Composition Thru Sales

hNhNmNGreenYes Mailing List and Newsgroup (chris.cloutier@moea.state.mn.us)
Fri, 22 Jan 1999 16:56:12 -0500


It is a good idea, but it is fraught with the same statistical inaccuracies
of waste comp data. Having done numerous packaging discard studies, MN is
very aware of the statistical vaguaries of counting the stuff. We continue
to err on the side of counting (as best we can) what is discarded and using
those numbers. They ain't the Holy Grail, but as far as garbage #'s go, they
are pretty good.

For instance, Minnesota's plastic stream has a huge percentage of green PETE
in it. Well-above any national norm. If we simply looked at sales data and
extrapolated to MN then we would have an inaccurate and distrorted view of
our PET stream. The stuff is hard enough to market w/o knowing what you have
and what to expect.