and Packaging UPDATE

Volume XIV No. 1 Summer/Fall 2004 Special interest money keeps Bigger Better Bill "bottled up" in Albany ALBANY — A report released in June by the New York Public Interest Research Group (NYPIRG) revealed that the and industries and food retailers who oppose the “Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill” (A3922B/S1696B) spent more than $1.2 million in campaign contributions to New York State law- makers in 2002 and 2003. Their final price tag for lobbying on a range of is- sues, including the Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill, is expected to jump to $2 million by the end of 2004. The Assembly and Senate compan- ion bills, first introduced in 2002 by As- semblyman Thomas P. DiNapoli (D- Great Neck) and Sen. Kenneth LaValle (R-Port Jefferson), would expand New York’s 21-year old bottle bill to include bottled water, ready-to-drink and other non-carbonated beverages. It Reprinted with permission, Mark Wilson, empirewire.com, 2004. would also require beer distributors and soft drink bottlers to return unclaimed recycling on deep trouble for PET recyclers in North deposits to the State Environmental Pro- America. tection Fund. The Container Recycling the ropes Robin Cotchan, executive director of Institute estimates that as much as $180 the Association of Postconsumer Plastic ARLINGTON — Plastic bottle million a year in unclaimed deposits Recyclers (APR) said, “The companies recycling is on the ropes, and so are would be available for environmental are in real trouble because they can’t get protection if the bill became law. many of the businesses involved in "Why is a bill that benefits the envi- recycling plastic . The problem (continued on page 6) ronment, enjoys widespread public sup- is a shortage of used, or “post- port, and could generate as much as $180 consumer” plastic bottles available for Inside this Edition million a year for state coffers—without recycling. It’s not a new problem: raising taxes—'bottled up' in Albany?" demand for scrap bottles has exceeded Pg. 3-5 State Update asked Laura Haight, senior environ- supply for years, but over the past year it has reached crisis proportions. A Pg. 6 Around the world mental associate of NYPIRG and pri- st mary author of the report. "The answer is June 21 article in Plastics News Pg. 7 Can recycling down simple: money talks. Money is the great began, “Amcor PET Packaging is divide between special interests and the closing its pioneering recycling facility Pg. 8 Letters to Mike Leavitt in Novi, Michigan, a possible sign of (continued on page 3) Pg 10 Bottle Bills still popular

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE (ISSN 1070-8050) published by the Container Recycling Institute 1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 702 • Arlington, VA 22209 • Tel: 703.276.9800 Fax: 703.276.9587 E-mail: [email protected] • www.Container-Recycling.org • www.BottleBill.org • © 2004 Editors: Pat Franklin, Jenny Gitlitz • Graphics: Jenny Gitlitz, Manuel Cerrato and Nierria Jones Letter from the Executive Director

Stood up… Second, the amount of PET bot- Tennessee and Mississippi. They oppose tles exported to and other coun- deposits because these laws make them A glossy photo of tries increased 200% between 1998 and responsible for their used . and plastic bottles draped 2002. Foreign companies are able to The powerful beverage industry with pearl necklaces and outbid American companies, in part giants are muzzling the container manu- wearing top hats adorned because their labor costs for processing facturers from whom they buy their beer the cover of American and remanufacturing are lower. and soda cans and bottles and they’re City and County maga- Finally, beverage cans and bottles muzzling the processors who buy used zine fourteen years ago. Aluminum cans are increasingly being drained at the “deposit” containers from them. sported bright red bowties. The cover office, at soccer practice, in the park, Through their trade associations story, “Garbage: All Dressed Up and on the beach, or at a hotel. Curbside and high priced lobbyists, Coke, Pepsi Nowhere to Go,” told a tale of woe--from recycling programs do not target these and Anheuser-Busch wield enormous coast to coast, cans, bottles and newspa- bottles and cans. political clout in every state legislature in pers collected for recycling were being The export problem is not easily the nation, and in the halls of Congress. dumped in landfills by the truckload. resolved. But the problems of contami- But American consumers have the A lot has changed in 14 years. The nation and away-from-home consump- ultimate power: the power of the purse. recycling industry has matured and the tion can be resolved with new and ex- If, and when, we decide to invoke that oversupply problem is history, thanks to panded deposit/return programs, or bot- power, the beverage giants will “get it.” market development initiatives in the tle bills. If you are a beverage consumer and 1990’s. Now the pendulum has swung Contamination is minimized in a bottle bill supporter, I urge you to go to the other way: diminishing bottle and can deposit/return programs because bottles CRI’s website (www.container-recycling. collection has led to a supply crisis. A and cans are sorted by container type org/endorse) and send this simple mes- retrospective in the same magazine today (aluminum, plastic or glass). Deposit sage to beverage producers: might be titled: “Stood Up: Recyclers programs also target used beverage “I drink (Coke, Pepsi, , throw party, but guests don’t show.” containers at offices, schools, ball- etc.) and I support the bottle bill. I am In 2002, 797 million pounds of PET games, restaurants, hotels and any- willing to assume responsibility for my were reclaimed nationwide; down from where else they end up. used bottles and cans by taking them 834 million pounds in 2001. The pinch The public “gets it.” Recent pub- back to a grocery store or a redemption felt by the plastics reclaimers has been lic opinion polls in New York, Michi- center. As the producer of my beverage, well publicized in the trade press. Even gan and Iowa confirm statewide and won't you meet me halfway? Please ac- aluminum beverage can reclamation national polls conducted over the past cept some responsibility for the products dropped by more than 100 million 30 years. In all three of these state that your company profits from, and start pounds from 2002 to 2003. polls, more than 4 out of 5 consumers supporting—not thwarting—beverage How is it possible that processors said they liked their bottle bills, and 3 container deposit legislation.” and container manufacturers can’t get out of 4 thought the laws should be up- Make your voice heard. Thanks! enough of the glass, aluminum and plas- dated to include bottled water and other tic (especially PET bottles) they need, non-carbonated beverages. when there are three times as many curb- Certainly the container manufac- side programs today as there were in turing companies and companies that 1991, serving more than three and a half process scrap materials “get it.” The times as many people? Several factors current PET plastic supply crisis pre- have combined to create what is now a vents companies from expanding. Container Recycling Institute Board of Directors serious threat to recycling. Some will go out of business if the sup- First, supply is affected by contami- ply shortage is not reversed. They • Carol Waite, President nation, which has grown worse, not bet- know that new and expanded deposit • Scott Trundle, Vice President ter, as communities have adopted com- laws would generate a steady supply of • Roger Diedrich, Secretary mingled and single-stream collection in clean materials. • Barbara Fulton, Treasurer an effort to reduce costs. These collec- So who doesn’t get it? The multi- • Ron Schweitzer tion options lower collection costs, and national beverage companies: Coke, may increase the quantity of recyclables Pepsi and Anheuser-Busch. CRI is a non-profit, 501© (3) organization collected slightly, but they also lower the These companies are holding ex- dedicated to reducing container and pack- quality, and thus the value, of the materi- panded bottle bills hostage in New aging waste, thereby reducing pollution als collected. And if processors and end- York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and and energy consumption, conserving re- users don’t buy the material, it doesn’t Michigan, and are thwarting new bottle sources and supporting sustainable com- munities. get recycled. bill efforts in Colorado, West Virginia,

