Re: [greenyes] European PET Recycling, NRC and recycling in America

[lkingeco2@no.address]

Eric Lombardi is a respected recycling professional, past NRC Board member, a 
zero waste advocate and currently serves on the GRRN Board of Directors.  I 
respect his experience and good judgment.

But I'm puzzled about Eric's message today lamenting the role of NRC in 
"representing recycling GROWTH in America".  Eric and other GRRN leaders who have 
served on the NRC Board of Directors have long been advocates of the National 
Recycling Coalition, even with the inherent limitations of so many competing 
interests in the organization.

Fundamentally different policy, legal and political dynamics drive packaging 
recycling in Europe and America, as we all know.  I can't see how NRC can be 
expected to change those dynamics.

Wasn't GRRN founded to push the next phase in recycling...zero waste...and 
producer responsbility?  Since GRRN shifted its primary focus from the Coke and 
Pepsi campaign for use of 25 percent recycling content in new beverage 
bottles, the organization has taken on a major challenge in the e-waste arena.  
Budget and resource limitations led GRRN to make difficult choices as an advocacy 
group.

Making difficult choices about policy and program priorities is something 
Eric Lombardi has done with Ecocycle, NRC and GRRN.  So what is Eric's message 
for readers of GreenYes?

Data from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and additional sources 
suggests that the United States will fall far short of a 35 percent recycling 
rate in 2005, the agency's currently policy goal.  Perhaps the debate about 
stimulating recycling GROWTH in America involves more fundamental questions than 
the actions of the NRC.

Respectfully,

Lance King
Chairman
Community Solutions
Tel:  703/536-7282
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In a message dated 6/2/04 12:10:23 PM Eastern Daylight Time, 
eric@no.address writes:

> So here's my question... "Why Not Here?"
> 
> There are so many progressive discard management techniques occurring
> around the world... except in the USA.  The landfill and wasting rate is
> on the rise here, when it is falling in the rest of the industrialized
> world.
> 
> Who is going to blow the whistle on this?  I used to think it was the
> job of the NRC ... but what do you all think ... is the NRC truly
> representing recycling GROWTH in America?  Is it the organization that
> you all (the GreenYes listservers) are members of that you expect to
> provide national leadership?  Are we getting national leadership out of
> them?
> 
> Eric Lombardi
> Executive Director
> Eco-Cycle, Inc
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Peter Anderson [mailto:anderson@no.address] 
> Sent: Tuesday, June 01, 2004 4:14 PM
> To: GreenYes
> Subject: [greenyes] European PET Recycling
> 
> 
> June 1 2004
> EUROPEAN PET RECYCLING TAKES OFF
> 
> Petcore has announced that more PET bottles were collected and recycled
> in
> Europe in 2003 than ever before.
> 
> 612,000 tonnes of European PET bales were offered to the recycling
> markets
> in 2003, compared with 449,000 tonnes the previous year, representing a
> growth rate of 36 per cent. Trends in market outlets remain unchanged,
> with
> bottle-to-bottle recycling increasing from 8.1 per cent in 2002, to 11.1
> per
> cent in 2003. Other RPET outlets include polyester fibre (70.4 per
> cent),
> polyester sheet (7.5 per cent) and strapping (7.6 per cent).
> 
> Exceptionally high growth rates were seen in Spain, Portugal, Hungary,
> Slovakia, the Baltic states and in Ireland. A large increase was also
> recorded in the UK, for the first time in many years. Germany and the UK
> were the countries contributing most to the increase of bottle export to
> China.
> 
> Export of RPET rose from 33,000 tonnes in 2002 to 136,000 tonnes last
> year.
> 
> Petcore director general Frank Koelewijn said: "There is much growth
> potential in the new member states, and it is very reassuring to see how
> mature collection countries such as Austria, Belgium, France, Italy and
> Switzerland, continue to collect more, year after year. The fundamentals
> of
> such growth are based on commitments of beverage brands, PET
> stakeholders
> and above all: committed citizens."
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> ______________________________
> Peter Anderson
> RECYCLEWORLDS CONSULTING Corp
> 4513 Vernon Blvd. Suite 15
> Madison, WI 53705
> Ph:    (608) 231-1100
> Fax:   (608) 233-0011
> Cell    (608) 698-1314
> email: anderson@no.address
>