greenyestemp@earthsystems.org Archives: GreenYes Digest V98 #175

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 12:35:18 EDT From: GaryLiss@aol.com Subject: Fwd: Ag Plastic

Return-Path: <jtrnet@valley.rtpnc.epa.gov> Received: from rly-zc02.mx.aol.com (rly-zc02.mail.aol.com [172.31.33.2]) by air-zc03.mail.aol.com (v49.1) with SMTP; Wed, 02 Sep 1998 11:28:09 -0400 Received: from valley.rtpnc.epa.gov (valley.rtpnc.epa.gov [134.67.208.16]) by rly-zc02.mx.aol.com (8.8.8/8.8.5/AOL-4.0.0) with ESMTP id LAA15409; Wed, 2 Sep 1998 11:28:06 -0400 (EDT) Received: from valley (valley [134.67.208.16]) by valley.rtpnc.epa.gov (8.8.7/8.8.0) with SMTP id LAA20205; Wed, 2 Sep 1998 11:26:16 -0400 (EDT) Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 11:26:16 -0400 (EDT) Message-Id: <BF4AA349E823D211B73800A0C92D114D0C1CB4@ALBINET> Errors-To: jwhitehe@erg.com Reply-To: jtrnet@valley.rtpnc.epa.gov Originator: jtrnet@unixmail.rtpnc.epa.gov Sender: jtrnet@valley.rtpnc.epa.gov Precedence: bulk From: "Gilbert, James" <JGILBERT@EMPIRE.STATE.NY.US> To: Multiple recipients of list <jtrnet@valley.rtpnc.epa.gov> Subject: Ag Plastic X-Listprocessor-Version: 6.0c -- ListProcessor by Anastasios Kotsikonas X-Comment: EPA's "Jobs Through Recycling" Grants Network Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-type: text/plain; charset=3DUS-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit

Does anyone have detailed knowledge of ag plastic programs (primarily film), especially ones that are current and successful, or ones that tried and failed (and why they failed)?

Jim Gilbert Office of Recycling Market Development Empire State Development 400 Andrews Street, Suite 710 Rochester, NY 14604 (716)325-1944 Fax (716)325-6505 mailto:jgilbert@empire.state.ny.us

Date: Wed, 02 Sep 1998 12:05:35 -0400 From: Aaron Allen <aallen1@mailhost.tcs.tulane.edu> Subject: Green Services Administration

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 12:33:45 EDT From: DavidOrr@aol.com Subject: Just call it Green Services Administration=7F

GSA "drives green" with its use and procurement of alternative-fuel=20 vehicles. The government agency responsible for managing the work=20 environment of all federal employees is rolling out a nationwide=20 initiative to protect the environment.=20

The U.S. General Services Administration Planet GSA program aims to=20 protect the environment by buying green, building green, driving green=20 and saving green, said GSA Administrator David Barram.=20

"We're partnering with the public and private sector to test new=20 technologies and develop new strategies to protect the environment,"=20 said Barram. "We're doing away with the myth that protecting the=20 environment is not good economics. GSA has shown that it is possible --=20 and makes good business sense -- to protect the environment and save=20 money at the same time."=20

"Planet GSA and other partnerships can help educate and inform employees=20 and the general public about what the federal government is doing to=20 combat climate change, and more importantly, empower them to take a=20 personal part in protecting the environment," said Kathleen McGinty,=20 chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality.=20

In the spirit of Planet GSA, the government agency offers thousands of=20 environmentally oriented products and services to help other federal=20 agencies comply with environmental laws.=20

Among those items offered are energy-efficient appliances and office=20 products, as well as "Energy Star" computers and printers. Moreover, GSA=20 offers paints, cleaners and other products that have been reformulated=20 to be less environmentally detrimental.=20

The agency also sells copy paper with no less than 20 percent=20 post-consumer content and writing paper with a minimum of 50 percent=20 post-consumer content.=20