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 2 Summer/Fall 2004 State update

Bottled up in Albany (continued on page 3) New York: "Bigger, Better Bottle Bill Campaign" (Continued from page 1)

public interest.” AccordingAccording to Haight, to Haight, the hundreds the hundreds of ALBANY — Dancing nickels. powerful allies like the New York Farm non-governmental,of non-governmental, environment, environment, labor labor Leprechauns. A 20-foot-high inflatable Bureau and the New York State Associa- and public interest organizations that Snapple bottle. A giant check made out tion of Counties. support the expansion proposal are com-up to the people of New York State for In the halls of the state capitol, in petingagainst on well-funded, an unlevel playingpolitically field powerful against $179 million. Five-gallon water bottles the media, and in local governments theopponents well-funded, of the politicallyBigger, Better, powerful Bottle op- stuffed with messages to state legisla- across the state, the "Bigger, Better Bottle ponentsBill. “It’s of far the from Bigger, a level Better, playing Bottle field,” Bill. tive leaders. All of these were used as Bill" was the most talked-about environ- NYPIRG’ssaid Haight. report NYPIRG’s found reportthat in found2002 andthat whimsical props at media events over mental issue of the year. 2003,while opponents of the billexpansion contributed bill a the past year highlighting the benefits of Unfortunately, the New York State totalcontributed of $1,230,250 a total of to $1,230,250state legislators’ to state a "Bigger, Better, Bottle Bill" for the Legislature, which is legendary for its campaigns,legislators’ campaigns,state political state parties, political and state of New York. level of dysfunction, sunk to a new low statewideparties, and officeholders, statewide officeholders, while public pub- in- On a more serious note, activists this year. On June 22nd, the Senate and terestlic interest advocates advocates contributed contributed $0. $0. “Bottle bill opponents lavished their campaign contributions on those with the most power,” said Haight. “More than 60% of heirtheir contributions contributions went went to to cam- cam- paign funds controlled by the three men who run New York: Governor Pataki, Senate Majority Leader Joe Bruno, and Assembly Speaker Sheldon Silver.” In June 2003, withinwithin a week ofof the bill starting to move in the Assembly, the N.Y.S. Beer WholesalersWholesalers Association made contributions totaling $90,000 to thethe SenateSenate RepublicanRepublican CampaignCampaign Com-Com- mittee and the Democratic Assembly Campaign Committee (the majority party campaign committee of each house). The bill stalled in the Assembly shortly thereafter,thereafter andand nevernever movedmoved inin thethe Senate.Sen- ate.] The report showed that as of 2003, City Councilman G. Oliver Koppell, sponsor of New York's original bottle bill, and State Senator five Theof the report top ten showed lobbying that firmsas of 2003,in New Liz Krueger join bottle bill supporters in New York City. fiveYork of had the lobbied top ten againstlobbying the firms Bigger, in New YorkBetter had Bottle lobbied Bill onagainst behalf the of Bigger, their cli- also released a series of hard-hitting Assembly adjourned their regular session, Betterents. The Bottle top Billfive onindustry behalf opponents, of their cli- in reports. These included a report on the having failed to pass any major legisla- ents.order The of their top fivelobbying industry expenditures, opponents, in success of the bottle bill's first twenty tion or adopt a state budget. The Bigger, orderwere Anheuser-Busch,of their lobbying expenditures,the Food Industry years, revenue estimates on the un- Better, Bottle Bill proposal, which was wereAlliance Anheuser-Busch, of N.Y.S., the theCoca-Cola Food Industry Bot- claimed deposits, a public opinion poll amended again this spring, failed to move Alliancetling Company of N.Y.S., of N.Y., the Coca-Cola the N.Y.S. Bot- Beer (see page 10), and an analysis of cam- in the Senate and stalled in the Assembly tlingWholesalers Company Associatio of N.Y.,n, the and N.Y.S. the N.Y.S. Beer paign contributions and lobbying ex- after it was reported out of the Environ- WholesalersBottlers Association Associatio (representingn, and the N.Y.S. soft penses made by opponents of the Big- mental Conservation Committee. Bottlersdrink bottlers). Association (representing soft ger, Better Bottle Bill (see page 1). However, until the Legislature and drink bottlers).While the Bigger, Better Bottle Bill All of these media events and Governor agree on a state budget and can remains While "bottled the Bigger, up" in theBetter State Bottle Legisla- Bill grassroots organizing activities helped find an estimated $5-10 billion to address remainsture, activists "bottled in Newup" in York the StateState Legisla-are garner valuable media attention and the current shortfall, this proposal is still ture;pushing activists for the in reform New York to be State included are in generate dozens of new editorials across on the table. pushingthe state forbudget, the reform which to has be not included yet been in the state in support of expanding and theadopted. state budget, which has still not been updating New York's bottle bill. The Contact: Laura Haight, NYPIRG, adopted. list of local governments, businesses, [email protected], http://www.nybottlebill. The report can be found at org and visit http://www.bottlebill.info/ www.nypirg.org. and organizations supporting the bill ballooned to more than 350, including Campaigns/ny/NYCamp.shtml

