Children's Resale Addendum

Here's what I heard back from my congresspeople on the used children's merchandise issue:

From Senator Herb Kohl:

On January 8, 2009, the CPSC released a
statement clarifying CPSIA, stating "sellers of used children's
products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not
required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits,
phthalates standard or new toy standards." This CPSC statement is
meant to address the concerns of small businesses regarding
excessive regulatory burdens, while ensuring that product safety is
not compromised.

From Senator Russ Feingold:

The new law requires that domestic manufacturers and importers certify that children's products made after February 10 meet all new safety standards, including the lead ban. However, sellers of used children's products, such as thrift stores and consignment stores, are not required to certify that those products meet the new lead limits, phthalates standard or new toy standards. Further, the new safety law does not require resellers to test children's products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold.

Apparently, the people made a big enough stink to avoid stupid disaster. Yea!

Who's Killing Children's Resale?

At the last meeting of Wausau's sustainability action committee, the Comission for a Greener Tomorrow (www.gogreencentralwisconsin.com), the woman sitting next to me volunteered some shocking news.

"There's a new law that's going to destroy the children's resale industry," she announced. "It's going to be illegal to sell used children's toys and even clothing."

WHAT?

If you know me at all, you know I'm a big fan of resale. And children's resale in particular. Because children grow so fast, they're always needing new clothes and other things. Buying used cuts way down on the environmental cost of procuring these items, helps keep consumables out of the landfill, and is a godsend for lower-income families trying to keep up with their kids' ever-changing needs. I had to follow up on this one.

Unfortunately, it turns out it's 95% true. Technically it won't be illegal to sell used children's items, but it might as well be.

Consumer Product Safety Commission's Folly

You see, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in its infinite wisdom, passed a law that is supposed to protect children from the dangers of chemical poisoning. Everyone's favorite political bozo, past President George W. Bush, signed the well-meaning but pinheaded Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (H.R. 4040) into law last August 14. The law goes into effect February 10, 2009.

The law states that any children's items will need to be tested. Toys with high lead content and clothing and accessories with a high percentages of lead or phthalates in zippers, snaps, buttons or other closures will be banned from sale or distribution. That includes virtually everything - including shoes and books.

Vendors of items not meeting the new standards will be subject to prosecution - including resale outlets. And it's not limited to retail used clothing stores, either. It includes charities and other nonprofits - and YOU, if you have any plans to hold a garage sale next spring.

Uncle Sam Has a Screw Loose on This One

Now, I'm definitely in favor of protecting children from excessive chemical exposure. And I can see the logic of requiring items with untested paint, etc. to be pulled from the shelves. But in this case Uncle Sam is going off the deep end.

In a time when food pantry shelves are rapidly emptying and unemployment skyrocketing, the last thing this nation's children need is additional financial burden on their families. And that's what this law will provide. If it is allowed to go into effect, the results will be devastating:

• Many resale shops depend heavily upon the sale of children's items and will be forced to close their doors.
• Low-income families will no longer have access to readily available, affordable good-quality merchandise and will become even more financially stressed.
• The disposal of unsalable items will put additional strain on already-overburdened landfills.
• Not to mention the environmental costs of forcing millions of Americans to purchase new merchandise rather than used for their children. (The positive economic impact of increased spending will be minimal, as most of these purchases will likely be of low-cost goods manufactured in China, and offset by the loss of jobs and income in the resale sector.)

What Can We Do About It?

Fortunately, we have a new administration that claims to be truly democratic. Want to try them out? There are already quite a few groups raising a stink on this one. Here's one to start with:

The National Association of Resale and Thrift Shops has a web page where you can sign a petition to save second-hand kid's clothing and toys. They also have a sample letter to your congresspeople that you can edit, sign and send. It's easy, fast and free. Here's the link:

http://www.narts.org/SaveKidsResale.htm

February 10 is fast approaching. If you've read this far you've proven your concern and you can't be so busy you can't do this: I urge you to take two minutes (maybe less) RIGHT NOW and speak out for kids and the planet!

