10 Reasons Why Maine's Homegrown Economy Matters: And 50 Proven Ways to Revive It
by Stacy Mitchell
May 2006
Download Full Report
Published by the Maine Businesses for Social Responsibility. Detailed here are practical tools for strengthening locally owned business.
Alcohol Fuels from Whey: Novel Commercial Uses for a Waste Product
by Irshad Ahmed and David Morris
1991, 20 pages
$10.00
This study describes new methods with which cheese manufacturers can solve disposal problems of whey (a watery waste of the cheese-making process), manufacture ethanol or gasoline additives, and simultaneously realize substantial profits.
Asian Countries Jump on the EPR Bandwagaon
by Kelly Lease
Facts to Act On Series
Release #41, January 2002
View online
Download PDF file
This Facts to Act On features policies introduced in Japan, Korea, and Taiwan to make manufacturers take more responsibility for the products and packaging they produce. Korea, for instance, has instituted deposit-refund systems, non-refundable product fees, and design requirements for packaging. The country also has restrictions on the distribution of disposable goods.
A Better Way to Get From Here to There: A Commentary on the Hydrogen Economy and a Proposal for an Alternative Strategy
by David Morris
January 2004
Download Full Report PDF
The idea of a hydrogen economy has burst like a supernova over the energy policy landscape, mesmerizing us with its possibilities while blinding us to its weaknesses. Such a fierce spotlight on hydrogen is pushing more promising strategies into the shadows.
The hydrogen economy is offered as an all-purpose idea, a universal solution. However, in the short and medium term a crash program to build a hydrogen infrastructure can have unwanted and even damaging consequences. This is especially true for the transportation sector, the transformation of which is the primary focus of hydrogen advocates and the highest priority of federal efforts.
Beyond 40 Percent: Record-Setting Recycling and Composting Programs
by Brenda Platt, Christine Doherty,
Anne Claire Broughton, and David Morris
1991, 264 pages
$25.00
ISBN 1-55963-073-6, LC 90-4769
The recovery of more than 40 percent of municipal solid waste is now a reality. This report establishes materials recovery as a cost-effective, primary waste management strategy. The operating experiences of 17 communities—urban, suburban, and rural—are extensively documented. The book includes 58 charts with specifics of recycling and composting programs, breakdowns of capital and operating costs, and information on materials targeted. It also provides information on incentives, collection methods, education and publicity, and contact people. A valuable guide for anyone interested in materials recovery and recycling.
Big Box Swindle: The True Cost of Mega-Retailers and the Fight for America's Independent Businesses
by Stacy Mitchell
October 2006
In this deft and revealing book, Stacy Mitchell illustrates how mega-retailers are fueling many of our most pressing problems, from the shrinking middle class to rising pollution and diminished civic engagement. She then shows how communities and independent businesses are effectively fighting back. Buy Big Box Swindle Today! [published by Beacon Press]
Biochemicals for the Automotive Industry
by Michelle Carstensen and David Morris
1997, 20 pages
$12.00
In many industries, viable alternatives to petroleum-based products are available. This popular report explains how products made from plant matter are not only safer for workers and the environment, but can also prove economical, in part by eliminating regulation and disposal fees.
Biochemicals for the Printing Industry
by Michelle Carstensen and David Morris
1997, 20 pages
$12.00
Environmentally preferable printers are finding a new niche with consumers who want to support not only recycled paper, but also ag-based press washes, soy-based ink, and other plant matter products that substitute for toxic, petroleum-based materials. This report reviews some available plant matter products and explains how printers can save money.
Biological Energy: Opportunities and Obstacles (monograph)
by David Morris
1994, 13 pages
$10.00
Acknowledging the vast potential for converting plant matter into electricity, this monograph analyzes the technologies and cost-effectiveness of direct combustion and conversion of plant matter into gases and liquid fuels. It also discusses policies that can promote the use of biological fuels. An excellent outline for policy makers and those interested in alternative energy solutions.
Building a Deconstruction Company: A Training Manual for Facilitators and Entrepreneurs
by Dennis Livingston and Mark Jackson
April 2001 (96 pages)
$25 (+S&H) from ILSR
Download order form
ILSR's manual provides an excellent resource for anyone interested in starting a deconstruction company. No matter whether you are an entrepreneur, community-based organization, construction-related company, or governmental organization, this manual will introduce to you to many of the steps needed to form a deconstruction company. The manual takes the reader from setup and funding, to planning, deconstruction, and material resale.
