GreenYes Digest V97 #78

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Fri, 22 Jan 1999 16:56:20 -0500


GreenYes Digest Mon, 14 Apr 97 Volume 97 : Issue 78

Today's Topics:
Bad recycling
EARTH DAY ACTION - PETITION COKE!
Environmentally Friendly Car
Industry reaction to GRN

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Date: Mon, 14 Apr 1997 00:51:03 -0500 From: "Susan K. Snow" <sksnow@1stnet.com> Subject: Bad recycling

I suggest that this is a case of BAD RECYCLING --recycling that will spread pollution over the land and poison life..... Susan Snow ------------------------------------------------------------------------

EPA fast-tracking proposal to recycle radioactive metal from nuclear facilities into ordinary consumer and industrial products.

EPA has embarked on a rule making for the recycling of radioactive metals. A 2-day workshop was held (Oct. 1996) to work on the pre-proposal. It was sponsored by the US EPA and the Environmental Law Institute (Washington, D.C.) Representatives of eight citizen groups who were invited to attend the workshop issued a statement of protest in response to the proposal. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) has tried before, albeit unsuccessfully, to deregulate up to one-third of radioactive wastes, which they defined as Below Regulatory Concern. (BRC=3Dderegulation of radioactive wastes, materials and practices. Potential for releasing 1/3 of the radioactive trash in this country to regular landfills, sewers, incinerators and recycling into construction and consumer products). As a result of intense citizen opposition, Congress rejected the BRC policy in 1992. EPA's current work on this proposal is the first step towards phasing-in BRC policy. The NRC and DOE (Department of Energy) are encouraging EPA because they want to reduce the amount of radioactive materials sent to expensive nuclear repositories. Industries, represented by the Association of Radioactivce Metal Recycles (ARMA), would like to mine the nuclear weapons complexes and commercial reactors for radioactive metals, as decommissioning and cleanup occurs. (Radioactive metal recycling is already underway. It is regulated by the NRC. The metals are taken off the nuclear complex, sent to smelters, refabricated, and returned back to the nuclear complex.) ARMA industries want to recover tons of radioactive metals and to send to the marketplace. The proposed uses of the recycled radioactive metals are: within the nuclear complex, so to keep the metal in a regulated environment; and/or unrestricted use by the general public. According to Diane D'Arrigo, with the Nuclear Information Resource Service, both proposals are dangerous. Metals are contaminated by radioactive isotopes in two ways: either by surface or volumetric contamination. Volumetric contamination refers to the actual activation of the metal through years of bombardment of neutrons, and are contaminated through and through with (for example) cobal 60, nickel 59, and niobium 94.

[Source:(from Waste Not #384, March, 1997, a publication of Work on Waste, USA. Editors: Ellen & Paul Connett, 82 Judson St., Canton, NY 13617)

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Date: Mon, 14 Apr 97 03:59:26 PST From: jennie.alvernaz@sfsierra.sierraclub.org Subject: EARTH DAY ACTION - PETITION COKE!

EARTH DAY ACTION ALERT! - PETITION COKE!

Want to help give RECYCLING a much needed boost on Earth=20 Day? Read on...

Recycling is under attack across North America. Programs are=20 being dropped, laws are being repealed, and, in the absence of=20 public pressure, industries are abandoning prior commitments to=20 recycle.

People concerned about sustainable use of the planet's resources=20 have formed the GRASSROOTS RECYCLING NETWORK. GRN is=20 taking action, starting by focusing on corporate accountability for=20 waste. =20

We have begun a petition campaign to ask the Coca-Cola Company=20 to begin taking responsibility for its product packaging. We need=20 your help to educate consumers that Coke's recycling is not the real=20 thing.

WE INVITE YOU TO JOIN US! =20

Your group can help get the message to Coke by holding a petition- signing event on Earth Day. There need to be many local actions to=20 get the message out. Use your creativity to get the media's interest=20 -- use signs and banners, chants and songs (see below); work a=20 grocery store or a festival...

GROUPS THAT CAN COMMIT TO A LOCAL PETITION- SINGING EVENT OR ACTION BY TUESDAY, APRIL 15, WILL BE=20 INCLUDED IN A NATIONAL GRN PRESS RELEASE ON APRIL=20 16 ANNOUNCING NATIONWIDE EARTH DAY ACTIONS. =20 Please email GRN's campaign manager, Lance King, at=20 lmking96@aol.com or call 916-492-2924.

COME ONE, COME ALL -- HELP MOTHER EARTH ON EARTH=20 DAY!

