Re: [GreenYes] More from Germany

["Wayne Turner" <wturner1@triad.rr.com>]

It seems the German bottlers/brewers are learning from our American
counterparts.  Is this one of those parts of capitalisim of which we're
supposed to be proud?  Apologies for the cynicism.

Wayne Turner


----- Original Message -----
From: "Pat Franklin" <pfranklin@container-recycling.org>
To: "Green Yes" <greenyes@grrn.org>
Sent: Tuesday, March 26, 2002 12:46 AM
Subject: [GreenYes] More from Germany


> More from Germany
>
> German brewers file suit against recycling law - GERMANY
> http://www.planetark.org/dailynewsstory.cfm/newsid/15200/story.htm
>
> German brewers file suit against recycling law
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
>
> REUTERS NEWS SERVICE---GERMANY: March 26, 2002
>
>
> BERLIN - An association of German brewers has filed a suit against
> Germany's 16 federal states seeking to block a government directive
> introducing deposits on non-returnable beer and soft drink cans and
> bottles.
>
> "We have begun the action and our suits were filed with the 16 states
> today," Michael Scherer, head of the brands and packaging association
> for German brewers, told Reuters.
>
> "We say that it is neither ecologically nor economic sensible and
> that it is unfair to be targeting just the drinks industry," he said.
>
> The German cabinet approved the measure last week that calls for
> deposits of 25 cents ($0.22) for smaller disposable containers and 50
> cents for cans and bottles above 1.5 litres starting in 2003.
> Deposits are returned when the bottles and cans are disposed in
> special recycling machines.
>
> "The government has put the cost at about 700 to 800 million euros.
> We say it's much higher. If you take into account a possible 15
> billion cans and bottles, the cost would be more likely to be 3.25
> billion euros. We would have to pass that on to the consumer," said
> Scherer, whose association covers 55 brewers with about two-thirds of
> Germany's brewing production.
>
> At the very least, the legal challenge could delay the introduction
> of the recycling directive, which is scheduled to take effect January
> 1.
>
> The move is likely to impact the makers of can recycling machines,
> such as Norway's Tomra Systems , whose shares rose in anticipation of
> the German government's decision. In an interview last week, the
> firm's chief executive said Germany represented Tomra's best growth
> prospect.
>
> The measure has long sparked opposition among retailers and beverage
> manufacturers but the government says it is necessary because the
> percentage of refillable cans and bottles has fallen below a minimum
> target level set in 1997.
>
> The 1997 law requires that 72 percent of all beverage containers sold
> be returnable, but government officials said that target was no
> longer being met.
>
> Environment Minister Juergen Trittin, a member of the Green Party who
> are junior coalition partners in government, has been pushing for the
> introduction of this system for almost a year.
>
> Mail this story to a friend | Printer friendly version
>
>
> ****************************************
> Patricia Franklin
> Executive Director
> Container Recycling Institute
> 1911 N. Fort Myer Drive, Ste. 702
> Arlington, VA 22209
>
> TEL:   703.276.9800
> FAX:   703.276.9587
> EMAIL: pfranklin@container-recycling.org
>
> http://www.container-recycling.org
> http://www.bottlebill.info
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