
cleaning. My windows sparkle. The operation takes no more or less time
than it would if product-driven. The newsprint returns to the recycling bin,
from whence I plucked it - and any publication will probably work equally
well. I wash that soy ink off my hands and spend my paycheck on real
necessities, or REAL luxuries. No thanks, Windex et al.
E-mail: jean [ D O T ] ponzi [ A T ] mobot [ D O T ] org
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From Susan Salterberg, Center for Energy and Environmental Education,
University of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls, IA:
Wanted: Tools (educational or other) for consumers to help them take action
re: ICI waste.
Paraphrasing a statement from one of Iowa's Dept. of Natural Resources
staff, "Iowa has done a great job addressing MSW (municipal solid waste),
but industrial/commercial/institutional (ICI) is a struggle." We actually
have some great technical assistance programs in the state for ICI, but I
work primarily with individual citizens. In the past I've tried to deal
with ICI by teaching individuals about chain of production/life-cycle
analysis. This is a step in the right direction, but just doesn't feel
sufficient. Does anyone have successes in teaching consumers about ICI
waste and what they can do? Also, do you have recommendations of guest
speakers we might bring to Iowa to talk about ICI and how "consumers" can
help nudge businesses in the right direction? Thanks!
E-mail: salterberg ( A T ) uni ( D O T ) edu
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From Tom Watson, King County Solid Waste Division, Seattle, WA, and the
National Waste Prevention Coalition:
I'm researching a local article about computer printer cartridges, and I
would like to hear from people who have used the new ink refill shops to
refill inkjet cartridges from their home printers. Three of the main
national chains are Cartridge World, Island Ink-Jet and Rapid Refill Ink.
If you have used those or similar shops, please send me a short note about
your experience - Were you happy with them, did you save money, do you feel
the environmental benefit from this reuse was significant, etc.? (I believe
that Cartridge World and Island Ink-Jet refill your cartridge on the spot,
while Rapid Refill Ink sells you another one they're refilled, not your
own.) Thanks!
E-mail: tom [ D O T ] watson [ A T ] metrokc [ D O T ] gov
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From David Allaway, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Solid Waste
Policy & Program Development, Portland, OR:
OREGON REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS - WASTE GENERATION, WASTE PREVENTION AND
ECONOMIC VITALITY
The Oregon Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has recently released a
Request for Proposals (RFP) on the topic of waste generation, waste
prevention, and economic vitality. Between 1993 and 2004, the generation of
solid waste (discards) by Oregon households and businesses has risen 40
percent on a per-capita basis. DEQ is developing a Waste Prevention
Strategy intended to lay out specific achievable results and activities that
DEQ can implement to reduce waste generation, consistent with Oregon's
statutory waste generation goals. This RFP is for consulting services in
support of the development of DEQ's Waste Prevention Strategy.
Specifically, this work involves researching and evaluating how the
reduction of waste generation through changes in material consumption and
use (including reuse) can contribute to economic vitality in Oregon.
Recycling, composting, energy recovery, and disposal are outside of the
scope of DEQ's Waste Prevention Strategy.
DEQ expects to contract for this work with a firm or individual with
significant experience in research and economic analysis. The ability to
clearly communicate and discuss potentially complex economic issues with a
group of non-economists is another important qualification. The contract
will be for an approximate 5-month term. An estimated $20,000 has been
budgeted for this project. Proposals must be received by 12 noon on April 3
to be considered. The RFP and associated official solicitation information
can be viewed on the website of the Oregon Procurement Information Network
(ORPIN), http://orpin.oregon.gov/open.dll/welcome
. To download the RFP you will
need to register as an ORPIN user, which can be done at no cost.
E-mail: Allaway [D O T] David [A T] deq [D O T] state [D O T] or [D O T] us
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Excerpted from a 2/08/06 article by Heather MacDonald in the Oakland (CA)
Tribune (forwarded by John McCabe):
(Note from John: This new ordinance could arguably have a waste reduction
impact.)
OAKLAND CITY COUNCIL APPROVES LITTER TAX
Fed up with wrappers, cups, napkins and other litter on Oakland streets, the
City Council approved a plan Feb. 7 to tax fast-food restaurants, liquor
stores and convenience markets to clean up the mess. The council voted to
approve the fee despite strenuous objections from dozens of business owners,
several industry groups and the Oakland Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce.
Proponents of the ordinance said it is justly focused on those businesses
that rely on sales of takeout food in throwaway packaging.