Below are materials that you can use in local Earth Day petition- signing events, including the petition to Coca-Cola and a model=20 press release (adapt to local activists and circumstances). =20

1. PETITION TO COCA-COLA 2. FLYER (can go on back) 3. COKE RALLY SONGS 4. COKE ACTION MODEL PRESS RELEASE 5. GRN MISSION & GOALS

1. PETITION

Coke: DO THE REAL THING ... RECYCLE!

On March 19th, the Grassroots Recycling Network asked the Coca=20 Cola Company to take immediate, voluntary steps to support the=20 re-use and recycling of its beverage containers. As the world's=20 leading soft drink manufacturer, Coke is uniquely positioned to=20 lead the industry in taking responsibility for tens of billions of=20 beverage containers presently littered or sent to waste facilities=20 each year. Taxpayers and local governments should not have to=20 subsidize these disposal and litter pick-up costs.

Coke has not responded to the Grassroots Recycling Network's=20 call for Coke to accept its responsibility. Therefore, we challenge=20 Coke to:

1. live up to its promise to use recycled content in its plastic bottles 2. label recycled content of containers (post consumer) 3. begin using refillable bottles 4. voluntarily establish deposits on its containers

Name Signature Address = =20 Telephone ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________

Please return this petition to Lance King, Campaign Manager ** Mail hard copy petitions to: 3245 I Street, Sacramento CA 95816.

Join our GreenYes Listserve: Email to listserve@ucsd.edu=20 the message: add greenyes-digest On the web: http:/www.kirkworks.com/grn.html

Contributions are needed! Please send to Grassroots Recycling=20 Network, c/o ILSR, 2425 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009.

** Please email sign-ons (with name, address, phone, fax and=20 email) to lmking96@aol.com.

######

2. FLYER

We Want The Coca-Cola Company To Do ... THE REAL THING!

The Coca-Cola Company is the world's leading soft drink=20 manufacturer. In December 1990 it announced that it=20 would begin using recycled plastics (PET) in its bottles, but it has=20 not followed through. The technology to make 100%=20 recycled-content plastic bottles has been available in the United=20 States since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration gave its=20 approval in 1994 for food contact applications.

Presently Coca-Cola uses plastic bottles with recycled content in=20 New Zealand, in Australia, and in several European countries. If=20 it does the same here, Coca-Cola can immediately keep millions=20 of pounds of plastic out of landfills and incinerators each year.

Americans throw away 50 million plastic soda containers every=20 single day. These containers end up in landfills or as litter on=20 beaches,=20 playgrounds, country roads, and city streets. =20

The costs to society in wasted energy and resources, pollution and=20 worker health and safety are enormous from mining, processing,=20 manufacturing, transporting and disposing of these containers.=20 These costs could be reduced if Coke used recycled plastics or=20 refillable containers. Coke forces these hidden costs on society as=20 a whole, with every bottle and can used every day.

On the positive side, recycling offers a direct development=20 opportunity for our communities. Just sorting and processing=20 recyclables sustains 10 times more jobs, on a per ton basis than=20 landfills. However, making new products from the old offers=20 the largest economic pay-off. some reuse operations create=20 200 jobs for every one at a landfill. Discarded materials area=20 local resource that can contribute to local revenue, job creation,=20 business expansion, and the local economic base.

ACTION: Call Coca-Cola at its toll-free Consumer Affairs phone number (800-571-2653). Tell them to do the Real Thing: RECYCLE! Or write Coke's CEO:

Mr. Roberto C. Goizueta=20 Chief Executive Officer=20 The Coca-Cola Company=20 One Coca-Cola Plaza=20 Atlanta, Georgia 30313 Tel: 404-676-4701 (secy) Fax: 404-676-7711

#####

3. CHANTS

Plastic pollution ... we have a solution!

Coke ... you broke ... your promise to recycle!

You WILL ... REFILL!

SONG

It's Not the Real Thing by Tedd Ward, Alicia Culver and John Young To the approximate tune of: I'd Like to Teach the World to Sing

I'd like to buy the world a Coke In recycled PET. But even better fill it up again for you and me.

It's not the real thing=20 Coke isn't, recycling=20 Coke isn't=A7 It's not the real thing Coke isn't recycling, Coke isn't=A7.

I'd like to buy your soda sweet but not your plastic waste. Pollution of our lakes and streams has made me lose my taste.

It's not the real thing Coke promised and were listening Coke promised=A7 It's not the real thing. It's not the real thing. It's not the real thing.