Building Savings: Strategies for Waste Reduction of Debris from Buildings
by Kelly Lease, Mark Jackson, and Brenda Platt
2000, fact sheet packet (20 pages) - Download PDF File
This fact sheet packet profiles seven building projects - from new construction to renovation and deconstruction - that are recovering 42 to 82% of materials otherwise destined for disposal. Policymakers wanting to encourage building material recovery, building owners and developers interested in green building design, and contractors seeking a competitive edge will find this document useful.
The Carbohydrate Economy: Making Chemicals and Industrial Materials from Plant Matter
by David Morris and Irshad Ahmed
1992, 66 pages
$25.00 - Order the Report Online
ISBN 0-917582-25-X, LC 92-18177
One hundred and fifty years ago, all of our industrial materials were derived from plants. Today, plant matter accounts for less than 5% of non-food materials. The pendulum may be swinging back. New regulations raise the cost of using fossil fuels as industrial materials, while rapid advances in bioprocessing techniques lower the cost of using plant matter. This book describes the past, present, and future of a carbohydrate economy, and offers examples of pioneering products and businesses.
Climate Neutral Bonding: Building Global Warming Solutions at the State And Local Level
by John Bailey
February 2006
Download Full Report
This policy brief provides background and analysis to support a state or local policy that would require construction projects funded with tax-exempt bonds to result in no net increases in greenhouse gases within the community. See also our Model Resolution on Climate Neutral Bonding for Cities
Closer to Home: A Conversation about Local Ownership & Community (conference proceedings)
1998, 43 pages
Download the Full Report
These proceedings from ILSR’s Place Matters Conference (held November 12, 1998, in Minneapolis) are popular among local policymakers. Independent banks, bookstores, pharmacies, municipal utilities, public libraries, and agricultural and regional colleges are represented in this discussion of the benefits of a local alliance and the possibilities of nurturing a healthy local economy.
Co-Collection of Recyclables and Mixed Waste: Problems and Opportunities
by Brenda Platt and Jill Zachary
1992, 50 pages
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-26-8, LC 97-34141
Co-collection—the one-stop, one-vehicle gathering of recyclables and refuse—is gaining interest in the recycling arena. This report documents the operations of 14 co-collection systems that pick up mixed waste and source-separated recyclables. It describes set-out and collection methods, materials targeted, recovery rates, and costs. Any community considering co-collection will want this informative report.
Community Development Corporations and Reuse Operations: Four Case Studies of Working Relationships
by Michael Lewis, Russell Clark, and Jeffrey Vandall
1996, 20 pages
$8.00
This document profiles four reuse operations and the community development corpora-tions (CDCs) with which they work. New neighborhood jobs, low- and no-cost materials for CDC programs, and cost savings are examined. Prepared for the National Congress for Community Economic Development and the Economic Development Administration.
Complex Recycling Issues: Strategies for Record-Setting Waste Reduction in Multi-Family Dwellings
by Kelly Lease, Brenda Platt, and Joanne Goodwin
1999, fact sheet packet (26 pages) - Download PDF File
EPA-530-F-99-022
available free through the RCRA hotline 1-800-424-9346 (within U.S.),1-703-412-9810 (outside U.S. and Washington, DC metro area).
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.
Creating Local Recycling Markets
by Tom Martin
1994, 31 pages
$6.00
This booklet discusses how to develop local recycling-based production and manufacturing enterprises.
Creating Wealth from Everyday Items
by Brenda Platt
1997, 47 pages - View Introduction
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-95-0, LC 97-1338
This report profiles six model reuse operations and seven programs that collect reusable goods from households. Each profile documents materials handled, marketing information, process and equipment utilized, costs, and replicability. The report also details job creation and other community benefits of reuse.
Cutting the Waste Stream in Half: Community Record-Setters Show How
by Brenda Platt and Kelly Lease
1999
171-page report, EPA-530-R-99-013 - View Online
fact sheet packet , EPA-530-F-99-017 - View Online
printed copies available free through the RCRA hotline 1-800-424-9346 (within U.S.), 1-703-412-9810 (outside U.S. and Washington, DC metro area).
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 on cost-effective recycling.
Deconstruction: Salvaging Yesterday’s Buildings for Tomorrow’s Sustainable Communities
by Kivi Leroux and Neil Seldman
1999, 34 pages - View Executive Summary
$10.00
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 ILSR.
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 Daniel Kraker and David Morris
1998, 8 pages
View Full Report Online - Also Executive Summary
This action brief responds to New York’s plan to spend nearly $50 million to build two minor league stadiums. The main argument: why not spend that money to buy the teams, rooting them permanently in their communities? This paper reviews the fan ownership movement and how to establish community-owned sports teams.
