After the successful introduction of the Buy Recycled Indiana! manual at the 1998 IRC conference, the Buy Recycled Task Force has moved on to a new project. The Task Force is developing a tool kit to help people present "Buy Recycled" workshops.

The Task Force is presently identifying barriers to buying recycled (price, quality, availability, established buying habits, etc.). Then by working with manufacturers, sellers, and users of recycled products, they will develop possible responses to these barriers.

The Task Force will conduct several workshops during the next few months to test the effectiveness of these solutions (technical information, products displays, product comparison tests, testimonials, etc.). The first buy recycled workshop will be held in Madison, IN on December 9, 1998, and is sponsored by the Southeastern Indiana Solid Waste District.

After evaluating the tools developed for the workshops, the Task Force will compile them into a "tool kits". The tool kit will enable others to present an effective workshop without having to do the developmental work. If all goes well, the trial workshops will be completed and the tool kit assembled in time for the 1999 IRC conference (May 10 & 11, 1999 in Evansville, IN).

Check out the GrassRoots Recycling Network's (GRRN) new action-oriented website: http://www.grrn.org. One current attraction is a link to the COCA COLA TAKE-IT-BACK CAMPAIGN. In addition, a recent News Release identifies a consumer group effort that targets Coca Cola to live up to its promise to use recycled plastic when manufacturing plastic coke containers.

Another interesting feature of the website is the GRRN WasteMaker Awards being given to corporations that are producing especially wasteful products, packaging or services.

The first WasteMaker Award was received by LEXMARK International, Inc. of Lexington, Kentucky. The manufacturer has been condemned for wasteful single-use printer cartridges. Interesting fact sheets regarding the corporation and its wasteful ways as well as an action alert link is available on the website.

The GRRN's home page also links the reader to core policy papers stating the organization's three main goals: Zero Waste, End Corporate Subsidies for Waste, and Create Jobs from Discards.

For an interesting perspective on some thought-provoking issues, check out this site!

If you are looking for a way to promote reuse in your community, but are not sure where to start, the new IDEM grant funded notebook,"Promoting Reuse in your Community" can help you get started. Written by Melinda Seader, Special Projects Coordinator at the Monroe County Solid Waste Management District, the book is designed to provide overviews of the wide variety of types of reuse programs a community might enlist to reduce their waste stream.

Each Indiana solid waste district will receive one copy of the notebook. Initial distribution began at the AISWMD Conference on October 28th, and the remaining districts will receive their copies by mail. A limited number of copies will be made available after the conference on a one copy per agency basis. For information contact: Melinda Seader, Special Projects Coordinator, 812-339- 8591 or Email: [email protected].

The idea behind ULS (Use Less Stuff) Day, founded by The ULS Report, is to bring waste prevention or source reduction to the forefront of public consciousness during the holiday season and throughout the year.

The Fourth Annual ULS Day will be held on November 19, 1998. The date (the Thursday before Thanksgiving) is significant because it inaugurates the high-waste holiday season. During the five weeks between Thanksgiving and New Year's, Americans produce an extra one million tons of trash per week compared to any other time of the year.

If we are to significantly reduce pollution and waste, we must emphasize source reduction. To save resources and energy, we must learn to not create so much waste in the first place by reducing and reusing products and packaging.

The success of USL Day in its first three years underscores the freshness of the waste reduction message. We must all learn to use less stuff and with the mounting support of government, non-profit organizations, businesses and the public, awareness of this vital issue will continue to grow dramatically.

Information on ULS Day and The ULS Report can be found at the following internet address: http://cygnus-group.com.