Reports

1 Jan 1999

Complex Recycling Issues: Strategies for Record-Setting Waste Reduction in Multi-Family Dwellings

by ILSR | Date: 1 Jan 1999 | posted in: waste - recycling, Waste to Wealth | 0

Multi-family buildings are often overlooked when communities offer their residents recycling services. This fact sheet packet features four model apartment buildings and complexes, from garden apartments to high-rises, that are recycling between 20 and 65% of their discarded materials. Also profiled are five communities that provide recycling service to their multi-family dwelling sector. by Kelly Lease, … Read More

1 Jan 1999

Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How

by ILSR | Date: 1 Jan 1999 | posted in: waste - recycling, waste - zero waste, Waste to Wealth | 0

This report and fact sheet packet of the same title feature 18 cities and counties recovering 40 to 65% of their residential waste. They profile each community’s program, drivers for waste reduction levels, materials accepted, set-out and collection methods, and equipment and operating costs. The fact sheet packet summarizes and complements the full report. Essential reading … Read More

1 Jan 1999

Deconstruction: Salvaging Yesterday’s Buildings for Tomorrow’s Sustainable Communities

by Neil Seldman | Date: 1 Jan 1999 | posted in: waste - deconstruction, Waste to Wealth | 0

Deconstruction is the process of carefully dismantling a building in order to salvage components for reuse and recycling. This report provides information to understand and advocate for deconstruction locally, regionally, and nationally, emphasizing partnerships with local nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and for-profit practitioners. A collaborative project of the Materials for the Future Foundation (San Francisco) and … Read More

15 Nov 1998

Don’t Bribe ‘Em. Buy ‘Em: A strategic proposal on how New Yorkers can create–and control–a minor baseball league of their own

by David Morris | Date: 15 Nov 1998 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, governance, The Public Good | 2

Inthe next two years, New Yorkers will spend nearly $50 million dollars to build two stadiums for minor league teams in order to lure away short-season, class A ball clubs from other communities. And in ten years? New Yorkers may well have to consider building bigger stadiums for those same teams so they don’t threaten to move as the Yankees are now doing. A better idea: For the same amount of taxpayer money, New Yorkers can create–and own–a minor league comprised of several good ball clubs and still have money left over to put toward stadiums. And New Yorkers can–for years to come–root for teams that are truly rooted in their own community.

14 Nov 1998

ILSR’s U.S. EPA-Sponsored Waste Reduction Project

by ILSR | Date: 14 Nov 1998 | posted in: Composting, waste - composting, waste - recycling, waste - zero waste, Waste to Wealth | 0

ILSR’s Waste Reduction Record-Setters project (1996-2000), funded under an U.S. EPA grant, identified and documented record-setting waste reduction programs in the public and private sectors. The project identified 100 communities and nearly 200 businesses, institutions, and other organizations reporting waste reduction — the combination of waste prevention and recycling — rates at 50 percent or higher. … Read More

5 Nov 1998

Place Matters Conference Summary

by ILSR | Date: 5 Nov 1998 | posted in: From the Desk of David Morris, governance, Retail, The Public Good | 0

The Place Matters Conference, held on November 12, 1998 in St. Paul, Minnesota, drew together a mix of businesses, organizations and individuals who, by their very nature, believe that place does indeed matter. These participants were all firmly anchored in their communities, representing small businesses, financial institutions, community-based nonprofits, farmers, and local governments in Minnesota. They were a mix of people who did not normally interact, yet had much in common. They shared a remarkably similar recent history: economic and public policy trends that had made their long-term viability much more tenuous and uncertain.… Read More

5 Nov 1998

Report: Replacing Utility Property Taxes In Minnesota With Revenues from a Carbon-Based Tax

by John Bailey | Date: 5 Nov 1998 | posted in: Energy | 0

This policy brief by David Morris and John Bailey from November 1998, looked at potential changes to utility property taxes in Minnesota. The state was re-examining the utility tax structure in light of the restructuring of electricity occurring throughout the country. The rationale for this re-examination is that if Minnesota were to deregulate its electricity sector, customers would be able to buy electricity from any supplier. If taxes were imposed on in-state power plants but not on out-of-state suppliers, it would result in a competitive disadvantage to in-state generators.… Read More

5 Nov 1998

Report: Taxes, Agriculture, and Climate Change

by David Morris and John Bailey | Date: 5 Nov 1998 | posted in: agriculture, Energy | 0

This Novemeber 1998 report by David Morris and John Bailey examines the impact of a proposed $1.5 billion ecological tax shift proposal on Minnesota’s agricultural sector. Overall, the net impact is beneficial for Minnesota farmers that are growing crops. On a statewide level, the carbon tax raises costs to farmers by about $59.1 million while the property tax reduction lowers costs by $92 million. The benefit varies by crop and by farm size. Soybean farmers do better than corn farmers, large farmers do better than small farmers.… Read More

1 Nov 1998

DON’T THROW AWAY THAT FOOD: Strategies for Record-Setting Waste Reduction

by ILSR | Date: 1 Nov 1998 | posted in: Composting, waste - composting, waste - recycling, Waste to Wealth | 0

The Institute for Local Self-Reliance’s Waste Reduction Record-Setters Project fosters development of exceptional waste reduction programs by documenting successful ones. These programs can be used as models for others implementing their own programs to reduce garbage. The Don’t Throw Away That Food information packet below is oriented toward commercial and institutional food discard generators, and highlights … Read More