Agenda - Council - 10/14/1980 - Laserfiche WebLink

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- 7 - e is little literature available about the impacts of waste charges, it is expected that such a charge would be less effective than a national product charge in curbing waste. It is estimated that a waste charge would reduce waste by less than two percent. Hence, a waste charge may be more effective as a funding mechanism rather than as a waste reduction technique. BANS Bans can be used to eliminate solid waste that creates waste management problems. Such product controls can generally be applied only if alternative products and materials exist. For example, the Minnesota Legislature has banned nonreturnable plastic milk containers because they were deemed to pose a major waste problem. Bans on certain kinds of tires and packaging may lead to a reduction in solid waste generation. EXTENDED WARRANTIES Warranties on durable goods could be extended for a specified length of time to reduce the flow into the solid waste stream. The EPA has determined that if all autos and trucks were sold with radial-ply tires, the solid waste stream would be reduced by 0.7 percent (EPA, 1975). Minnesota could facilitate this waste reduc- tion technique by requiring a 40,000-mile warranty on new tires sold in Minnesota and providing incentives (for example, deposits) for tire recapping. Since little literature is available, it is difficult to judge the waste impact of other warranty programs. NEWSPRINT CONSERVATION Newsprint conservation is accomplished through thinner paper and changes in printing format. The American Paper Institute has re- ported that newsprint weighing five percent less than common news- print has performed satisfactorily (EPA, 1977). Also, changing the standard six-column printing format to eight columns for news and nine columns for advertising could reduce current usage by five percent (EPA, 1975). Based on MPCA estimates, if both forms of newsprint conservation were used in Minnesota, about 20,000 tons of waste could be pre- vented annually. This represents about 0.7 percent of the muni- cipal solid waste stream (MPCA, 1979). 9. VOLUNTARY WASTE REDUCTION THROUGH PUBLIC EDUCATION Voluntary waste reduction has had moderate success in the past. Consumer preferences for purchasing products in bulk, for more durable products and for smaller and more efficient automobiles are indicators of voluntary waste reduction. However, more com- prehensive and systematic attempts to reduce solid waste genera- tion are needed. The primary means of encouraging voluntary waste reductien is through increased consumer education and 'advertising. A program to reduce litter through education has had moderate success in