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 3 Summer/Fall 2004 State update Hawaii: Get ready for the bottle bill Iowa: Bottle bill turns 25

Excerpted with permission from the Waste- will be required by law to stock only DES MOINES — Iowans are re- Line e-newsletter at www.opala.org deposit beverage containers. minded of the many successes of the bot- Hawai’i residents must wait until tle bill, as they celebrate the 25th anniver- HONOLULU — Starting as January 1, 2005, to redeem their bottles sary of their container deposit law this soon as November 2003, we will see "HI and cans for the nickel deposit. We can year. “The bottle bill was initially 5¢" stamped onto glass and plastic bot- expect to see deposit "redemption cen- adopted to reduce bottle and can ,” tles and aluminum cans. In fact, some ters" in operation by October, however, said Dewayne Johnson, Executive Direc- savvy consumers have already spotted accepting non-deposit containers to put tor of the Iowa Recycling Association. the new deposit code on bottled bever- their systems through a dry run. As the “Iowa’s clean roadsides are a clear indi- ages sold in local supermarkets. program grows, and participation and cator of the success of the bottle bill, but Certain components of Hawai‘i's redemption patterns emerge, individual there were unintended successes as well.” beverage container deposit law, passed stores may begin to offer redemption The bottle bill created a booming by the state Legislature in 2002, will be service as well and host reverse vend- recycling industry when it was imple- implemented earlier than the original ing machines. mented in 1979, and today employs more start date of January 1, 2005 -- thanks to There is no doubt that the "bottle than 1,200 Iowans. passage of SB1611 CD1, which makes bill" will take some time to adjust to -- A recent opinion poll conducted by clarifying amendments to the "bottle for consumers and retailers alike. But, the University of Northern Iowa Center bill" law. in time, once we see fewer and fewer for Social and Behavioral Research found Specifically, in November and De- bottles and cans littering our roadways that public support for the bottle bill is cember 2004, local food retailers can and beaches, we'll wonder why we did- stronger than ever. More than 90% of begin stocking their shelves with deposit n't pass the law years ago. respondents indicated support for the law- -up more than four percentage points containers (and charging shoppers for the nickel deposit) as they sell the last of from a similar survey conducted in 1999. For more information -- www.opala.org Grocery chains including Hy-Vee, their non-deposit containers. This will and http://www.hawaii.gov/health/ allow vendors ample time to get ready environmental/waste/sw/depbevcon.html Dahl’s, and Fareway put on hold a plan for January 1, 2005, the date when they they developed last year to stop redeem- ing deposit containers at their stores and set up off-site locations for container re- Michigan: Environmentalists to take popular expansion demption, after determining that that in- creased foot traffic in their stores (from proposal to voters in 2006 if legislators fail to act consumers redeeming containers) was LANSING — At a May 25th press Ecology Center, Sierra Club, National better for business than sending potential conference in the State Capitol, Michigan Wildlife Federation, Michigan Envi- customers to off-site redemption centers. activists called for legislative action to ronmental Council, and other statewide Supporters of the bottle bill say they expand the state’s 10-cent container de- organizations—announced that they want to update the law to cover bottled posit law to include non-carbonated bev- were forming the Bigger Better Bottle water, teas, drinks and sports drinks, erages, citing a recent opinion poll that Bill Coalition to raise the profile of the beverages that Kathryn Russell of R&R showed that nearly 3 out of 4 Michigan issue, and to take the directly to Redemption says, “clearly would have voters (73%) support the proposed up- Michigan voters through a 2006 citizen been included in the original law had they existed at that time.” date. initiative if the Legislature doesn’t act The statewide survey of 1,000 reg- this year. Contact: Dewayne Johnson at istered voters, conducted by Public Pol- "We've given the Legislature am- [email protected] icy Associates of Lansing, Michigan, ple time to act on this issue," said found that updating the bottle bill to in- Sam Washington, Executive Direc-

clude bottled water, juice and sports tor of MUCC. "Our members and drinks and iced teas is supported equally the people of Michigan want a Exercise your right to by 74% of Democrats and Republicans, comprehensive bottle bill that cov-

and is especially favored by the western ers beverages that did not exist in and northern lower regions of Michigan, 1976, when the bill was passed.” VOTE which are generally rural and politically (Note: The survey has a margin of error of conservative. plus/minus 3.1%.) The activists—representing Michi- Tuesday, November 2, 2004 Contact: Mike Garfield, Ecology gan United Conservation Clubs (MUCC), Center, [email protected]