######

4. MODEL PRESS RELEASE (used in Atlanta 4/7/97)

PRESS RELEASE=20

FOR MORE INFORMATION: Lance King: (916) 492-2924

GRASSROOTS ACTIVISTS TELL COKE THEY WANT=20 'THE REAL THING'

ATLANTA -- Recyclers and activists representing more than=20 fifty community organizations from seventeen states gathered at=20 the World of Coca-Cola Pavilion today to demand that Coke do=20 the Real Thing - Recycle! =20

The newly-formed Grassroots Recycling Network (GRN) is=20 calling upon Coca-Cola to fulfill a prior commitment to use=20 recycled content in its plastic bottles and to take responsibility=20 for the reuse and recycling of its empty containers.

"Coca-Cola made a commitment in 1990 to turn its old bottles=20 into new bottles," said Richard Anthony, steering committee=20 member of the Grassroots Recycling Network. "Seven years=20 later, Coke still isn't using recycled plastics here in the United=20 States - but Coke is using recycled plastics in New Zealand, in=20 Australia, and in Europe. And, in other countries they use=20 refillable bottles that need deposits. If Coke can do the Real=20 Thing there, why not here?"

"Ten states put a deposit on soft drink and beer containers to=20 encourage people to recycle, but here in its home state of=20 Georgia, Coca-Cola has been vigorously fighting local efforts to=20 have deposits," said Bill Sheehan, Chair of the GRN.=20

"We are calling upon Coke to take the GRN challenge," Said Eric=20 Lombardi, Executive Director of EcoCycle in Boulder, Colorado,=20 at a rally held in front of the World of Coca-Cola Pavilion=20 announcing the GRN's campaign. In a March 19th letter to=20 Chairman and CEO, Roberto C. Goizueta, the GRN asked Coca- Cola to do four things: (1) begin using recycled PET plastics=20 immediately in its plastic bottles; (2) disclose the percentage of=20 post-consumer recycled content on product labels; (3) re- establish a nationwide system of refillable containers during the=20 next 5 years; and (4) commit to reinstate deposits on all=20 containers within 18 months.

"We are now taking this campaign to the public and university=20 campuses and asking them to sign a petition calling on Coke to=20 do The Real Thing!" said Alicia Lyttle, Tulane University=20 student and GRN steering committee member. "We are looking=20 for Coca-Cola to take these steps voluntarily, just as more than=20 100 million Americans have made the voluntary commitment to=20 recycling."=20

The soft drink and beer industries generate over 130 billion=20 containers each year. Over 6 billion pounds of these containers=20 end up as garbage in landfills. The public must ultimately pay=20 the enormous economic and environmental costs of wasting=20 resources, including air and water pollution, energy and water=20 usage, loss of habitat due to mining and production, and high=20 material production and disposal costs.

"By turning these wasted materials into new products, we=20 benefit the environment and create career and entrepreneurial=20 opportunities for our poor rural communities and inner cities,=20 which need them the most," added Brenda Platt, of the Institute=20 of Local Self Reliance and member of the GRN. "On a per-ton=20 basis, recycling creates many more jobs than landfills."

The Grassroots Recycling Network is a coalition of community- based reuse, recycling, and composting activists and=20 organizations engaged in conserving our human and natural=20 resources. The GRN has been formed to give a voice to the=20 conservation ethic that more than 100 million Americans=20 express daily by recycling.=20

###

5. GRASSROOTS RECYCLING NETWORK -- MISSION & GOALS

MISSION STATEMENT The Grassroots Recycling Network=20 is dedicated to environmental stewardship and achieving a=20 sustainable economy by eliminating waste and reusing, =20 recycling and composting resources which will support=20 community economic growth, create jobs, save wilderness,=20 reduce pollution and conserve natural resources.

WHO WE ARE The Grassroots Recycling Network is a=20 coalition of community-based reuse, recycling and composting=20 activists engaged in conserving our human and natural=20 resources and giving voice to the conservation ethic that more=20 than 100 million Americans express daily by recycling.

GOALS=20 Zero Waste =20 Create Jobs Not Waste=20 End Corporate Welfare for Waste

OBJECTIVES =F9 Invest in reduction, reuse, recycling, composting and the=20 manufacture and purchase of reused, recycled and composted=20 products.

=F9 Require manufacturers to design products and packaging for=20 reuse, recycling and composting and price them to reflect their=20 full environmental costs.

=F9 Stop policies and subsidies for wasting resources in landfills=20 and incinerators and for mining, logging and wasting our=20 natural resources (such as metals, petroleum and timber).

=F9 Oppose policies and practices that transfer environmental and=20 financial liabilities to future generations (such as "dry tomb"=20 landfills).

------------------------------------------- TO PARTICIPATE IN GRN, Join the GreenYes Listserve: =20 Email to listserve@ucsd.edu the message: add greenyes-digest On the web: http:/www.kirkworks.com/grn.html.

