Letter to the editor

RJ Herman (rjh1@christa.unh.edu)
Fri, 22 Jan 1999 16:55:09 -0500


To whom it may concern:

The following was written by a national organization I belong to, and I
would like to know if it could be included in this coming Tuesday or
Friday's TNH as a "letter to the editor." Thanks in advance for your time
and consideration.

-Becky Herman, UNH Recycling
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EARTH DAY
April 22, 1997

The enclosed Recycling Alert article was written and prepared by the
College and University Recycling Council in response to the a lack of
Environmental concern about PLASTICS. Please print this article in your
student newspaper tto inform the student body, your readers of the excesses
of industry in the search for profit t the cost of our environment.

RECYCLING ALERT
EARTH DAY APRIL 22, 1997

Students, Faculty, and Staff should be aware of an impending Recycling and
Environmental debacle which can be addressed by you as individuals. This
debacle is the steadily increasing use of virgin PLASTIC in soda, juice and
water beverage containers. This increased use of virgin plastic is
replacing recycled aluminum, glass, and steel containers.

The facts are as follows: Aluminum, steel and glass containers are
recycled daily and enjoy a reasonably stable secondary market. This is the
result of commitments by those respective industries to reduce energy use
and their impacts on the environment. Through each purchase of a beverage,
packaged in aluminum containing 70% post consumer content or glass
containing 40% post consumer content, you help to support the recycling of
that container and the recycling industry. Additionally you help close the
recycling loop. By purchasing and recycling of that container you ensure
that the container is used as feed stock for it's re manufacture. (And
lower pollution, minimize the need for new landfills, and support efficient
use of resources and clean industry?) This is what Recycling is all about.

However PLASTIC does not enjoy the same secondary market support as does
aluminum and glass. In fact, by not using any post consumer content in
the production of container plastics, plastic manufacturers demonstrate
disdain and disregard for consumers, recycling, and the environment.

By excluding the secondary or post consumer recycled content
market,plastic packages are crushing markets for recycled plastics.
recycling. This leads to hidden cost to the consumer in increased waste
and continued environmental degradation. Current information from the
American Plastics Council and the Institute for Local Self Reliance
indicate that there is No post consumer or recycled content in plastic
beverage containers manufactured in the USA, in spite of Food and Drug
Administration's unilateral allowance for post consumer content
production.

To illustrate this point, just three years ago CocaCola was using 25%
post consumer content in their containers. The stoppage in the practice of
using recycled content has become an issue of price and profit. As a
result the current manufacturing of plastic containers uses only virgin
plastic feed stock currently costing less than post consumer or recycled
plastic. CocaCola has abandoned their commitment to recycling and the
consumer by not using post consumer content in it's containers.

You as the consumer do not realize a savings but instead subsidize
inexpensive environmentally offensive packaging and its disposal rather
than recycling. Of course CocaCola is realizing a savings in production
costs and the additional profit as the result of your purchase costs.
CocaCola has decided that it is not worth investing in recycling or the
planet's future by using virgin plastic containers and allowing you the
consumer to finance their profitable decision against recycling and
environmental concern.

In addition, CocaCola and all major bottlers have voiced a commitment to
continue the use of virgin plastic in favor of highly recyclable aluminum
and glass containers. The end result is a dead end for recovered plastic
bottles which can only be down cycled into lower grade plastic items. As
the direct result of the beverage industries' antirecycling policy, the
current market for recycled plastic is dying at best, with little hope for
the future. This leaves the plastic manufacturers in a very profitable and
controlling position while ensuring increased waste and environmental
degradation. As the cost for recycling plastics increases in a shrinking
market, more plastic is destined for landfills and incinerators. This
trend directly effects your University Recycling program not to mention
having devastating effects on the environment as well. The increase in
plastic containers has reduced the quantity of aluminum and glass
containers collected by your recycling program. This in turn reduces the
income your program generates to help fund and justify your program while
increasing the costs of your waste disposal.

Please help to stop this assault on recycling by not buying beverages
packaged in plastic. Make it known to your University Administration,
University Store, Food Service Supplier, Student Store and outside
businesses that you want and will only purchase beverages packaged
in aluminum and glass (Post Consumer Content/Recycled Containers). Let
Coke, Pepsi and other bottlers know of your desire for them to be
environmentally responsible through changes in your buying habits, calls
and letters. Please help to continue the progress your Recycling program
has made by challenging those who disregard the vitality of the planet this
day, Earth Day and every day.

The College and University Recycling Council

For further information about CURC see our WEB page at:
http://ecosys.drdr.virginia.edu/curc.html

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R.J. Herman
Recycling Coordinator
University of New Hampshire
Grounds and Roads Dept.
21 Waterworks Rd.
U niversity of New Hampshire
Durham, NH 03824-3519
PHONE: (603) 862-3100
FAX: (603) 862-0139
E-MAIL: rjh1@christa.unh.edu

UNH Information:
http://unhinfo.unh.edu/
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