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 4 Summer/Fall 2004 State update Connecticut: Repeal Massachusetts: Activists gear up for 2005 bottle bill attempt blocked, again expansion battle

HARTFORD — Connecticut’s 26- BOSTON — A coalition that in- non-carbonated beverages and bottled year old bottle bill is under attack by the cludes environmental groups, state re- water. If passed it would also have powerful beer, soda and grocery indus- cycling coordinators, the Mass. Depart- raised an estimated $16 million in new tries, whose lobbyists succeeded in con- ment of Environmental Protection, and state revenue from the pool of unclaimed vincing a few state legislators that man- the Container Recycling Institute is deposits. Massachusetts, like Michigan datory curbside recycling and anti-litter calling for what coalition members say and Maine, keeps the deposits that go taxes should replace the container deposit is a "long-overdue" update of Massa- unredeemed by consumers. law. chusetts’ highly successful bottle de- Sponsored by Rep. Alice Wolf (D- Pro-recycling and anti-litter advo- posit law. Cambridge) and Sen. Andy Nuciforo (D- cates are fighting back. A coalition of “Nearly 70% of the deposit cans Pittsfield), the bill had the backing of recycling businesses, redemption centers, and bottles are redeemed for the nickel Gov. Mitt Romney. Despite support from labor unions, and environmentalists was deposit,” said Sierra Club’s Phillip many of their colleagues, heavy opposi- formed last year to educate state lawmak- Sego. We need to give consumers a tion and misinformation from the bottling ers about the economic and environ- financial incentive to recycle their wa- killed the expansion bill. mental advantages of the deposit law. ter bottles and other non-carbonated The bill’s lead advocates, Massa- Once legislators were exposed to the beverage containers.” chusetts Sierra Club and MASSPIRG, truths as laid out by coalition members, Companion bills introduced this are gearing up for next year's battle. year would have expanded the scope of they realized they had been duped by the Contact: Phillip Sego, Massachusetts Sierra special interest groups that want to pass the deposit law to include “new age,” Club, [email protected] the cost of recycling their products onto the general public. "Coalition members blocked repeal Unredeemed Deposits in Massachusetts: FY 1990 - 2003 attempts in 2003 and again in 2004", said Chris Phelps, Executive Director of $35,000,000 ConnPIRG, "and we remain committed $30,000,000 to updating the state’s successful bottle $25,000,000 bill.” Proposed updates will include ex- $20,000,000 panding the law to cover non-carbonated beverages; increasing the deposit to a $15,000,000 dime,;increasing the handling fee beyond $10,000,000 the current one and a half cents for beer $5,000,000 containers and two cents for soda con- $0 tainers; and recovering millions of dol- 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 lars for the state’s coffers by escheating 1990* unclaimed deposits from unreturned bot- tle and cans. “Connecticut residents are tired of Source: Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection, July 2004. * deposits collected for only 6 months the scandals that forced Governor Row- land’s resignation, and they will have little tolerance for the ongoing kowtow- New bottle bill proposals Citizens’ Action Group (WVCAG) or- ing to big money lobbyists in the next ganized a “Deposit Day” in the Capitol legislative session”, said Betty McLaugh- New bottle bill proposals were Rotunda. Volunteers from across the state were there to give dimes to every- lin, Environmental Affairs Director for introduced this year in Colorado, Mis- the Connecticut Audubon Society. sissippi, West Virginia, Tennessee and one who brought in containers. Accord- “Updating the bottle bill will be an Utah. ing to WVCAG's Linda Mallet, more uphill battle, but with the new President The West Virginia bottle bill than 4,000 containers were redeemed. “The event provided an opportunity to pro tem of the Senate, Donald Williams, proposal was sponsored by a bi- Jr. in our corner, chances for success are partisan group of legislators led by educate legislators, their staff, and citi- greater than they have been in years.” State Sen. Brooks McCabe (D- zens on the importance of a financial in- Kanawha) and State Del. Barbara War- centive, and the benefits of beverage con- Contact: Betty McLaughlin, Connecticut ner (D-Harrison). tainer deposit legislation,” said Mallet.

