[greenyes] Producer responsibility

[CUYLER Alex D <Alex.D.CUYLER@no.address>]

Hi All:  Helen S writes a great response to Eric's L's query about how to
move forward with producer responsibility or product stewardship or whatever
moniker you want to put on getting more stuff recycled.  I especially value
Helen's statements about making sure that if there is government involvement
in this particular effort that the collected funds be earmarked for projects
directly related to the material being targeted.

In examining what other states and provinces have done in terms of producer
responsibility, I am struck by the different approaches.  BC's model for
beverage containers is far different from California's for instance.  I'm
also struck by the fact that after almost three years of attempting to allow
industry to create a take back scheme for electronics in the US, they
couldn't build a better mousetrap.  
Some manufacturers and industry associations are still even questioning
whether their products create any harm, in somewhat the same way that
certain other industries denied that cigarettes cause cancer or whether guns
kill people or people kill people.

My two cent's is that I still very much like the concept of shared
responsibility. I don't want to see programs developed that place all the
onus on the consumer, the industry, or government.  

Perhaps other's could answer the following question for me:  To what degree
do landfill or other disposal bans have on creating energy for EPS or design
for recycling efforts?  In Oregon, there isn't much enthusiasm on the part
of state or local governments for banning materials from landfills (tires,
auto batteries, white goods are statutorily banned), although several
privately held landfills have imposed their own bans on certain things
(fluorescent tubes, computer monitors).  Is banning materials from disposal
an effective part of building the better mousetrap?  -- AC


Alex Cuyler
Recycling and Solid Waste Specialist
City of Eugene Planning and Development Department
phone: (541) 682-6830 
fax:      (541) 682-6806