Don’t Throw Away That Food: Strategies for Record-Setting Waste Reduction
by Brenda Platt and Joanne Goodwin
1998, fact sheet packet (24 pages) - View Online
EPA-530-F-98-023
two-color printed copies available free through the RCRA hotline 1-800-424-9346 (within U.S.),1-703-412-9810 (outside U.S. and Washington, DC metro area).
A growing number of food-related businesses are diverting their food discards to useful purposes in place of the dump. This fact sheet packet documents nine programs with record-setting food recovery levels, from a hospital and prison to an urban produce market and supermarkets. The packet includes tips for solid waste planners and resources for more information.
Driving Our Way to Energy Independence
by David Morris
March 2008
View Executive Summary and Download the full report
This report describes how commercially available technologies today could transform our petroleum powered transportation system into one powered by electricity and biofuels. Provisions in the recently passed Energy Act could accelerate that transformation. With the adoption of complementary policies, the revolution in our transportation sector can generate an equally profound revolution in our electricity sector. Hundreds of thousands of locally owned wind turbines and solar electric arrays supplying flexible fueled, plug-in hybrid vehicles can allow tens of millions of Americans to become energy producers not just energy consumers.
The Economic Benefits of Recycling (monograph)
by Brenda Platt and David Morris
1993, 15 pages
$10.00
This report discusses the efficiency of recycling, cost-effective programs, and the jobs and value added created through recycling. A valuable tool for those arguing the case for recycling.
Expanding Scrap-based Manufacturing through the Community Joint-Venture Process
by Neil Seldman and Tom Martin
1994, 27 pages
$6.00
This booklet provides information to help community economic development organizations create jobs and entrepreneurial opportunities for their constituents through recycling. It focuses on using public-private joint ventures to attract and expand scrap-based manufacturing.
Facts to Act On
Between 1990 and 1993, ILSR published its Facts to Act On series, 38 articles covering a wide range of topics on recycling, waste management, and grassroots organizing. We are resurrecting this series. Recent and upcoming issues will focus on extended producer responsibility and product stewardship. List of Back Issues (1990-1993, #1 - #38)
Financing Recycling-Related Ventures: Options for Community Development
by Michael Lewis, Jeffrey Vandall, Russell Clark, and Neil Seldman
1995, 31 pages
$12.00
ISBN 0-917582-94-2, LC 95-31169
This guide lists financing and funding institutions available for recycling-related ventures, and includes a glossary of financing terms. It profiles 18 specific sources of capital, their requirements, and contact information.
Getting from Here to There: Building a Rational Transportation System (monograph)
by David Morris
1992, 7 pages
$5.00
ISBN 0-917582-28-4, LC 92-14926
America’s love affair with the automobile is costing us far more than we may suspect. This concise report discusses transportation alternatives to cars, and looks at local initiatives designed to reduce auto traffic. Using the least-cost planning concepts of electric utilities to achieve energy efficiency as a guide, the author suggests new transportation policies that satisfy need rather than meet projected demand.
Getting the Most from Our Materials: Making New Jersey the State of the Art
by David Morris, Brenda Platt, Daniel Sapon-Borson, Matt Gallaway, and Irshad Ahmed
1991, 85 pages
$25.00
This report outlines a comprehensive materials policy that links energy, water, sewage sludge, solid waste, transportation, agriculture, and forestry. It also lists a wealth of proven and commercially viable strategies to achieve sustainability while boosting New Jersey’s economy.
Government/Community Based Sources and Strategies for Financing Recycling Enterprises
by Neil Seldman
1998, 48 pages
Available for $15 ($10 for NRC members, incl. S&H) directly from the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), 1727 King Street, Suite 105, Alexandria, VA 22314
(703) 683-9025
Also available as a PDF file on the NRC Web address:
http://www.nrc-recycle.org/resources/Financing/toolkit.htm
Prepared for the National Recycling Coalition by Self-Reliance Inc., this report discusses recent developments in community and small business financing, identifies barriers and current needs, and outlines steps for linking recycling-based community development and small business financing. Appendices list and survey prominent community development corporations and finance institutions.
Green Taxes (monograph)
by David Morris
1994, 10 pages
View Online
This monograph offers examples of significant green taxes in the U.S. and Europe, and proposes a policy framework for approaching the issue of implementing taxes as a means to protect the environment.
Greenhouse Gas Emissions from Ethanol and MTBE: A Comparison (monograph)
by Irshad Ahmed
1994, 10 pages
$5.00
Based on data from the U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories, this monograph compares greenhouse gas emissions from MTBE and ethanol.