Audubon Society, [email protected] In February, the West Virginia (Continued on page 10)

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 5 Summer/Fall 2004 Around the world

Estonia Israel tions that consumers have encountered at retail stores, and to join forces with Following the lead of its Scandinavian Israel’s Deposit Law, IUED in advancing amendments that neighbors, Estonia, on April 21st of this implemented in 2001, is proving to be would strengthen the law. “We have year, became the newest country to pass an effective agent for changing worked closely with stakeholders and container deposit legislation. The law consumer behavior, recycling over Knesset members to successfully counter goes into effect on January 1, 2005 and 15,000 tons of containers (110 million a threatened proposal to repeal the law,” will cover about 250 million containers units) in the first 12 months of the said Fran Ran, IUED’s development di- per year— approximately the same num- program. rector, “and we are currently working to ber of containers consumed in the state of The Israel Union for Environ- amend the law to include 1.5 liter bot- Wyoming annually. The law places a mental Defense (IUED) persuaded the tles.” 0.03 EUR deposit ($US 0.037) on all Israel Consumers Association to beer, light alcoholic, and non-alcoholic Contact: Fran Ran, IUED, abandon their opposition to the Deposit http://www.iued.org.il beverages sold nationally in either refilla- Law, based primarily on the frustra- ble or non-refillable containers. Plastic (Continued from page 1) solved, but bottle bill advocates maintain New Zealand that more state bottle bills or a national enough material to supply high-end bottle bill could bridge the gap between markets. Amcor is just the first one supply and demand. They point to the going out. “If the situation continues, proven effectiveness of deposit-return there could be more fallout in the next laws as collection infrastructures in the six to twelve months: plastic bottle ten U.S. states that supply the lion’s recycling is under extreme pressure share of PET containers to processors: right now.” possibly as much as 75% of While the story has the PET bottles recycled in been covered extensively the United States, according in the trade press, the to CRI. general public and most Plastic bottle reclaimers policymakers seem to be (those who process bottles for unaware of the problem. end users) will say privately Consumers see the that they would like to chasing arrows and the support efforts to pass new word “recyclable” on the and expanded bottle bills. bottom of the plastic However, because they either bottles they buy, and they buy used bottles from Coke assume that many—if not and Pepsi or sell new bottles most— of these bottles to the soda companies, Waste-Free Campaigner Lu White at are recycled. In reality, reclaimers and end users National Bottle Bill Day only 780 million pounds must remain silent on an of plastic bottles were issue that the two soft drink Declaring July 21st “National Bot- recycled in 2002 out of giants vehemently oppose. tle Bill Day”, Zero Waste advocates in more than 4,000 million Both Coke and Pepsi New Zealand gave refunds to anyone pounds sold: or 1 out of claim that there are other bringing their used, recyclable drink con- every 5 bottles. recycling systems that can be tainers to one of the twelve “take back” There are plenty of equally as successful as locations between Kaitaia and Dunedin. post-consumer plastic * in 2002 deposit laws. But a number The refunds, ranging from 5 to 15 cents bottles, and market of APR members have told depending on the size of the container, demand for them has been consistently CRI that they can’t wait much longer for were handed out during a 2-hour period strong. The problem is that only about these new collection systems to surface. at lunchtime. 20% of the post-consumer plastic One reclaimer recently said, “Time “The events were staged to high- bottles are being collected for ran out for Amcor. We need to work light the need for container deposit legis- recycling, and a growing percentage of together to enact something that will get lation to combat litter and waste through- the bottles that are being collected are PET recycling back on track before time out the South Island,” said Waste-Free being exported to Asia. The export runs out for others.” Campaigner Lu White. issue is not one that is not easily

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 6 Summer/Fall 2004 Commentary

Can recycling script is getting old Pollyanna script. Like bottle makers, 70 to 85 percent are nickel deposit sys- By Jenny Gitlitz can makers would benefit from the in- tems. Michigan, the only state with a creased availability of clean scrap, but dime deposit, reaches 95 percent. Depos- The following commentary ran in the they observe a collective gag rule when its speak louder than bumper stickers, June 7, 2004 issue of Waste News and it comes to advocating deposit systems. radio PSAs, zany billboards, and other is reprinted with permission of Crain Instead, to appease their beverage cus- altruistic appeals. Publications. tomers, they keep towing out token Can makers know that a national programs. 10-cent deposit, like the bill proposed by The aluminum beverage can recy- Cans for Habitat makes good PR, Sen. Jim Jeffords and co-sponsored by cling rate has tumbled to its lowest but has no effect on the recycling rate. Sen. John Kerry, could achieve recycling level in 25 years. Whether one sub- Recycle Pete isn't cutting it. Glass Re- rates of 80 to 90 percent. But the beer scribes to the Aluminum Association's cycles hasn't improved green glass mar- and soft drink brand owners and bottlers figures (50 percent in 2003, down from kets. If container recycling rates are to have a chilling effect on their ability to 53 percent in 2002) or the Container rise to respectable levels, permanent support deposits. The fear of losing addi- Recycling Institute's rate, which de- changes in the collection infrastructure tional market share to ducts imported beverage cans (44 per- are needed—not programs that are terephthalate is enough to make them cent, down from 48 percent in 2002), event-based, publicity-focused, or tied stick to their script in perpetuity. there is no dispute that the recycling of to specific community goals or volun- Or is it? It's only a matter of time cans is down in the dumps. teer recruitment. before the environmental community de- Between 1972, when the Alumi- The 1990s establishment of curb- cides that the annual landfilling of 55 . num Association began collecting data, side recycling programs was infrastruc- billion cans—820,000 tons of alumi- and 2003, over 1 trillion cans were tural, but could not counterbalance the num—is unacceptable, and calls for a wasted. An estimated 17.5 million tons trends of stagnant scrap consumer boycott. The time to break of cans with a current market value of values, the disappearance of buybacks, ranks and preserve the long-term future $21 billion lie buried in American gar- increased away-from-home consump- of the can is now. bage dumps and landfills. tion, and growing consumer apathy By every measure—percent, about recycling. The only programs to Gitlitz is research director for the weight, and units—aluminum beverage consistently achieve recycling rates of Container Recycling Institute. can recycling has fallen for 11 years. The Aluminum Association chose to ignore this in a recent press release, preferring the oft-recycled statement that cans are America's ``most recycled consumer beverage package.'' Granted. But while the competition—glass and plastic bottles—is flunking out with rates in the 20 percent range, the alumi- num industry's gentleman's C is not ex- actly something to be proud of. Espe- cially for a package whose recyclability is its main environmental selling point. The industry has never had a weaker environmental leg to stand on. Replacing the 55 billion cans wasted last year (the most ever) with new cans made from virgin materials squandered the equivalent of over 20 million bar- rels of crude oil, and generated more than 3.5 million tons of greenhouse gases and other emissions. The uncomfortable reality is that the Aluminum Association and its members are forced into adhering to a

