resource June 2009

Norm's Notes

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 14:00:33 -0700

The Price of Everything versus the Value of Nothing

At the turn of the last century, Oscar Wilde described the cynic as, "knowing the price of everything, and the value of nothing." I thought it might be timely to discuss the value of your website service in comparison to the price you pay, so that your boss and your funders won’t become cynics.

So you’ve staked out your plot on the world-wide-web and invited people to come visit your internet real estate. What’s that worth to you?

For our reuse/recycling materials exchanges, the value is made up of:

waste management savings through diversion
cost savings from the sale of used materials (rather than paying for disposal)
cost savings from buying or getting used stuff (rather than new)
greenhouse gas savings (less landfill, less new stuff made, less energy used)
increased communication and awareness from people viewing your site

The first three can be calculated automatically by the residential and commercial versions of our software. I’d like to highlight the last, often ignored aspect of the value of these sites…the communication and awareness value.

Essentially, your website is transmitting information, and promoting a set of values and practices just because people visit and read what’s displayed there. It does this all day, every day. Content in the News and Information section, the Links and Directories sections, the Recyclopedia, or via the Email Members feature enhances this outreach and focuses on specific information you wish to promote. By using the website for this communication function, you are saving money that you might otherwise spend on other outreach and promotional activities, such as brochures or local advertising.

Each website comes with a Web stats package showing the number of visits, the number of pages viewed, the number of hits, and other measures.

What is this traffic worth?

This is where it gets hard. Advertising (or communication & awareness) value is difficult to gauge, and depends on the type of website, the length of time the visitor stays, the nature of the visitor, the size of the ad and the number of ads per page. A very rough estimate is about $4 per 1000 pages viewed, based on two advertisements per page.

So if we do the math for one of the busier residential websites in the 40 or so that we provide, there were 4 million pages viewed in the last year, @ $4 per 1000 page views. So the website is estimated as worth $16,784 per annum in communications & awareness value.

And for a commercial (B2B) site in an eastern State, assuming a higher value per ad (because the visitors are business people), with 321,420 pages viewed in the last year @$8 per 1000 page views, the website is worth $2,571 per annum in communications & awareness value.

Our company understands the importance of the relationship of price to value. We will continue to work to enhance the communications and awareness value of your website and to help you understand and use that value, so that your services will thrive, and we can thrive along with you.

Wishing you success in reducing, reusing and recycling, and in living a more sustainable life in general.

Norm Ruttan

What's New on Your Exchange?

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:55:33 -0700

As of May 19, we are operating on version 4.81.0 of the exchange software. A few new additions over the last couple of months are highlighted in this issue. iWasteNot regularly releases improvements and additions to the software which runs our sites. We try to keep you informed of changes to the software by providing 'Release Notices' every time we update, and by featuring some of the changes in our newsletters.

For each release, detailed explanations can be found in your Communication Center (CC) within the 'Notices from iWasteNot Systems' section.

For Residential, Commercial, Industrial, and eWaste exchanges click HERE.

For Food, Agriculture and Biomass exchanges click HERE.

New on All Exchanges

In March, we split the 'Main Settings' admin panel, (under ‘Configure the Exchange') into two control panels. We moved all the listing settings to a NEW admin panel called 'Listings Settings.' We hope this makes the Listing controls easier to find. The 'Main Settings' control panel remains with only the 'Country' setting in it. This change affected all exchanges.

We also changed the header 'Exchange News' to 'News and Info' to better reflect the intent and broad range of uses for this section across all sites.

New Features on Residential and Food Exchanges

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:45:13 -0700

New Feature on Residential Exchanges

Automatically Confirm Weights of Successful Exchanges
Located in the NEW 'Listing Settings' control panel (under 'Configure the Exchange')

In March, we added a function to automatically confirm weights of successful exchanges reported; an admin can now set the software to average and confirm these values that users enter, instead of manually confirming individual weights.

To turn on this NEW FEATURE: Click on the NEW ‘Listings Settings’ control panel, under ‘Configure the Exchange'. Click on ‘Automatically confirm weight using average values when member enters a valid weight range’ located at the bottom of the page, and click [Submit].

Download the tutorial HERE.

New Feature on Food Exchanges

Role Types Control Panel
(under 'Configure the Exchange')

In February, we added a new 'Role Types' control in the admin panel.

Roles Types are used to survey new members when they create accounts so that you can track information about the people using your exchange (e.g. what kinds of farmers or charities are represented, and are your consumers individuals, or representing schools, restaurants, hospitals?).

Unlike 'Roles' they do not affect what members can do on the exchange and are used for your statistics gathering purposes only.