Guide to Plastic Lumber
by Bill Walsh and Brenda Platt
June 2005
Download Full Report [pdf]
This is the first study to rate plastic lumber strictly on environmental and public health priorities.
The Homegrown Economy: A Prescription for Saint Paul’s Future (Monograph)
by David Morris
1983, 28 pages
$8.00
Produced for the citizens of Saint Paul, Minnesota, this booklet describes resource flows within the city and provides a look at local enterprises that serve as models of self-reliant economic development.
The Home Town Advantage: How to Defend Your Main Street Against Chain Stores and Why It Matters
by Stacy Mitchell
2000, 101 pages - Order the Book Online
$14.00 (plus shipping and handling)
Across the U.S., cities and towns are grappling with the proliferation of chain stores and the loss of locally owned businesses. But this is not the inevitable result of free market forces: current public policy actively encourages absentee ownership and concentration. It is time to change the rules. From local zoning ordinances to federal antitrust policy, this book provides a comprehensive guide to reviving the homegrown economy.
How Much Energy Does It Take to Make a Gallon of Soydiesel? (monograph)
by Irshad Ahmed, John Decker, and
David Morris
1994, 15 pages
$10.00
The recent creation of soydiesel as an alternative to petroleum diesel has raised the question of its practicality as a viable fuel. This monograph documents the energy used to create soydiesel, and concludes that even under the worst-case scenario, more energy is contained in soydiesel than is used to grow and process soybeans for fuel.
How Much Energy Does It Take to Make A Gallon of Ethanol? (monograph)
by David Morris and David Lorenz
Revised, 1995, 8 pages View Online
$10.00
One major issue arising from the use of corn-derived ethanol for fuel is whether growing and converting the crop into ethanol generates more energy than is used in the process. This report answers that question. Based on empirical data from farmers and ethanol facilities, the report examines several scenarios. It also analyzes the net energy aspects of converting cellulosic crops, such as wood, to ethanol.
Innovation, Leadership, Stewardship
by Kelly Lease
2002 (20 pages)
Download PDF file
printed copies available for free from ILSR (only S&H)
Alameda County, California (pop. 1.46 million), diverts almost 60% of its municipal solid waste, making it one of the nation's record-setting recycling communities. The Alameda County Waste Management Authority and Recycling Board deserves much credit. This glossy booklet -- chock full of case studies and photographs -- features the Board's source reduction, reuse, construction material recycling, composting, market development, green building, and outreach initiatives. For more information on this county's model waste reduction programs, visit http://www.stopwaste.org/
In-Depth Studies of Recycling and Composting Programs: Designs, Costs, Results, Volumes I, II, and III
by Brenda Platt, Naomi Friedman, Carolyn Grodinsky, and Margaret Suozzo
1992
Volume I, Rural Communities,
113 pages
$18.00
ISBN 0-917582-31-4, LC 92-9856
Volume II, Suburbs and Small Cities,
190 pages
$18.00
ISBN 0-917582-30-6, LC 92-9856
Volume III, Urban Areas,
190 pages
$18.00
ISBN 0-917582-29-2, LC 92-9856
Volumes I, II, and III
$45.00
ISBN 0-917582-32-2, LC 92-9856
This three-volume study is one of the most comprehensive compilations on community recycling programs. It details aspects of 30 U.S. community recycling programs, each selected for its geographic and demographic representation, high recovery rates, and/or notable innovations. Each volume includes model initiatives for source reduction, construction and demolition debris recovery, food waste recovery, and salvage/reuse operations. The case studies allow for comparisons of costs and results, public and private collection, segregated and commingled set-out, curbside and drop-off, and mandatory and voluntary participation.
Lessons from the Pioneers: Tackling Global Warming at the Local Level
by John Bailey
January 2007
Download Full Report- view summary
This report looks at ten of the most visible and successful cities involved in global warming solutions and finds that reducing GHG emissions below 1990 levels will be a major challenge. Many cities will likely not meet their goals unless complementary state and federal policies are put in place very soon.
Local Initiatives Leverage Extended Producer Responsibility
by Brenda Platt
Facts To Act On #40, November 2000 (12 pages)
View online - Download PDF file
This Facts to Act On describes local initiatives to spur extended producer responsibility such as networking with industry in a voluntary approach, passing local resolutions, banning products that harm the environment, and developing purchasing protocols that encourage environmentally sound products. Efforts in Los Angeles, the Pacific Northwest, Minnesota, and elsewhere are covered. Includes links to actual resolutions and ordinances and where to find more information.