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 7 Summer/Fall 2004

CRI’s interns: A valued resource More than 250 letters to By Kyle Paulson neering at the Royal Institute of Technol- EPA Administrator Mike

Over the years, dozens of out- ogy in Stockholm in September. Leavitt go unanswered standing interns have supplemented A native New Yorker, Nierria CRI’s small staff, and 2004 is no excep- Jones is pursuing an MA in Communica- WASHINGTON — In an April tion. We would like to thank all of our tion and Rhetoric at SUNY Albany. She 14th speech at the National Press Club, former interns and introduce our 2004 has experience in marketing and web- EPA Administrator Mike Leavitt referred interns. design, and had her own radio show in to the “emergence of a new environ- A 2002 graduate of Hendrix Col- college—The Best of Both Worlds. mental consciousness” in the 1970s. He lege with a BA in Biology, Liza Muller Nierra is cur- said he had “a clear memory of Gover- hails from St. Louis, Missouri. As a re- rently finalizing nor Tom McCall of Oregon proposing cipient of a Thomas J. Watson Fellow- CRI’s online the nation’s first bottle bill” in 1970, ship, Liza con- Bottle Bill Tool- when Leavitt was living in Oregon. “It ducted independ- kit that can be was controversial, but I got it. It reso- ent research on found at www. nated with me.” tourism’s effects toolkit. The next day CRI encouraged on sea turtle container-recycling.org. members of the Bottle Bill Action Net- populations in Congratulations to our 2002 and work to send a letter to Mr. Leavitt, ask- , Costa 2003 interns for landing interesting jobs: ing him to urge President Bush to back Rica, Ecuador, , Seychelles, and Elizabeth Basta is working in develop- “The National Beverage Producer Re- Greece before coming to CRI. Liza’s ment at the Nature Conservancy. sponsibility Act,” a bill sponsored by writing and editing skills were vital to Stephanie Gerson is on an organic and Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) that would re- the reissue of “The 10¢ Incentive to Re- biodynamic farm in Albuquerque. Ra- quire beverage producers to put a refund- cycle” in March. chel Shively will return to school for her able 10-cent deposit on their bottles and As part of her environmental stud- senior year after working on Barack cans sold in the United States. The Act ies work at University of Oregon, Chin- Obama’s US Senate campaign this sum- would also set an 80% goal for container Wei Tang took an ecological inventory mer. Rebecca Carlton is an aide to Rep. recycling rates, and could double the of Hendricks Park. She came to CRI in Lloyd Doggett (D-IL). Amanda number of beverage bottles and cans cur- February, after Grignon is the Large Apartment Build- rently being recycled in the nation. graduating in 2003. ing Recycling Program Coordinator in The letter thanked Mr. Leavitt for Chin-Wei signifi- Boston. Cathy Resler has returned to remembering the struggle to pass the na- cantly upgraded the school to earn a masters degree after tion's first bottle bill, and reminded him look, content, and working for USEPA Region 9 last year. that 34 years later, deposit laws are no searchability of Azadeh Matinpour is a legal assistant less controversial than they were in 1970. CRI’s websites and for a law firm in DC and will begin law It explained that Coke, Pepsi and An- brought CRI’s online Bottle Bill Toolkit school this fall at Ohio State University. heuser-Busch continue to block new bot- to 95% completion. Pete Connolly is Program Assistant for tle bills, while working to repeal existing Manuel Cerrato received a BS in the DC Sierra Club’s Global Warming deposit laws across the country. Aerospace Engineering from Embry- and Energy Department. The letter explained that the 10 Riddle Aeronautical University in 2003 We plan to expand our program to states that have implemented bottle bills and came to include a one-year fellowship for an in- together recycle more beverage contain- CRI after com- depth research project. ers each year than the combined 40 states pleting an that do not have bottle bills—saving en- internship ergy and conserving natural resources.

at the As of July 21st, over 250 letters had Southface Find out how been sent to Mr. Leavitt through www. Energy In- YOU CitizenSpeak.org, a free web-based advo- stitute in cacy service. More than half included a Atlanta, GA. Manny has crunched can support CRI's personal note. recycling numbers, helped develop The Administrator's office con- an internship/fellowship grant pro- Internship/Fellowship Program firmed in July that the letters had been posal and has been our chief “IT” at received, but did not know when citizens might expect a reply. Mr. Leavitt was person. He begins his masters pro- container-recycling.org/general/interns.htm gram in Sustainable Energy Engi- not available for comment at press time.