When Role Types are enabled a new member is asked to choose a role type when creating an account. You control the options that are available to the user.

To learn how, download the tutorial HERE.

New on Residential and Food Exchanges (3-column exchanges)

Changes to the Links on Your Exchange
(located along the top and bottom of your home page)

In March, we changed the text links at the bottom of residential and food exchanges to make better use of the space and communicate important information; they now match the links found on industrial, eWaste and biomass exchanges (2-column exchanges).

The links used to read: Post a Listing | My Account | Feedback | Sign In | Help and were simply a repeat of the links appearing along the top of the exchange.

They now read:

The former 'Feedback' link is now called 'Contact Us'.

'Post a listing,' 'My Account' or 'Create Account' and 'Help' remain at the top of the exchange for the convenience of your members, but are no longer at the bottom.

'About Us', 'Rules & Policies', 'Privacy', and 'User Agreement' are new text links along the bottom that provide important information about the exchange to your members. Some of this content can be customized for your exchange. Let us know if you'd like to make changes and we'll work with you to make it happen.

Take Advantage of Your Links Section

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:30:13 -0700

The Links section of your website provides your users with an easy connection to other valuable online resources. The 'Links' control panel (located in the admin panel under 'Directories') allows you to add, edit, group and delete links in this section.

You can add short descriptions below the links to describe the page you are recommending. They can also be organized into groups with headings for greater clarity.

Download the tutorial HERE.

Need Help? Connect in Your Communication Center!

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:29:10 -0700

If you have questions, problems, suggestions, new feature requests or anything else to ask, share or discuss, connect with us and other admins in your Communication Center (CC)—formerly known as the Support and Discussion forum.

We've prepared a tutorial to help you take advantage of this important service. You can download it HERE.

Make sure you check other sections of the CC first before posting, because what you want to know, ask or suggest might already be there. For example have a look in this section:

For Residential, Industrial & eWaste exchange administrators:

Problems & Questions

For Food, Agriculture & Biomass exchange administrators:

Problems & Questions

New tutorials and guides recently added to the CC

Not sure how a feature on your exchange works? We can help. Check out the Knowledge Base section of your CC for explanations and tutorials.

For Residential, Industrial & eWaste exchange administrators:

Knowledge Base

For Food, Agriculture & Biomass exchange administrators:

Knowledge Base

We want to make sure you understand the features on your exchange. Your feedback is always welcome. If our tutorials don't make things clearer for you, please tell us where you got lost and we'll help you find your way. Of course we're not promising to lead you on your journey through life, but we'll lead through the admin panel!

Admin Spotlight

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:25:49 -0700

Meet Sarah Begg, Admin for the Calgary Materials Exchange

Clean Calgary's Commercial Environmental Services team from left to right: Sarah Begg, Program Coordinator; Stacey Schaub-Szabo, Waste Assessor; James Emerson, Liaison & Researcher; Stephanie Allen, Waste Assessor; Kate Zago, Liaison & Researcher.

How long have you been with the Commercial Environmental Services program?

I have a BSc from Brock University with a double major in Biology and Earth Science. I have been working at Clean Calgary Association (CCA) on the Commercial Environmental Services program (CES) for 5 1/2 years. At the time that I started, I was the only staff member on the program. I quickly realized that to reach out to more companies, another staff person was required, now we are a team of five

What it’s like being an exchange administrator?

As an exchange administrator my day is quite variable. It’s always fun, meeting people and visiting companies, but it can also be challenging when a new recycling issue arises or the program needs to develop something new.

Sometimes I’m helping companies find a solution to their waste problem, other times I dealing with budget or sponsorship proposals. I spend a lot of time managing staff, but I also get to sit on many committees. Data is a big part of the job, everything from keeping company profiles and communication up to date, to tracking down results of successful exchanges between companies.

You never know what type of inquires you’re going to get from companies - it could be a simple recycling question, a request to join the program, or a long discussion on the state of the environment. Phone calls and emails are constant and a welcome sign that CES has grown and is recognized as an expert in the area of waste reduction.

What has been the most memorable posting you can think of?

An industrial dryer that was as big as a house, a request for animal carcasses for a zoo (we didn’t end up posting it, we just referred them to another company).

Any advice to new admins taking on an exchange?

Use the forum (Communication Center) for your questions. They are answered quickly, if there isn’t already a solution. Many issues have already been discussed by other administrators.

Also, touch base with iWasteNot staff. Sometimes a phone call can open up opportunities you didn’t even know were available. Communication between an administrator and a software developer is difficult, we speak different languages. I know what I need to get my job done, I have relationships and direct contact with the companies, but I don’t always know what has to happen behind the scenes for that request to happen. So communication to get the results desired by both parties is key.