Localizing the Internet: Five Ways Public Ownership Solves the U.S. Broadband Problem
by Becca Vargo Daggett
January 2007
Download Full Report - view summary
This report argues that a publicly owned information infrastructure is the key to healthy competition, universal access, and non-discriminatory rates. The paper notes that high speed broadband is becoming ever more widespread. But, it argues, the way in which that broadband is introduced may be as important as whether it is introduced.
Lubricants From Vegetable Oils
by Jessica Nelson
2001, 20 pages
$10.00 [order at the ILSR e-Store]
Vegetable oil-based lubricants are emerging as a high-performance environmentally friendly alternative to the more commonly purchased petroleum oil lubricants. Users choose vegetable oil-based lubricants because they perform as well or better than petroleum oils, are readily biodegradable and low in toxicity, and offer worker safety advantages.
Making Cellulosic Ethanol Happen: Good and Not So Good Public Policy
by David Morris
January 2007
download the report
This report provides an analysis of federal policies that are both good and bad related to creating a viable cellulosic ethanol industry based on two building blocks: 1) Commercial technologies that produce ethanol from cellulose and 2) A cultivation, transportation and storage infrastructure that delivers cellulose to biorefineries
Making the Car Pay Its Way: The Case of Minneapolis Roads (monograph)
by John Bailey
1992, 11 pages
Download PDF file
This report, based on data from Minneapolis, concludes that local roads are highly subsidized by non-transportation revenues, specifically property taxes. It shows the impact on Minneapolis households if car owners paid the full cost of road maintenance and if property taxes were reduced by a similar amount.
Manufacturing from Recyclables:
24 Case Studies of Successful Enterprises
by Michael Lewis, Timothy Swope, Bhushan Tuladhar, Daniel Sapon-Borson, Taraneh Stallings, and Tom Martin
1995, 115 pages, EPA-530-R-95-001
FREE (shipping and handling not included)
This study presents 24 state-of-the-art U.S. manufacturers utilizing recycled materials as feedstock. Includes details on feedstocks, process, products, economics, and replicability. Valuable for those interested in attracting new businesses to their communities. Published by the U.S. EPA.
Minimizing Waste, Maximizing Recycling
by Brenda Platt
1994, 34 pages
$6.00
This report identifies steps to reach high levels of waste reduction and recycling, and highlights model communities.
Minnesota's Biomass Mandate: An Assessment
by David Morris
June 2005
Download the Report
This report concludes that the Minnesota biomass mandate, rather than jump-starting a new industry using new energy crops, has become little more than a very costly waste-to-energy program. Read the Press Release
A Molecular Basis for Development: An Environmental Policy for the 1990s (monograph)
by David Morris
1990, 9 pages
$5.00
This monograph clearly presents the need for a comprehensive and environmentally sound materials policy. It establishes a rationale for synergistically working for energy efficiency, a drastic reduction in the consumption of raw materials, and a shift from fossil fuels to solar energy and plant matter as sources of energy and industrial materials. An excellent resource for those interested in strategies for realizing the vision of an environmentally sustainable, self-reliant economy.
The New City-States
by David Morris
1982, 76 pages
$9.00
ISBN 0-917582-49-7, LC 82-82572
This study examines the changing role of the municipal corporation in overall planning and development, and presents strategies for citizens to spur economic development based on local self-reliance.
A New Industry Emerges: Making Construction Materials from Cellulosic Waste
by David Lorenz
1995, 14 pages
$10.00
This booklet describes the rapidly expanding business of producing panel and board products from agricultural and municipal wastes, highlighting several of the companies comprising the industry.
The New Rules (no longer published)
Back issues available for $5 each - back issues on-line
In this global economy, the rules often benefit special interest groups and multinational corporations rather than individuals and communities. The New Rules focused on how to redesign the rules—from trade rules to local zoning codes—to strengthen local economies and encourage citizen involvement. Nominated for Utne Reader’s 1999, 2000, and 2001 Alternative Press Awards.
A Non-Incineration Alternative for Mercer County, New Jersey
by Brenda Platt
1996, 21 pages - View Online
$4.00 (or download PDF file)
This report, for the Mercer Citizens for Public Accountability, helped defeat the Mercer County (NJ) waste incinerator. It includes a discussion of other incinerators that have fallen far short of their developer, consultant, and government expectations.
Ownership Matters: Three Steps to Ensure a Biofuels Industry That Truly Benefits Rural America
by David Morris
April 2006
Download Full Report
A paper adapted from a speech given at the Minnesota Ag Expo 2006. The paper provides a snapshot of today's biofuels industry and a roadmap to ensure that local farmers see significant benefits from the expanding industry in the future.