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 8 Summer/Fall 2004 National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2003

Sen. Kerry among five co-sponsors of Senator ACTION ALERT! Jeffords' National NATIONAL BEVERAGE PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY ACT OF 2003 Beverage Producer Responsibility Act of 2003 Senator Jim Jeffords' (I-VT) National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act ( S. 1867) has three major components. The bill:

WASHINGTON, DC — With beverage 1. Sets a performance standard for beverage producers of 80 percent recy- container recycling rates dropping to all- cling for their beverage containers; time lows, a national system of container 2. Allows beverage producers to develop any system they choose to recover deposits is in the spotlight. In November their containers; and 2003, Sen. Jim Jeffords (I-VT) intro- 3. Requires that beverage producers collect a 10-cent refundable deposit to duced a proposal for a federal bottle bill: ensure a high return rate. “The National Beverage Producer Re- sponsibility Act of 2003.” To date, the Call and write or email your senators today and ask them to co-sponsor the bill has five co-sponsors in the Senate: National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act. The following senators, presidential candidate John Kerry (D- who have co-sponsored national bottle bills in past sessions of Congress, are MA), Joe Lieberman (D-CT), Daniel prime candidates for sponsorship: Akaka (D-HI), Patrick Leahy (D-VT) and Tom Harkin (D-IA). Olympia Snowe (ME) • (202) 224-5344 • [email protected] CRI was actively involved in help- Carl Levin (MI) • (202) 224-6221 • senate.gov/contact.htm ing Sen. Jeffords recruit these co- Barbara Boxer (CA) • (202) 224-3553 • boxer.senate.gov/contact sponsors, engaging about three dozen na- Dianne Feinstein (CA) • (202) 224-3841 • feinstein.senate.gov/email.html tional and state environmental organiza- Edward Kennedy (MA) • (202) 224-4543 • [email protected] tions and businesses in the process. Christopher Dodd (CT) • (202) 224-2823 • dodd.senate.gov/webmail/ These businesses and organizations Charles Schumer (NY) • (202) 224-6542 • schumer.senate.gov/webform.html joined CRI in signing a letter to all 100 Ron Wyden (OR) • (202) 224-5244 • wyden.senate.gov/contact.html

United States senators asking them to co- Other prospective sponsors include the senators representing bottle bill sponsor Jeffords’ bill. states who may not have co-sponsored a national bottle bill in the past: CRI issued a joint press release with the Grassroots Recycling Network, the Gordon Smith (OR) • (202) 224-3753 • gsmith.senate.gov/webform.htm Natural Resources Defense Council, and Susan Collins (ME) • (202) 224-2523 • collins.senate.gov/low/contactemail.htm the Sierra Club on November 13th, 2003, Debbie Stabenow (MI) • (202) 224-4822 • stabenow.senate.gov/email.htm in which Jeffords said, “My bill would Chuck Grassley (IA) • (202) 224-3744 • grassley.senate.gov/webform.htm leverage the market incentives created by Joseph Biden (DE) • (202) 224-5042 • [email protected] a refundable deposit to encourage bever- Thomas Carper (DE) • (202) 224-2441 • carper.senate.gov/email-form.html age container recycling. One innovation Hillary Clinton (NY) • (202) 224-4451 • clinton.senate.gov/email_form.html in the legislation is that industry would Daniel Inouye (HI) • (202) 224-3934 • inouye.senate.gov/webform.html have the flexibility to devise the most Please thank the following senators for co-sponsoring Sen. Jeffords' bill: cost-effective means to meet the goal." The nation’s largest glass processor, Daniel Akaka (HI) • (202) 224-6361 • [email protected] Strategic Materials, Inc., located in Hous- Tom Harkin (IA) • (202) 224-3254 • harkin.senate.gov/contact/contact.cfm ton, Texas, became the first major busi- John Kerry (MA) • (202) 224-2742 • kerry.senate.gov/low/contact_email.html ness to publicly voice support for a na- Patrick Leahy (VT) • (202) 224-4242 • [email protected] tional bottle bill. Tex Corley, President Joseph Lieberman (CT) • (202) 224-4041 • lieberman.senate.gov/newsite/contact. of the company, said, "Creating a strong cfm financial incentive for recycling is good for business. Glass and other materials And don't forget to thank Sen. Jeffords for introducing the bill: collected through deposit systems, unlike James Jeffords (VT) • (202) 224-3977 • http://jeffords.senate.gov/contact-form. those collected through curbside recy- html cling programs, are of a higher quality, and thus more marketable. That's why I You can view a synopsis of the National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act support the legislation sponsored by of 2003 at http://www.bottlebill.info/Campaigns/bpr/BPRCamp.shtml. Senator Jeffords."

