Hello List!
I am a longtime lurker on the RM-List. Even though I never ultimately
pursued work as a Professional Records Mgr. after Grad School, I find that
I continue to learn a tremendous amount about how to organize records and
information from the discussions all of you regulars engage in. Thank you!
I also subscribe to this list in digest format so please forgive me for
being late to the party regarding last week's "Friday Pondering -
Responsibility" topic.
That discussion was intriguing and, based on the examples provided,
appeared to prove recycling does *not* pay. I came away from it feeling
fairly depressed and helpless.
The links Peter Kurilecz provided were *very* interesting. I am a huge,
huge, HUGE Penn & Teller fan and the Washington Post is usually pretty
decent with their investigative reporting. But PERC smelled a bit whiffy.
First, the organization is based in Bozeman, MT, a state not known for its
environmentalism. Second, it took about 9 seconds of Google searching to
learn that PERC is funded by the Koch Bros. so it is safe to say that the
information generated by this organization is biased against recycling, and
pretty much everything that chips away at the bottom line.
I contacted Claire Sommer via email, a writer and analyst for
SustainableBrands (http://www.sustainablebrands.com/) who is also
associated with the Flourish Prizes at Weatherhead School of Management,
Case Western Reserve University (
https://weatherhead.case.edu/centers/fowler/flourish-prizes/) with the
links from the original RM-List discussion and asked her why I should not
start a petition drive to have my town abandon curbside recycling. Yes. I
really did that. :-) Astonishingly, I received a personal reply from her
today!
Here is her response:
"Consumer recycling is not a waste of money. The reason these cost analyses
seem to show that consumer recycling costs more than it benefits is that
the pricing isn't right.
These analyses aren't taking the full costs into account. This is known as
a pricing problem.
The things that aren't included in the cost-benefit analysis include things
like the full capital value of the raw materials, like a tree. A tree's
true natural capital value includes its role as a nitrogen-fixer for soil
and carbon-sequestrator, and oxygen-generator. Once you add in the full
value of the raw material, then recycling tree paper makes A HELL of a lot
of sense.
This field is called Full Cost Accounting
http://www.epa.gov/epawaste/conserve/tools/fca/index.htm
Another feature is extending the timeline for impacts. Traditional cash
accounting methods don't assign a monetary value to future risks.
Also, cash accounting doesn't have a column for counting benefits from
not-doing.
Just using cash accounting also doesn't allow for the societal value of
kids playing in playgrounds breathing air that has less pollution from
waste incineration plants nearby. (Less trash = less incineration = better
air quality = reduced asthma emergency room visits = increased school
attendance = increased learning = better societal outcomes)
The last thing I'll mention is the value of shifting cultural norms by
personal actions. There's good research that shows the people are motivated
by knowing that other people do, or don't do, something. An example would
be the difference between a Don't Litter sign (which doesn't give any
social context cues) and a "Join Your Neighbors in Keeping Our Parks Clean
by Putting Your Trash Here" sign (which does).
I'm shorthanding here, but hope this helps you understand that
municipalities aren't yet approaching recycling costs using these more
complete methods. Major corporations are. It's a trend.
It's a whole field of sustainability studies. The shorthand term is New
Metrics."
The SustainableBrands perspective is just as biased as PERC's (and Penn &
Teller and WashPo's), however I feel that last week's conversation should
not end simply with, "recycling doesn't pay and that's that."
Respectfully,
Merlyn Liberty, MA, MSLIS
On Sat, Aug 8, 2015 at 12:00 AM, RECMGMT-L automatic digest system <
[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> There are 6 messages totalling 313 lines in this issue.
>
> Topics of the day:
>
> 1. Friday Pondering - responsibility (5)
> 2. Upcoming Deadlines for ARMA International Educational Foundation
> Scholarships
>
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>
> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 04:30:34 +0000
> From: Glen Sanderson <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Friday Pondering - responsibility
>
> Does recycling really conserve more energy and reduce the pollution rate
> fr=
> om processing compared to virgin paper? I know we have fostered a culture
> =
> to recycle but is it really viable? With the water issues facing us I
> feel=
> guilty washing out a bottle before recycling. Any definitive studies out
> =
> there?