Plug into Electronics Reuse
by Brenda Platt and Jennifer Hyde
1997, 47 pages - View Introduction
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-92-6, LC 97-97
Because computers become obsolete so swiftly, they are often discarded with many or all working components. This report provides contact information on 150 computer recovery facilities as well as in-depth profiles of the operating experiences of 13 that focus on computer reuse. Operations profiled are all replicable and many are interested in starting similar enterprises in other cities.
Pollution Solutions
by David Pettijohn, P.E.; Jonathan Hamlow, and David Lorenz
1996 [online see Carbohydrate Economy Clearinghouse]
A series of 20 fact sheets covering pollution prevention opportunities utilizing biochemical substitutes for key industries in the Great Lakes region.
Preparing a Business Plan for a Small-Scale Recycling Related Venture
by Michael Lewis
1994, 8 pages
$6.00
This booklet describes how to develop a business plan for a recycling enterprise. A glossary defines some basic accounting and economic terms.
Product Stewardship in British Columbia
by Kelly Lease
October 2000, Facts To Act On - 39
(8 pages) View online - Download PDF This Facts to Act On examines product stewardship programs and policies in place in British Columbia, Canada: its deposit-refund system for beverage containers and its household hazardous waste stewardship program (covering used motor oil, paints, solvents, flammable liquids, domestic pesticides, gasoline, and pharmaceuticals). Back Issues of Facts to Act On
Proven Profits from Pollution Prevention: Case Studies in Resource Conservation and Waste Reduction, Volumes I & II
by Donald Huisingh
1986, 459 pages total
Both volumes free for the cost of shipping & handling.
ISBN: 0-917582-47-0
This compendium of case studies illustrates how various industries have achieved environmental goals through a primary emphasis on pollution prevention instead of on pollution control.
Putting the Pieces Together: Commercializing Cellulosic Ethanol
by David Morris
September 2006
Download Full Report
A report examining federal policies supporting cellulosic ethanol production and advocating that the Federal government adopt strategies that support farmer-owned biorefineries.
Recycling and Economic Development in Washington, D.C.
by Neil Seldman, Roland Samimy,
and David Morris
1991, 46 pages
$25.00
Washington, D.C. could be saving money and creating more jobs through its recycling program. This report compares the District of Columbia’s 1991 expenditures for solid waste disposal to projected expenditures for an aggressive recycling program/economic development strategy. The study offers a concrete plan that would save the District millions of dollars.
Recycling Economic Development Through Scrap-Based Manufacturing
by Michael Lewis
1994, 42 pages
$20.00
ISBN 0-917582-97-7, LC 94-5188
This report documents manufacturer use of scrap materials and associated jobs and value added. It lays out strategies for keeping these benefits in the community and establishing scrap-based industries. An excellent primer for those interested in recycling-based economic development.
Recycling Means Business in Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond
by Brenda Platt, Henry Jeanes,
and Anne Kaufmann
1995, 86 pages
$12.00
This report documents the jobs and revenues created by recycling and disposal operations in three cities. Appendices detail each city’s recycling activities and businesses.
Recycling Means Business for the Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond Regions: Two Choices for the Future (poster)
by Brenda Platt, Henry Jeanes,
Anne Kaufmann, and Neil Seldman
1995, 32" x 22.5"
$6.00
This multi-color poster illustrates the economic growth and job potential for Baltimore, D.C., and Richmond during the next decade if recycling is maximized.
Reduce, Reuse, Refill!
by Brenda Platt and Doug Rowe
2002 (69 pages)
View online
Download PDF file
More than 70% of soda and beer containers are refilled in Finland, Denmark, and Germany, where policies are in place to require, if not support refilling. In the U.S., less than 5% of beverage containers are refilled. U.S. beverage companies offer their products for sale in Europe and elsewhere in refillables. Why not in the U.S.? What policies are in place in Europe, Canada, and Latin America to promote refilling? Which policies could be replicated in the U.S. to revive refilling? This report addresses these issues.
Renewable Electricity Mandates in Minnesota: Status and Impact
by John Bailey and David Morris
February 2006
Download Full Report
This paper by John Bailey and David Morris offers a brief overview of the existing renewable electricity mandates in Minnesota, and discusses the impact a proposed extension and expansion of these mandates might have. [see also Press Release]
Replacing Petrochemicals with Biochemicals: A Pollution Prevention Strategy for the Great Lakes Region
by Irshad Ahmed and David Morris
1994, 55 pages
$25.00
ISBN 0-917582-96-9
The vast majority of the pollution generated by Great Lakes industries comes from the production and use of chemicals. More than 90% of all organic or carbon-based chemicals are derived from petroleum or natural gas. This report examines current production of biochemicals (chemicals made from plant matter) and their potential to replace petrochemicals as a fundamental element of a durable and comprehensive pollution prevention strategy.
