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21 Nov 02 - Ebay; durability; quotes; junk faxes; job; computers; wine ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- Excerpted from an 11/18/02 item from Waste News (forwarded by David Stitzhal): Note from David: Here's the answer to all our electronics problems. Keep the stuff out of garages and in constant motion moving around the country. This approach even prioritizes reuse. EBAY LAUNCHES ONLINE EXCHANGE FOR USED ELECTRONICS Ebay Inc. has launched an online store that provides businesses and consumers with a site to buy and sell used and refurbished electronics. The website, Ebay Electronics, contains listings of new and used consumer electronics, computers, peripherals, telecom equipment, software, video games and other products. Ebay, based in San Jose, California, also offers free shipping of electronic items. The website's address is: http://www.ebayelectronics.com -------------------- From Michelle Portman, Department of Environmental Protection, Waterways Program - Bureau of Resource Protection, Boston, MA, responding to the recent postings about proposed National Waste Prevention Coalition projects, including a "War on Obsolescence" or "Campaign on Obsolescence": I agree with Gina Hawkins' 11/13/02 posting: Terminology is important. "Campaign on Obsolescence" is confusing. "War on Obsolescence" is a bit too feisty, especially considering we are in the midst of other "War(s) on...". I think "Campaign for Durability" gives a positive spin. Other terms, like "Campaign for Sustainability," might be too broad for the purpose proposed. Whatever it is, we need to counteract this idea that the only way to solve our economic woes is "Buy, Buy, Buy and don't stop Buying." E-mail: Michelle [D O T] Portman [A T] state [D O T] ma [D O T] us -------------------- From Peter Szydlowski, National Park Service, Pinnacles National Monument, Paicines, CA: I'm the new "three Rs" coordinator at Pinnacles National Monument, that coastal chaparral-covered ancient volcano in central California. I plan to send a weekly message to the staff, and a periodic one to park visitors, and would like to include a different quote each time to further inspire them in their "green" direction. If any of you are aware of such a compilation, please let me know. More likely, many of you may have a few quotes that you use; if you would send those, I'll compile what I receive and send the list back to those who are interested. Here's an example of one that appeared in a recent edition of the Park Service's sustainability news: "If we don't change the direction we are going, we are likely to end up where we are heading." - Ancient Chinese proverb Thanks. E-mail: Peter_Szydlowski (AT) nps (DOT) gov -------------------- Link to the website for Blocklist.com, a service based in Woodbridge, Ontario, that helps reduce unwanted faxes: http://www.blocklist.com Blocklist.com is a private company that offers a free fax filtering service to businesses and consumers who want to reduce the junk faxes they receive. The goal of this service is to reduce the amount of paper and toner wasted by these unwanted advertising faxes. Businesses and consumers can sign up for this service so that unwanted faxes are routed to a Blocklist.com website. Participating responsible fax broadcasters in the U.S. and Canada pay for Blocklist.com's fax filtering service to reduce consumer complaints and increase their efficiency. --------------------- Link to a job listing for Recycling Program Coordinator with the Alameda County (CA) General Services Agency, Oakland, CA (forwarded by Dwight Mercer): http://www.co.alameda.ca.us/employment/empdocs/0176B.pdf Responsibilities include planning and coordinating a variety of waste reduction, recycling and recycled product procurement programs for the County. The approximate monthly salary range is $3,900-$5,800. The deadline for applying is Dec. 20, 2002. --------------------- Excerpted from a July, 2002, syndicated column by activist and author Jim Hightower: CONTAMINATED COMPUTERS Is your computer loaded? I don't mean with software, speed, memory and stuff. I mean with lead, mercury, polyvinyl chloride and other toxins. The answer is yes, though very few consumers are aware of it, and the giant computer makers are dead-set against telling us about this dirty little secret of their industry. Indeed, this is an industry that likes to brag that it is clean and green, unlike the smokestack industries of the "old economy." But your personal computer typically contains about four pounds of toxic materials, including: lead, contained in the cathode ray tubes and circuit boards, which can damage the central nervous system; mercury, contained in the flat panel displays and switches, which can cause brain and kidney damage and birth defects; and polyvinyl chlorides, contained in the soft plastics of the wires, which can produce deadly dioxins. Four pounds per computer quickly adds up to real problems, since there are some 300 million computers that will be discarded in the U.S. alone in the next couple of years. Computer workers, our environment, and whole communities are unnecessarily endangered by this load of toxins. It's unnecessary because alternative materials are available to the corporations making these dirty machines, and because the industry could implement take-back programs to remove the toxic materials and properly recycle the discarded computers - as is already done in Japan and much of Europe. U.S. computer makers, however, have bluntly declared, "Manufacturers are not recyclers," adding that "consumers will tell manufacturers what they want." How convolutedly convenient! The industry doesn't tell consumers about the toxic contamination of computers, then it assumes that since it's not getting complaints, consumers approve of the toxins. To find out how your computer-maker ranks on the dirty scale, check out the Computer Report Card from the Silicon Valley Toxics Coalition at: http://www.svtc.org/cleancc/pubs/2001report.htm -------------------- Link to a 10/29/02 press release about the new Code of Sustainable Winegrowing guidelines, from the Wine Institute, a trade group for California wineries: http://www.wineinstitute.org/communications/statistics/swp_intro.htm The voluntary code of best management practices is accompanied by a 490-page workbook for vintners and growers that covers soil management, pest management, ecosystems management, water and energy conservation, materials handling and human resources. Background information on the Sustainable Winegrowing project is at: http://www.wineinstitute.org/communications/SustainablePractices/background.htm - end -