Energy Saving Kitchen Tip

Next time you heat up the oven to bake something for dinner, see how far you can stretch the energy you're using. Once the oven is up to temperature, it saves energy to cook as much of your meal in it as you can fit.

For instance, you can cook rice and other grains just as easily in the oven as on the stovetop. (Actually more easily because you won't need to remember to turn the heat down.) Just put the uncooked grain and water in the usual proportions into a casserole with a tight-fitting lid, and pop it in. Brown rice or millet cooks in about half an hour.

You're not limited to the same old baked potatoes, either. Cut up your spuds, cover with water and cook them just like rice when you want them boiled or mashed. Or cut them in strips, spread them on an oiled baking tray and brush with olive oil for "French bakes." (Try them sprinkled with your favorite herbs for a tasty change of pace.)

Can't think of anything else? Mix up a batch of muffins for tomorrow's breakfast, or cookie bars for the lunch box. Or even cranberry or apple sauce to go with that baked chicken or pork roast. (It's really easy - just dump the cut-up apples or whole cranberries into your trusty casserole dish, add whatever sweeteners or flavorings turn you on, plus a tablespoonful or two of water or orange juice, pop the lid on, and take it out when it smells like sauce.)

Filling your oven full doesn't just save energy - it's easy and delicious, and leaves you more time for the fun things in life!

Green Works by Clorox

I just got back from the grocery store. While there I noticed a new brand of dish detergent, GreenWorks. Which on closer inspection, is being put out by Clorox.

Yeah, right.

I guess the mainstream American population really is that gullible, but just putting the same old product (it's full of SLS and ethanol) into a container decaled over with grass and daisies and putting "Green" in the name doesn't make it sustainable.

But still it's worth checking out. So I did a little search on Clorox and discovered that Green Works is actually being endorsed by the Sierra Club. It's got an environmental record that is not perfect but pretty good. Here's what the Sierra Club says about Green Works:

The bottom line is that these products are environmentally safe, affordable, work well, and will be available to millions of people. They can help alter consumer behavior overall and will support the good work of the Sierra Club.

Well OK, so maybe next time I'll buy it. But really, anything that comes in a non-refillable plastic container is anything but sustainable - even if it's marginally better than the next item on the shelf.

When I was in Costa Rica 15 or so years ago the dish cleaner of choice was a thick, almost solid, gooey kind of soap. You'd dip your dish cloth in it and wash away. It strikes me that something like that might use a lot less packaging. If anyone knows how to obtain it in this country please let me know.

Shopping Spree!

Normally I avoid unmitigated consumerism. We all know what overconsumption of resources is doing to the world.

But once in a while ya gotta just let loose.

My son Isaac needed winter boots, so we jumped in the Jetta and headed off to that shopping Mecca, a huge, warehouse-sized frenzy of merchandise...

No, not the local mall. And certainly not Wal-Mart.

I'm talking about Goodwill!

It's the first place I go for nearly everything inedible. It's great, 'cause you can shop with a clear conscience on all sorts of things.

• Almost everything there is pre-owned. So you're saving stuff that might otherwise be tossed. And you're saving the environmental cost of manufacturing something new.
• Goodwill provides jobs and career training for the socially disadvantaged and mentally and physically disabled. Not to mention affordable duds for those struggling on a low income. So you can feel good about supporting them.
  
• And it's totally cheap (especially the clearance rack, where you can sometimes find swanky high-class clothes for ridiculous prices.) Which means if you want to, you can go on a hog wild shopping spree without bouncing a single check.
  

Tonight, we went home with two fleece tops, a nice sweater and a Berman's leather bomber jacket for Isaac, and a silk shirt and two cozy Christopher & Banks sweaters for me.

Our total bill? Are you sitting down?

$33.69!

Only one problem - we didn't find any winter boots his size.

Oh, well... we'll just have to try the Salvation Army store down the street.