Resources up in Flames: The Economic Pitfalls of Waste Incineration versus a Zero Waste Approach in the Global South
by Brenda Platt
April 2004 (76 pages) - Download PDF file
Also view: Twenty Reasons Why Incineration is a Losing Financial Proposition for Host Communities and Aiming for Zero Waste: Ten steps to get started at the local level
This report was prepared by for GAIA - Global Anti-Incinerator Alliance/Global Alliance for Incinerator Alternatives. Decision-makers in any community considering a waste incinerator will find Resources up in Flames essential reading. Pitfalls such as high capital costs, tonnage shortfalls, expensive pollution control equipment, and hampering least-cost options such as waste prevention and recycling can beset an incinerator project in California as easily as one in Manila. Officials in developing countries will be particularly interested in the downsides to transferring a technology designed and tested for the discard stream and infrastructure in industrialized nations. While the report introduces the concept and need for zero waste planning and highlights the growing worldwide zero-waste movement and numerous examples of communities embracing such an approach, it emphasizes that non-burn alternatives are readily available. The first half of the report is devoted to the economic problems posed by incinerators and includes a section on how to evaluate a planned incinerator. The second half focuses on non-burn options and examples, and concludes with a 10-step plan for getting starting on the path toward zero waste at the local level.
Reuse Operations: Community Development Through Redistribution of Used Goods
by Michael Lewis, Russell Clark,
Jeffrey Vandall, and Neil Seldman
1995, 60 pages
$12.00
ISBN 0-917582-95-0, LC 95-31168
This text surveys 67 reuse operations. The report covers materials targeted; warehouse, brokering, and listing services; warehouse and truck parameters; and employment practices. It also addresses financing reuse enterprises.
Roots, Roots, Roots for the Home Team: Community-Owned Professional Sports
by Daniel Kraker and David Morris
1998, 20 pages
$10.00 - View Executive Summary
Professional sports teams have become notoriously mobile, their locations determined by owners who regularly threaten to move unless a costly new stadium is built at the taxpayers’ expense. This report provides examples (from the Green Bay Packers to the Toledo Mud Hens) of successful community ownership of sports teams, and explains how this model could revitalize professional sports.
Rural Development, Biorefineries and the Carbohydrate Economy (monograph)
by David Morris and Irshad Ahmed
1993, 8 pages
$5.00
Using examples of cooperatively owned biorefineries that convert plant matter into food, industrial products, chemicals, and fuels, this paper analyzes the potential for sustainable rural development.
Salvaging the Future: Waste-Based Production
by Caroline Rennie and Alair MacLean
1989, 162 pages
$25.00
ISBN 0-917582-37-3, LC 89-11209
Using a hypothetical American city of one million people, this groundbreaking study on value added to discarded material presents a detailed forecast of the costs and benefits of recycling. Four common material commodities found in a city’s waste stream are analyzed to determine their ability to maximize value added to the city’s economy, and how each can satisfy a portion of the city’s material needs.
Seeing the Light: Regaining Control of Our Electricity System
by David Morris
2001, 160 pgs - Order the Book $15.00 (plus S&H)
ISBN: 0-917582-88-6
Seeing the Light: Regaining Control of Our Electricity System is the newest book from the New Rules Project and provides the overarching discussions of the framework for the electricity rules on our web site. A "must read" according to Senator Paul Wellstone. The California energy crisis is not simply about a lack of electricity it is about who owns the production and distribution of that electricity. As state after state agrees to deregulation, the utility industry is approaching a concentration not seen since the Power Trust of the 1930s. Seeing the Light urges us to change the rules now and create a future that includes affordable, locally-owned electricity. The book chronicles hopeful new developments and reminds us that the best way to prevent another crisis is to build a better system.
Self-Reliant Cities
by David Morris
1982, 250 pages
Sierra Club Books
$15.00
ISBN 0-87156-296-0, LC 81-18301
This classic text looks at the historic relationships of American cities to energy and envisions a future where urban production and consumption are again closely linked. It describes cities that use their municipal authority to finance and regulate decentralized, renewable energy systems, and offers a blueprint for survival in a resource-conscious age.
States Close the Loop: A Survey of Recycled Content Laws and Other Market Development Strategies
by Lauri Aunan
1993, 56 pages
$10.00
Are state recycled content laws effective? This report provides a comprehensive analysis of state recycled content laws, and documents the experiences of states that have enacted such laws. A collaborative project of the National Environmental Law Center, Californians Against Waste Foundation, and ILSR.