According to Councilmember Jane Brunner, the author of the measure, 77
percent of the businesses paying the fee would be classified as small
businesses earning less than $500,000 a year in gross receipts. Those
businesses would pay about $230 a year. Businesses earning $500,000 to $1
million would pay about $910 per year, and those earning more than $1
million would pay $3,815 annually. The money would be used to fund seven
two-person cleanup crews, one for each council district, and a supervisor.
Each crew would work 12 hours a week in the afternoon to pick up litter
mostly generated by students during lunchtime and on their way home from
school. An annual list of "targeted streets" to be cleaned will be drawn up
in conjunction with each council member. The ordinance allows business
owners with litter management plans in place to appeal to the city
administrator for a fee exemption.
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Link to a listing of products related to reuse, on the California Integrated
Waste Management Board website:
http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/WPW/Tools/ReuseProds.htm
Products currently
listed include cloth napkins, reusable bags, a plastic bag dryer, a plastic
bag washer and a "paper padding press," which turns used paper into paper
tablets. These listings have recently been updated.
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Item from the 1/29/06 Parade magazine, by Lyric Wallwork Winik:
GOODBYE TO HAND-ME-DOWNS?
Daniel Nissanoff believes we'll all have clean closets soon. How? Nissanoff,
an online entrepreneur, says, "We're moving from an accumulation nation to
an auction culture." That is, people are buying items not to keep but to
resell. In his new book, FutureShop, he predicts that more people will buy
luxury goods like fancy handbags or $729 Bugaboo baby strollers (which,
after two years, have been resold for $550) with the idea of using them for
a time, then selling them to get back part of their value. Already, some
manufacturers are so worried about the resale prices of their goods that
they bid them up at eBay auctions, Nissanoff tells us. "Quality and resale
are going to become consumer watchwords," he adds. "Companies will have to
make better products or turn to cheap throwaways." Think that's far-fetched?
Nissanoff notes that lots of people said car leasing wouldn't catch on
either. "Now you'll be making the same calculations with the rest of what
you buy."
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Link to a RecycleBank web page about electronics-waste collection, which
provides a postage-paid label for free cell phone recycling (forwarded by
Heidi Siegelbaum):
http://www.recyclebank.com/ewaste_collection.cfm
Phone are sent to the
Wireless Alliance in Boulder, CO, which refurbishes and resells the phones
whenever possible.
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Link to the web page for the "Who's Got Hybrids?" Earth Day Challenge with
Bill Nye the Science Guy:
http://www.hybridcenter.org/owners/bill-nye.html
This is a new
promotion from Hybridcenter.org, a project of the Union of Concerned
Scientists that provides information on hybrid vehicles.
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Excerpted from a 2/9/06 item in the Wall Street Journal by Jessica E.
Vascellaro:
REPAIR PARTS BECOMING EASIER TO FIND
When a consumer electronic device breaks, many people simply buy a new one.
But a slew of websites make it easier to find and buy spare parts. And in
response to increased demand from technology-addicted consumers, many of
these websites are now adding inventory and sprucing up their search
functions to make finding the right part easier. For example, in recent
months, PartStore has increased its stock of available parts to seven
million, up from roughly four million a year ago. Tritronics, Inc.
(wehaveparts.com) is expanding its selection to include more home-theater
products like lamps for projection televisions and universal remote
controls. This site has also introduced photos to better help consumers
find the right piece.
The websites are upgrading at a welcome time. The average American
household owned 25 consumer electronic products in 2005, up from 17 five
years before. Most parts websites sell pieces at or near the manufacturer's
retail price. They are often good sources of parts for older items that
stores may no longer keep on their shelves. Most websites also include
instructions on how to use the replacement parts. But they don't have
installation help lines, so if you get stuck, you're on your own. Here are
brief reviews of three major parts websites:
- PartStore (http://www.partstore.com ).
Inventory: Huge; items range from washer/drier knobs to projector lamps to
cell phone batteries. Comment: New consumer-friendly search narrows parts
by gadget type and brand before providing a list of possible model numbers.
- Tritronics, Inc. (http://www.wehaveparts.com
). Inventory: Specializes in consumer electronics, like computers and
cameras, and home appliances. Comment: Convenient if you have a model
number. Without one, searching is time-consuming and difficult.
- Sears (http://www.sears.com/parts ).
Inventory: More than six million parts (not just for Sears products) for
home appliances, lawn equipment, portable electronics and power tools.
Comment: Site provides detailed product diagrams to help identify the
precise part you need.
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