RE: [greenyes] Dell grants

["Pat Franklin" <pfranklin@no.address>]

Reverse distribution, is using the same distribution system that distributed
the product to collect and return the product to the distributor.  The
beverage industry's "reverse distribution system", which collected
refillable bottles and returned them to the bottling plant to be washed and
refilled inspired the idea of "bottle bills" more than three decades ago.
The decentralization of the beer and soft drink industries and the demise of
refillables has pretty much done away with reverse distribution.  Even for
collection of bottle bill materials, third parties are often relied upon to
collect the bottles and cans.

When trucks loaded with PRODUCT drop off their wares, why not pick up used
products at the same time?

****************************************
Patricia Franklin
Executive Director
Container Recycling Institute
1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, Ste. 702
Arlington, VA 22209

TEL:   703.276.9800
FAX:   703.276.9587
EMAIL: pfranklin@no.address

http://www.container-recycling.org
http://www.bottlebill.info
****************************************

-----Original Message-----
From: CUYLER Alex D [mailto:Alex.D.CUYLER@no.address]
Sent: Tuesday, December 16, 2003 3:21 PM
To: greenyes@no.address
Subject: [greenyes] Dell grants


I was intrigued by Helen Spiegleman's comments on the Dell tracking system
for used computers and peripherals.  The phrase she used, "reverse
distribution" deserves some analysis.  In looking at the economic
implications of reverse distribution, how will it compare with the
distribution of new goods and services?  Money will be spent on many of the
same features: trucking, advertising, packaging, administration, etc.  What
is the job creation potential here?  How do these expenses compare with the
traditional expenses associated with delivering these materials to a
landfill or burner?  Can we use this kind of analysis to show the economic
value of product stewardship activities? In terms of who pays for these
efforts, is there a comparison that can be made between traditional tax
based economic development activities and product stewardship "fees"?  In
other words, if I pay $10.00 at the point of sale for the appropriate
disposal of my computer, is this $10 more or less effective (in economic
development terms) than the same $10.00 that I pay in local, state, or
federal taxes? -- AC

Alex Cuyler
Recycling and Solid Waste Specialist
City of Eugene Planning and Development Department
phone: (541) 682-6830
fax:      (541) 682-6806