Sustaining Businesses & Jobs through Pallet Repair & Reuse
by Brenda Platt and Jennifer Hyde
1997, 28 pages - View Introduction
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-94-2, LC 97-1335
While pallet repair businesses are becoming more common, many pallets are still discarded without repair or salvage. This report lists 31 pallet reuse businesses interested in expanding, and documents jobs through pallet recovery. Profiles of five enterprises detail sources of pallets, repair equipment and process, and more. An appendix lists 193 pallet recovery facilities.
Taxing Wind Energy In Minnesota (monograph)
by John Bailey and David Morris
1995, 21 pages
Download Full Report PDF
In response to state legislative initiatives that would impose a tax on wind energy, this report provides an analysis of several different scenarios. The report compares and contrasts the effects of different tax strategies on the local communities in the path of future wind development and the cost of producing electricity from wind.
Thinking About Solid Waste Management in the District of Columbia
by Neil Seldman
1998, 55 pages
$15.00
This report examines major solid waste issues facing the nation’s capital and offers recommendations for making ecologically sound and cost-effective improvements that build community and entrepreneuralism. The report includes recommendations on recycling, trash collection routes and vehicles, waste transfer stations, and retraining city workers.
The Trade Papers (monograph)
by David Morris
1991, 21 pages
Part 1—Free Trade - The Great Destroyer
Part 2—Trading Our Future: Talking Back to GATT
$9.00
Part 1 critically examines the premises of competition, economies of scale, and price as a measure of efficiency. Part 2 exposes the consequences of the push to deregulate trade so as to favor transnational corporations at the expense of national sovereignty, the Third World, workers’ rights, the environment, and the ability of citizens to democratically determine the future of their communities.
Waste Prevention, Recycling, and Composting Options: Lessons from 30 U.S. Communities
by Brenda Platt, Naomi Friedman, Carolyn Grodinsky, Pia MacDonald, and Margaret Suozzo
1994, 168 pages
EPA-530-R-92-015
FREE (S&H not included)
This report is a summary and analysis of the research conducted in In-Depth Studies of Recycling and Composting Programs: Designs, Costs, and Results (see backlist of publications on ILSR’s Web site). It looks at the operating experiences of 30 communities ranging from rural towns of 2,000 to cities of two million. It also offers nuts-and-bolts advice to communities wanting to strengthen their own programs. Published by the U.S. EPA.
Wasting and Recycling in the United States 2000
by Brenda Platt and Neil Seldman
2000, 64 pages
$25 (incl. S&H) from the GrassRoots Recycling Network (GRRN), P.O. Box 49283, Athens, GA 30604-9283
(706) 613-7121
order form available on the GRRN Web site: http://www.grrn.org
This report—prepared for the GrassRoots Recycling Network—summarizes the state of wasting and recycling in the U.S., details recycling’s many environmental and economic benefits, introduces the concept of zero waste planning, and concludes with an agenda for action. Recycling continues to increase, but is being outpaced by the rise in wasting. Landfill tonnage and interstate shipments of waste are growing. By documenting these trends, this report points to the need to expand public policies to eliminate waste and conserve resources. A must-have for recycling advocates.
Weaving Textile Reuse into Waste Reduction
by Brenda Platt
1997, 49 pages - View Introduction
$15.00
ISBN 0-917582-93-4, LC 97-3520
By documenting 10 programs that collect discarded textiles from households, this reports shows how to integrate textiles into existing recycling programs. Key tips for replication (such as partnering with local charities) are highlighted. Appendices provide sample outreach materials and list companies accepting municipal textiles.
Who Will Own Minnesota's Information Highways?
by Becca Vargo Daggett and David Morris
June 2005
Download Full Report
This report shows how competitive broadband service and pricing is within reach of most Minnesotans if anti-competitive polices and practices are removed and municipal governments build broadband infrastructure. Press Release
Zero Waste: Replacing Waste Management with Discards Management in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region
by Kelly Lease, Richard Anthony, and Neil Seldman
April 2002 (84 pages)
Download PDF file
This report, completed for Greenpeace China, critiques plans to build a waste incinerator in Hong Kong and presents a more rationale non-burn discard management strategy. It provides a blueprint for moving toward zero waste policies and programs in Hong Kong. The report presents zero waste as a philosophy and a design principle for the 21st Century that goes beyond recycling to include product redesign and manufacturer responsibility. Zero waste is a system that aims to eliminate rather than manage waste.