For more information, email bill.sheehan@sierraclub.org.

Contributions are needed! Please send to Grassroots Recycling=20 Network, c/o ILSR, 2425 18th St. NW, Washington, DC 20009.

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Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 16:28:16 -0600 From: wallys@earthlink.net (Wally) Subject: Environmentally Friendly Car

I want to send this to Ford and Chrysler but don't know an e-mail address.= =3D Can anyone help?

I would like to buy my next car as an "environmentally friendly car" using= =3D this list of presently available options. However this combination of=3D options is only readily available on European cars.

Sunroof and white or light color and tinted windows but NO air= conditioning,=3D Forward motion of car should bring fresh air into the car instead of= always=3D depending on the blower and electrical power.

Manual transmission instead of automatic.-cheaper maintance, better for=3D mountain driving --can anticipate needed gear change due to coming hill.

Engine designed for good milage--Now Manual transmission is usually only=3D available with performance engine.

Tachometer and oil pressure gage-- recognize better how engine is= performing=3D i.e. when car gets more miles on it and oil pressure starts to drop,= change=3D to heavier oil. Tachometer would be especially helpful in mountain= driving,=3D and automatics don't always shift to best gears for hills. Tachometer and= =3D oil pressure gage are readily with performance engines.

Milage computer-- to check engine condition and my driving performance.

I believe that this better availability of options plus better reliability= =3D are the two major reasons that foreign cars have become and remained so=3D popular in this country.

Wally

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Date: Sun, 13 Apr 1997 21:59:33 -0600 (MDT) From: Eco-Cycle <ecocycle@bcn.boulder.co.us> Subject: Industry reaction to GRN

GREETINGS MICHELE,

THIS IS NOT AN "OFFICIAL" GRN RESPONSE, JUST THE OPINIONS OF SOMEONE THAT WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE IN ATLANTA FOR AN IMPORTANT AND EXCITING GATHERING OF RECYCLERS AND COMMUNITY ORGANIZERS.

On Fri, 11 Apr 1997, Michele Raymond wrote:

> To anyone onf Greenyes: >=20 > I have spoken with some industry people regarding the formation and= actions > taken so far by the GRN.=20 >=20 > There was a concensus: >=20 > A. GRN is not taken seriously. OF COURSE NOT, AND NEITHER WERE THE PIONEERS OF POST-CONSUMER RECYCLING IN THE 1970'S. > B. Donzella James is not taken seriously THEY'RE DREAMING. ANYONE WHO DOESN'T TAKE A STATE SENATOR WITH THE FIRE AND INTEGRITY OF SENATOR JAMES SERIOUSLY IS EITHER STUPID OR SUPREMELY ARROGANT. SHE IS A LEADER, AND SHE IS LEADING. TIME IS ON HER SIDE. > C. GRN is unlikely to make any headway in Legislatures unless there is > another "crisis." In the absence of a crisis (like the garbage barge or > some other disaster -- real or manufacturered) the movement for recycling= or > new laws will not get enough support from the public they say. > "RECYCLING" IS AN IMPORTANT PART OF THE NEW "MOVEMENT" WHICH WE'RE CALLING ZEROWASTE. AS A PLANNING APPROACH, OR DESIGN PRINCIPLE, FOR THE FUTURE, ZEROWASTE DOESN'T NEED A NEW CRISIS TO GIVE IT CREDIBILITY ... JUST LOOK AT THE DECLINING BIOSYSTEMS AROUND THE PLANET AND THE RATIONAL FOR ADVOCATING A NEW APPROACH TO DEALING WITH "WASTE" IS SELF-EVIDENT. > Does anyone in GRN have an on the record comment? > > Another comment was that GRN is focussed to much on recycling and is > ignoring the big picture, source reduction issue. I said this was not the > case, from what I heard, but they said all of the public material to date > focused only on recycling. YOU ARE CORRECT, SOURCE REDUCTION IS VERY IMPORTANT TO THE POINT THAT ZEROWASTE PLANNING REQUIRES MEANINGFUL "PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY" FOR IT.>=20 > Thanks for your feedback -- I need someone active with GRN. > THANKS FOR YOUR INTEREST. STAY TUNED, AND DON'T BE FOOLED BY YOUR INDUSTRY CONSENSUS ... THE POLITICS HAVE JUST BEGUN! > This is for publications -- Year-End State Recycling Laws Update; deadline > next week! >=20 > Thanks >=20 > Michele Raymond-- > Publisher > michele@raymond.com > 301/345-4237 > Fax 345-4768 > Web: www.raymond.com/recycle >=20 >=20

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End of GreenYes Digest V97 #78 ******************************