When CMEX first started, we were the first industrial exchange, that means both parties were learning as we went along and there were many challenges and modifications. It’s still being modified, that’s what’s great about the exchange software. It’s constantly improving and we all benefit from other exchanges joining and their needs, and the development that occurs.

What are you known for among your team members?

I am known as a dumpster diver. I have also been told that I have a good way with people, be it staff, co-workers or representatives of companies we work with.

Do you have a favourite inspirational quote?

"You must be the change you wish to see in the world." - Mahatma Gandhi

In addition to your Emerald win (congrats by the way!), are there any other notable results you’d like to share about the Calgary Materials Exchange?

We have 501 companies registered with the program!

We have recently finalized a new project, the Waste Measurement Toolkit, which is a system that quantifies a company’s waste stream and recycling, both rate and composition, creating a baseline to inform companies what improvements to make on waste reduction initiatives.

Other achievements include a Calgary Award for Environmental Achievement in 2005 and an Rs of Excellence Award from the Recycling Council of Alberta in 2007.

CMEX.ca is also a success from the support received by the companies we work with, through sponsorship and membership. It is unique compared to other waste exchange programs to receive funding from these sources.

New Exchanges

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:20:08 -0700

We welcome our newest exchange partners to the growing iWasteNot Systems community!

Website: http://www.reusebuildingmaterials.com/
Type of Exchange: Industrial
Site Administrator: Doreen Zaback
Site Operator: ReCONNstruction Center, Connecticut

Website: http://www.prmatex.org/
Type of Exchange: Industrial
Site Administrators: MaryEllen Etienne, Vivian Guzman, Kimiko Link, Luke Surowiec, Jenny Jaeckel
Site Operator: The Puerto Rico Solid Waste Management Authority (SWMA) and the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA Region II)

Website: http://www.sunshinecoast.reuses.com/
Type of Exchange: Residential
Site Administrators: Harvinder Gill, Renee Geronimo, Jenny Ellis, Keran Braich
Site Operator: Recycling Council of British Columbia

Website: http://www.iwastenot.com/sacramento/
Type of Exchange: Food
Site Administrator & Site Operator: April Gomez

Website: http://www.sharedharvest.net/davis/
Type of Exchange: Food
Site Administrators: Diana Rivera
Site Operator: iWasteNot Systems

Website: http://www.biomasstrader.org/NY
Type of Exchange: Biomass
Site Administrators: MaryEllen Etienne, Adanna Roberts, Evan Newell
Site Operator: Reuse Alliance

Website: http://www.biomasstrader.org/DE
Type of Exchange: Biomass
Site Administrators: Joanne Throwe, Elizabeth Skane, Jennifer Cotting
Site Operator: The Environmental Finance Center at the University of Maryland

Website: http://www.kyfoodtrader.org/
Type of Exchange: Food
Site Administrators: Carol Norton
Site Operator: The Environmental Finance Center (EFC) at the University of Louisville

Tip of the Month

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:17:58 -0700

Understanding software versions

In the admin panel on your exchange, the current version of our software is displayed. (It's right at the top under 'About the Exchange.') e.g. Current Exchange Version 4.81.0 (as of May 19, 2009)

When a new version is released, we put out a Release Notice to describe the changes we made to the software running your website.

What each number means:

• 4 - the 1st number is the version number and is updated when there is a big change to the foundation of our system (these changes may at first be invisible to you or users of the site)
• 81 - the 2nd number represents a new feature or major change of some sort
• 0 - the 3rd number represents a bug fix or minor change (i.e. something wasn't working properly so we fixed it).

Bits & Bytes

barretr — Thu, 21 May 2009 13:15:35 -0700

Check out the video, Wake Up, Freak Out - then Get a Grip by Leo Murray at http://wakeupfreakout.org/film/tipping.html

"It turns out that the way we have been calculating the future impacts of climate change up to now has been missing a really important piece of the picture. It seems we are now dangerously close to the tipping point in the world's climate system; this is the point of no return, after which truly catastrophic changes become inevitable." - Leo Murray

Download the report mentioned in the film:
http://www.columbia.edu/%7Ejeh1/2008/TargetCO2_20080407.pdf

Cash for Trash - Read Toronto-based writer Cory Doctorow's article:

http://www.forbes.com/2008/12/06/computers-recycling-trash-lead-corpresp...

See photos of Darren, the dumpster diving guy from the article:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/doctorow/tags/dumpsterdiving

What if all the expectations you have about the future are completely wrong?

Check out excerpts from the documentary Blind Spot at http://www.blindspotdoc.com/