>
>
> G
>
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 13:42:10 +0000
> From: "Cohen, Stephen E." <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Friday Pondering - responsibility
>
> In general, recycling does not conserve energy, as energy is required to
> pr=
> ocess the recyclable materials. Recycling is more about conserving and
> reus=
> ing the materials.
>
> To alleviate your guilt for rinsing bottles, consider maintaining a
> contain=
> er of gray water. LV's casinos use gray water in the Bellagio fountain,
> Ven=
> etian canal, Wynn's waterfall. It's water used in the hotels plumbing,
> such=
> as from sinks and dishwashers, showers (but not toilet) that's no longer
> p=
> otable but not entirely dirty...its gray. Add a little bleach or sanitizer
> =
> and it gets reused. I've read about home versions where sink water is
> sipho=
> ned off for reuse, but have not seen it first person.
>
> Easy solution to minimize water use without going nuts is to install
> aerato=
> rs on all taps and not use water on full strength.
>
> My 3 cents for Friday.
>
> Stephen Cohen, CRM
> Records & Information Manager
> MetLife | Legal Affairs | 1095 Avenue of the Americas | New York City NY
> 10=
> 036 | t 212-578-2373 | [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>
>
> On Aug 7, 2015, at 12:31 AM, Glen Sanderson <[log in to unmask]
> <mai=
> lto:[log in to unmask]>> wrote:
>
> Does recycling really conserve more energy and reduce the pollution rate
> fr=
> om processing compared to virgin paper? I know we have fostered a culture
> =
> to recycle but is it really viable? With the water issues facing us I
> feel=
> guilty washing out a bottle before recycling. Any definitive studies out
> =
> there?
>
>
> G
>
>
> CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE:The information in this e-mail may be confidential
> a=
> nd/or privileged and protected by work product immunity or other legal
> rule=
> s. No confidentiality or privilege is waived or lost by mistransmission.
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> you are not the intended recipient or an authorized representative of the
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 09:51:36 -0500
> From: Peter Kurilecz <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Friday Pondering - responsibility
>
> Recycle is but 1/3 of the 3 Rs which are Recycle, Reduce, Reuse
>
> Currently most local government recycling programs are a waste of time.
> Recycle depends upon market economics ie how much will someone pay for this
> stuff. Local government recycling programs require an inordinate amount of
> processing even though people have presorted.
>
> People recycle for one of two reasons -1) it makes them feel good, or 2)
> they can make money at it
>
>
> http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/dc-politics/american-recycling-is-stalling-and-the-big-blue-bin-is-one-reason-why/2015/06/20/914735e4-1610-11e5-9ddc-e3353542100c_story.html?tid=sm_fb
>
> Penn & Teller on Recycling
> https://youtu.be/yh-KDa_Jmok
>
> 8 great myths of recycling
> http://www.perc.org/articles/eight-great-myths-recycling-no-28
>
> On Fri, Aug 7, 2015 at 8:42 AM, Cohen, Stephen E. <[log in to unmask]>
> wrote:
>
> > In general, recycling does not conserve energy, as energy is required to
> > process the recyclable materials. Recycling is more about conserving and
> > reusing the materials.
> >
>
>
> --
> Peter Kurilecz CRM CA IGP
> [log in to unmask]
> Dallas, Texas
> Save our in-boxes! http://emailcharter.org
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>
> Information not relevant for my reply has been deleted to reduce the
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> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 16:10:00 +0000
> From: Donald C Force <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Upcoming Deadlines for ARMA International Educational Foundation
> Scholarships
>
> Please pardon all the cross-postings.
>
> This is a reminder about the upcoming deadlines for two scholarship awards
> =
> offered by ARMA International Education Foundation (AIEF). As listed
> below,=
> August 15 is the deadline for the Graduate Education Scholarship and the
> U=
> ndergraduate Tuition Reimbursement Award.
>
> Please note that the deadline for the Access Leadership Scholarship has
> bee=
> n extended to September 6.
>
> For more information and the applications, please visit:
> www.armaedfoundat=
> ion.org<http://www.armaedfoundation.org>.
