In case you didn’t know, packing or foam peanuts are the small lightweight objects placed into boxes during shipping to cushion the items inside.  So called, because they are similar in size and shape to a peanut in its shell. They were invented in 1965 by the Dow Chemical Company to replace heavy packaging and reduce shipping costs.

Peanuts are color coded to indicate their composition.   Green is environmentally friendly, made from at least 70 percent recycled content. White is at least 70 percent raw (non-recycled) material. Pink has been treated with a chemical to prevent static cling, so is typically used when shipping electronics.

The typical packing peanut is made from polystyrene – very durable, but not eco-friendly  – lasting for hundreds of years in the landfill.  A newer, green variety, is typically made from corn starch, wheat, or milo, and is designed to disintegrate over time, often dissolving in water*.

You can help lessen the environmental impact associated with these items by re-using them.  Below are a few suggestions.

• Save them for your own future packing and shipping needs.   Since they tend to fly all over and stick to my hands, rather than leaving them loose, I stuff them into small plastic bags and then into my packages.  If you don’t have the room to store them for your own re-use, your local UPS, US Post Office, or eBay store, will often accept them.

• The ones that dissolve in water* are great for use in children’s craft projects.  Check out the link below for one project idea:  www.makeandtakes.com/cornstarch-packing-pals.

• Some companies will include a slip of paper in their shipment, indicating that contents of their peanuts are eco-friendly.  When that’s the case, consider adding them to the compost pile.

• Use less soil, reduce the weight and create better drainage in your potted plants by placing the ones that don’t dissolve at the bottom of the pot.

Some recycling centers will accept the polystyrene peanuts for recycling, so check with yours to find out if they participate.

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*There’s some debate about whether this variety totally dissolves if put them into the sink or toilet. To be safe, don’t do that.  And, please don’t eat them, as some people report.  They aren’t tasty, and you can’t be sure exactly what’s in them.

The same policy applies to the purchase of organizing supplies, like in-bins, file folders, etc. Suitable items that have already been brought home often turn-up during the process of organizing and de-cluttering. I don’t mind having an extra pair or two of scissors or Scotch tape around; they are useful in almost any room of the house. But, other items are not so versatile.

“Banker’s boxes” are the one exception to this policy. Designed to hold letter or legal size files, they are useful for sorting and moving items from room to room. They store flat when not in use and are easily put together. Usually sold in packages of 3 or more, they may be purchased at an office supply store for around $1 apiece.

Don’t go overboard with your purchase of these, however. For long-term storage, files included, I prefer clear plastic containers over cardboard. They are stronger, you can see what’s in them at a glance, and they usually have a seal which keeps out cardboard loving bugs and rodents. It they are stored in an area that might get damp, they offer better protection than Banker’s Boxes.

See the Resources page of my website for a list of  vendors that provide organizing supplies.

The law mandates that all products, including clothing, sold for those age 12 and younger be tested for lead and phthalates (chemicals used to make plastics more pliable).

While the main target of the new policy is large businesses, it also affects resale of items through thrift stores, garage sales, and online at sites like eBay, Craigslist, etc.  Resellers are not required to test children’s products in inventory for compliance with the lead limit before they are sold.  However, they cannot sell children’s products that exceed the lead limit or are on the recall list.  If they do, they could face civil and/or criminal penalties.  As a result, many charities and re-sale stores have placed restrictions on the items they are accepting.

Below is a partial list of children’s products that are affected:

• clothing with metal and/or painted appliqués
• painted wooden or metal toys
• books printed prior to 1985
• strollers
• car seats
• baby carriers
• baby cribs
• baby beds
• play pens and play yards

To read more about this new regulation, and its effects:
CPSC website/What’s New:
http://www.cpsc.gov/About/cpsia/cpsia.html#whatsnew

CPSC Recalls and Product Safety News:
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerel.html

CPSC Guide: Pages 7, 8 and 11 are particularly helpful:
http://www.cpsc.gov/ABOUT/Cpsia/smbus/cpsiasbguide.pdf

NARTS (National Association of Resale & Thrift Shops) Website:
http://www.narts.org/cpsia_info.htm

I’ll be reporting more on this policy as issues are clarified.  In the meantime, see the Resources page on my website for different disposal options.

How to register for Mail Preference Service
Go to https://www.dmachoice.org/dma/static/learn_more.jsp. While there is no charge, you will be asked for a credit card number to validate your identity and mailing address when registering.

1. Go to the website:  www.donotcall.gov, or
2. Call toll-free: 888-382-1222 from the number you wish to register

Once a number has been on the registry for 31 days, most telemarketing calls will stop. However, not all calls are covered. You may still get:

• Calls from, or on behalf of, political organizations, charities, and telephone surveyors

• Calls from companies where there is an existing business relationship. A company may call for 18 months after a purchase or three months after you make an inquiry or submit an application

• Calls from companies that have been given permission to call

Once you have been on the registry for 31 days, you may file a complaint if you continue to receive calls from a telemarketer. That can be done by going online to www.donotcall.gov or by calling 888-382-1222. You will be asked to provide the date of the call and the phone number or name of the company that called.

If you want to be removed from charitable solicitation lists, courteously ask the representative who calls to remove your name from their list. Most will do so.

How to register for Email Preference Service (EMPS)

Go to http://www.ims-dm.com/cgi/offemaillist.php. Your online request will be effective for one year.

Although registration with EMPS will help reduce the number of emails you receive, it will not stop all commercial emails. You may continue to receive emails from groups or advertisers who do not use EMPS to clean their lists. Email of a business-to-business nature received at your place of employment is also not affected through registration with EMPS.

Most email programs now offer effective “spam blocker” programs. Make sure your settings will block the emails you don’t want—and admit the emails you do.

Don’t unsubscribe to individual emails
Submitting an unsubscribe request can be used against you—your email address may be confirmed by or sold to spammers. When this happens, your spam will increase when you thought you’d submitted an unsubscribe request.

Avoid spiders
When you forward emails to long lists of recipients, those addresses are accessible to “spiders”—programs that roam the Web, harvesting addresses to sell to spammers. When you’re sending an email to a group of people, send it to yourself and blind copy (bcc) anyone you wish to receive it.