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 9 Summer/Fall 2004

Public support still robust for container deposit laws in New Bottle Bill Proposals (Continued from page 5) New York, Iowa and Michigan New public opinion polls find that 3 out of 4 surveyed support bottle bill "We were pleasantly surprised to find out that our event coincided with the Statewide public opinion polls con- programs. The survey also found that Soft Drink Association's Lobby Day. ducted in New York, Iowa and Michigan 19% of respondents did not know that Many folks got their free Pepsi or Coke over the past 10 months reveal that sup- the beverage industry currently keeps upstairs and then came downstairs to port for bottle bills is robust across all all unclaimed deposits. redeem their containers and get their sectors of the population. The surveys "With state and local governments dimes!" Mallet said. were designed to gauge public response facing huge funding gaps, lawmakers to proposed reforms to existing deposit would be remiss to overlook the reve- laws. In all three states, two out of three nue from taking back unclaimed depos- respondents said they supported expand- its," said Mark Izeman, senior attorney ing the current deposit laws to include with the Natural Resources Defense non-alcoholic, non-carbonated beverages Council. "This poll shows there is such as bottled water, juice, sports overwhelming public support for this drinks, and iced teas. reform, which would generate nearly The statewide poll of 800 randomly $180 million a year for environmental sampled registered voters in New York programs in New York." found that 78% of those surveyed agreed Public Policy Associates (PPA), a that the bottle bill has made New York national research firm based in Lans- cleaner, and 81% agreed that curbside ing, Michigan, conducted two of the recycling is "not enough," and that "we three polls. “The polls in New York A young girl gets a nickel for returning her need the bottle-deposit program to con- and Michigan showed that women and drink can at WVCAG’s “Deposit Day” in West trol litter.” men, Republicans, Democrats and In- Virginia. “New Yorkers understand that the dependents, young and old, people of bottle bill benefits our environment and all races, ethnic backgrounds, and in- The coalition will push for a re- that a combination of curbside recycling come levels, strongly support the cur- introduction in 2005. To find out more and bottle bills is needed to adequately rent law and proposed reforms," said about this effort, visit address litter and solid waste issues,” Jeffrey D. Padden, president of PPA. http://www.wvbottlebill.org/. said David Higby, solid waste projector "These survey results in three In early 2004, Mississippi State director for Environmental Advocates of states confirm what has been found in Sen. Deborah Dawkins and State Rep. New York. dozens of other statewide and national Pat Montgomery introduced companion The New York survey also found polls conducted over the past three dec- deposit bills. CRI Research Director that 84% of the respondents supported ades,” said Pat Franklin, executive di- Jenny Gitlitz testified before the Con- the current deposit law, and 86% sup- rector of the Container Recycling Insti- servation and Water Resources com- ported a proposal that the state retain un- tute. mittee in favor of the proposals at a claimed deposits to fund environmental February hearing. Louis Miller of the Mississippi Sierra Club led the propo- nents’ efforts. In New Hampshire, Rep. Derek Owen’s proposal for a new bottle bill met with heavy opposition from the soft drink and retail industries, as did State Rep. Ty McCartney’s proposal in Utah. Owen’s bill died in the Com- merce Committee. McCartney’s bill died in the Rules Committee. Colorado State Rep. Angela Pac- cione introduced a new bottle bill pro- posal requiring a deposit on plastic bot- tles. CRI submitted written testimony to the Information & Technology and Finance Committees for the hearing in Source: “Survey of New York Registered Voters", Public Policy Associates, Inc, Feb. 2004. February.

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 10 Summer/Fall 2004 CRI Publications

The 10¢ Incentive to Recycle has been revised. All of the facts, figures, charts and graphs have been updated with the most current data available. This 20-page “bottle bill primer” sets the record straight on the environmental and economic impacts of beverage container deposit systems (bottle bills), and uses documented evidence to rebut the argu- ments made by the anti-bottle bill, beverage industry lobby. REVISED FEBRUARY 2004.

Hard copies of The 10¢ Cent Incentive to Recycle can be ordered online at: http://www.bottlebill.org/resources/pubs.htm

Prices are as follows and include postage & handling if mailed in the U.S.

$15 Public interest non-profit organizations $25 Government and small businesses with gross annual revenue under $250,000 $45 Large businesses and corporations with gross annual revenue over $250,000

Bottle Bill Toolkit

Want to get a bottle bill passed in your state? Don't know where to start? This Toolkit's for you. CRI developed the Bottle Bill Toolkit to provide guidance to anyone embarking on the long road to a new or updated beverage container deposit law: con- cerned citizens, grassroots activists, professional environmentalists, students, policymak- ers and legislators. The toolkit will be updated periodically as new information develops, and can be downloaded from CRI's Bottle Bill Resource Guide at:

www.toolkit.container-recycling.org/

Dear Friend of Recycling,

Whether you are a municipal recycling coordinator, a bottle bill advocate, an environmental organization, a recycling business, an elected official, or just a “gung ho” recycler, we hope you will find this issue of Container and Packaging Recycling Update informative and useful.

Perhaps you have benefited from CRI’s technical assistance, publications and reports, presentations at conferences or testimony at public hearings. If you value our work, and our goal of reducing container and , I hope you will make a contribution today! A self-addressed is attached for your convenience.

Sincerely, Pat Franklin Executive Director

Container and Packaging Recycling UPDATE 11 Summer/Fall 2004

Take Action Now!

If you are a beverage consumer and a bottle bill supporter, you can send this simple message to beverage producers urging them to take responsibility for their beverage bottles and cans.

“I drink (Coke, Pepsi, Budweiser, etc.) and I support the bottle bill. I am willing to assume responsibility for my used bottles and cans by taking them back to a grocery store or a redemption center. As the producer of my beverage, won't you meet me halfway? Please accept some responsibility for the products that your company profits from, and start supporting—not thwarting—beverage container deposit legislation.”

Just go to: http://www.container-recycling.org/endorse

1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, Suite 702 Arlington, VA 22209-1603 Tel: (703) 276-9800 Fax: (703) 276-9587

www.Container-Recycling.org www.BottleBill.org

Address Service Requested

TAKE ACTION NOW! at www.container-recycling.org/endorse

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