> ----------------------------------
> The ARMA International Educational Foundation (AIEF) is excited to
> announce=
> the availability of a variety of funding opportunities for current and
> asp=
> iring records and information management (RIM) professionals.
>
> - Graduate Education Scholarship - $3,000 (Deadline: August 15)
>
> - Undergraduate Tuition Reimbursement - $1,000 (Deadline: August
> 1=
> 5)
>
> - Access Leadership Scholarship - $2,000 & $6,000 (Deadline:
> Augus=
> t 15; Revised Deadline: September 6)
>
> - RIM Continuing Education Reimbursement - $750
>
> - RIM Certificate/Certification Reimbursement - $500
>
> - Arizona Chapter scholarships for CRM certification/IGP
> certifica=
> tion reimbursement - $500 (Pacific Region only)
> These awards include scholarship and reimbursement awards to cover costs
> as=
> sociated with:
>
> - Earning a bachelor's degree
>
> - Earning a graduate-level degree
>
> - Earning a CRM (Certification of Records Management), IGP
> (Inform=
> ation Governance Professional Certification), or other RIM related
> certific=
> ations
>
> - Attending conferences, seminars, and other RIM related
> professio=
> nal events
> For more information and the applications, please visit:
> www.armaedfoundat=
> ion.org<http://www.armaedfoundation.org>.
>
> AIEF is a funding resource for research and scholarships in the field of
> re=
> cords and information management. The primary funding source is derived
> fr=
> om concerned individuals and organizations in the profession. AIEF is a
> 50=
> 1(c) 3 non-profit entity.
>
> The availability of funding is determined on an annual basis. AIEF
> reserve=
> s the right not to offer awards unless funding is available. Potential
> don=
> ors are invited to contact the foundation administration for additional
> inf=
> ormation: [log in to unmask]<mailto:[log in to unmask]>.
>
> ARMA International Educational Foundation, 11880 College Blvd., Suite 450,
> =
> Overland Park, KS, 66210, USA
> ----------------------------------
>
> Donald C. Force, PhD
> Assistant Professor
> School of Information Studies
> University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee
> Trustee, ARMA International Education Foundation (AIEF)
> Chair, Scholarship Committee, AIEF
>
>
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 11:02:49 -0700
> From: Susan Beamer <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Friday Pondering - responsibility
>
> When I was growing up we had a soap saver tub situated between the washer
> and dryer. We would wash the whites and delicates (weren't many of those)
> first, then save the wash water (using a series of hoses and a long
> stopper tube) and wash the next more dirty clothes and save that wash
> water, then finally wash the work clothes last.
>
> I've not seen one since then, but I'm sure they weren't that unusual.
>
> Susan Beamer
> Records [and Archives] Manager
> Eastern Washington State
> www.selinc.com
>
>
>
>
> consider maintaining a container of gray water.
>
>
> Stephen Cohen, CRM
>
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>
> ------------------------------
>
> Date: Fri, 7 Aug 2015 18:13:39 -0400
> From: mwhaider <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: Friday Pondering - responsibility
>
> =E2=80=8BYes, my mother still has her "suds saver" tub but it isn't
> connect=
> ed to
> her current washing machine. On another note about water usage, we
> installed hot water on demand tanks to conserve on the heating process.
> Works pretty good, except that the government regulations have imposed
> limits on the flow of water in the shower fixtures (to conserve water?) to
> the point that I can't get the right temperature for my mother when she
> showers. It seems the on demand units require a minimum flow to heat the
> water. The solution? To run the water in her sink at high heat which
> keeps the on demand unit working properly. So now we are using twice the
> amount of water:)
>
> Work arounds are the name of the game when dealing with government
> regulations whether it is water usage or records management. The end user
> will find a way to get what they need - just ask Hillary:)
>
>
> Mary
>
> Mary W. Haider, MBA, CRM
> Records & Information Manager and Consultant
> [log in to unmask]
> 865-983-1371
>
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> ------------------------------
>
> End of RECMGMT-L Digest - 6 Aug 2015 to 7 Aug 2015 (#2015-16)
> *************************************************************
>
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