Sustainable design means creating environmentally sound and=20 resource-efficient buildings.GSA, as well, manages a nationwide=20 recycling program for 643,000 federal employees in 1,044 federal=20 buildings. In fiscal year 1997, GSA collected and sold 41,260 tons of=20 paper, aluminum cans, glass and packing materials. According to Barram,=20 sales of this material generated $261,000 and GSA saved $3.8 million in=20 trash removal fees and landfill charges.=20

The agency's commitment to "building green" runs the spectrum from=20 retrofitting historic buildings with energy-efficient lights to=20 designing and building the federal courthouse in Denver, which GSA plans=20 to use as a model for sustainable buildings in the future.=20

Sustainable design means creating environmentally sound and=20 resource-efficient buildings. It includes the site's accessibility to=20 mass transit, pedestrian pathways and bicycle paths; landscaping with=20 indigenous plants to minimize upkeep and dependence on water, herbicides=20 and pesticides; and reducing waste generated during construction.=20

GSA "drives green" with its use and procurement of alternative fuel=20 vehicles and promotion of teleworking.=20

AFVs run on ethanol, methanol, natural gas or electricity, thereby=20 reducing dependence on foreign oil. AFVs also emit fewer greenhouse=20 gasses and pollute less than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.=20

The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that, in 1998, 50 percent of the=20 government's new vehicles in America's largest cities be AFVs. In 1999,=20 the mandate will increase to 75 percent of new purchases.=20

To conserve fuel and reduce air pollution, GSA promotes teleworking. GSA=20 makes it easier for its employees to telework from home, from 18=20 telecommuting centers, or from wherever they happen to be with a=20 computer and cellular phone.=20

GSA "saves green" by overseeing an innovative energy and water=20 management program that reduces utility costs, protects the environment=20 and ensures quality workspace for clients.=20

Since 1985, GSA has cut energy use in federal buildings by 17.1 percent.=20 GSA estimates that its energy conservation measures in federal buildings=20 have kept 130 billion pounds of carbon dioxide -- the equivalent of the=20 carbon dioxide emitted from all the passenger cars in Los Angeles County=20 over the past two years -- from entering the atmosphere.=20

Related stories: * Report says corporate green programs largely ineffective * Hospitals need green overhaul, study finds

Headlines for Wednesday, September 2, 1998 Registered Trademark of the Environmental News Network, Inc. Copyright =A9 1998 Environmental News Network, Inc.

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 21:11:40 EDT From: GaryLiss@aol.com Subject: Leaking Landfills

Bill Sheehan just recommended I read an article in the July/August edition= of MSW Management magazine (p.78), "A Broken Promise - Reversing 35 Years of Progress." The august H. Lanier Hickman (former Exec. Dir of SWANA)= discussed the need for better financial assurances for landfills. He noted that the "EPA landfill disposal criteria set a very high benchmark for future= landfills in the U.S....[including] a promise to the American public and Congress that improper siting, design and operation of landfills was over...The financial assurance provisions promised the American public that there would be money= to fix any failure that would occur at any landfill in the U.S. This is= perhaps the boldest environmental statement ever made by a US industry. Name= another industry that has made a guarantee to a "zero" discharge policy and put= their money where their mouths were."

Unfortunately, Lanny notes that EPA "listened to whining local governments= and greedy private companies and then selected net worth as the financial assurance method of choice. Hence, the "big lie"! While telling the American public that our industry can be trusted, and that there will always be money to fix a landfill failure, our industry and EPA have gutted this provision of the landfill criteria...Net worth is worth exactly zero at the bank."

He continues "Thirty-five years of progress has been erased...Without real financial assurance, however, [landfills] are ticking time bombs...Sad,= isn't it?"

The Grassroots Recycling Network has talked about developing more comprehensive policies for landfills in America that address this issue and other related policies. If anyone is interested in playing a leadership= role in this, please contact Bill Sheehan at Bill_sheehan@mindspring.com or= myself.

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 21:11:41 EDT From: GaryLiss@aol.com Subject: Leaking Landfills

He continues "Thirty-five years of progress has been erased...Without real financial assurance, however, [landfills] are ticking time bombs...Sad,= isn't it?"

Date: Wed, 2 Sep 1998 08:44:56 -0400 From: "ken lowstetter eve martinez" <keneve@earthlink.net> Subject: question

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Can you help me figure out why my wordperfect attachment appeared to be =3D corrupted in your listing? Am I saving it in the wrong format? Should =3D I resubmit it? Thanks for your help.

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keneve@earthlink.net ------=3D_NextPart_000_000A_01BDD64D.F67301C0-- ------------------------------ Date: (null) From: (null) Just call it Green Services Administration Wednesday, September 2, 1998=20 The government agency responsible for managing the work environment of all federal employees is rolling out a nationwide initiative to protect the environment.=20 The U.S. General Services Administration Planet GSA program aims to protect the environment by buying green, building green, driving green and saving green, said GSA Administrator David Barram.=20 "We're partnering with the public and private sector to test new technologies and develop new strategies to protect the environment," said Barram. "We're doing away with the myth that protecting the environment is not good economics. GSA has shown that it is possible -- and makes good business sense -- to protect the environment and save money at the same time."=20 "Planet GSA and other partnerships can help educate and inform employees and the general public about what the federal government is doing to combat climate change, and more importantly, empower them to take a personal part in protecting the environment," said Kathleen McGinty, chairman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. In the spirit of Planet GSA, the government agency offers thousands of environmentally oriented products and services to help other federal agencies comply with environmental laws.=20 Among those items offered are energy-efficient appliances and office products, as well as "Energy Star" computers and printers. Moreover, GSA offers paints, cleaners and other products that have been reformulated to be less environmentally detrimental.=20 The agency also sells copy paper with no less than 20 percent post-consumer content and writing paper with a minimum of 50 percent post-consumer content.=20 GSA, as well, manages a nationwide recycling program for 643,000 federal employees in 1,044 federal buildings. In fiscal year 1997, GSA collected and sold 41,260 tons of paper, aluminum cans, glass and packing materials. According to Barram, sales of this material generated $261,000 and GSA saved $3.8 million in trash removal fees and landfill charges.=20 The agency's commitment to "building green" runs the spectrum from retrofitting historic buildings with energy-efficient lights to designing and building the federal courthouse in Denver, which GSA plans to use as a model for sustainable buildings in the future.=20 Sustainable design means creating environmentally sound and resource-efficient buildings. It includes the site's accessibility to mass transit, pedestrian pathways and bicycle paths; landscaping with indigenous plants to minimize upkeep and dependence on water, herbicides and pesticides; and reducing waste generated during construction.=20 GSA "drives green" with its use and procurement of alternative fuel vehicles and promotion of teleworking.=20 AFVs run on ethanol, methanol, natural gas or electricity, thereby reducing dependence on foreign oil. AFVs also emit fewer greenhouse gasses and pollute less than conventional gasoline-powered vehicles.=20 The Energy Policy Act of 1992 requires that, in 1998, 50 percent of the government's new vehicles in America's largest cities be AFVs. In 1999, the mandate will increase to 75 percent of new purchases.=20 To conserve fuel and reduce air pollution, GSA promotes teleworking. GSA makes it easier for its employees to telework from home, from 18 telecommuting centers, or from wherever they happen to be with a computer and cellular= phone.=20 GSA "saves green" by overseeing an innovative energy and water management program that reduces utility costs, protects the environment and ensures quality workspace for clients.=20 Since 1985, GSA has cut energy use in federal buildings by 17.1 percent. GSA estimates that its energy conservation measures in federal buildings have kept 130 billion pounds of carbon dioxide -- the equivalent of the carbon dioxide emitted from all the passenger cars in Los Angeles County over the past two years -- from entering the atmosphere.=20 Copyright 1998, Environmental News Network, All Rights Reserved ------------------------------ End of GreenYes Digest V98 #175 ******************************