[GreenYes] Re: 11 new messages in 4 topics - digest

Subject: [GreenYes] Re: 11 new messages in 4 topics - digest
From: "Alan Muller" <amuller@no.address>
Date: Wed, 19 Sep 2007 08:04:19 -0400

At 06:44 AM 9/19/2007 -0400, David Biddle wrote:

I'd say you are right to a point, Neil. However, I would phrase it differently: not "so what;" rather, "it's a start, but they've got a lot more to do if they want to minimize their impacts." Personally, I'm wondering whether they can pull off this feat. They've made noises like this before back in the '90s and then didn't follow through. The market situation itself could become highly volatile if they're all of a sudden trying to source all that PET and competing with China. That's a good thing, of course, but it could make their project tough to sustain.

Refillables for PET would be quite a feat in and of itself, by the way. Moving that much plastic without being able to bail or crush or shred would be awfully costly. Glass would be worse. Remember the scale we're talking about.

Finally, I surmise this move is a direct policy decision made to head off a national and/or state by state move to create a deposit system for PET containers. That seems to me to be the issue. Personally, I am deeply dismayed that recycling advocates and coordinators have not gotten behind such a move. Forcing government to pay for recycling and disposal is UnAmerican and anti-free market. I guarantee you if the pressure for deposit laws is not maintained, Coke will gently let this move go and it will be 1994 all over again.

Sincerely,

David

This seems about true to me. It is very sad that few "enviro" orgs are providing any real leadership these days, on any issues I can think of.

am

--
David Biddle, Executive Director
< http://www.blueolives.blogspot.com >
Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council
P.O. Box 4037
Philadelphia, PA 19118

215-247-3090 (desk)
215-432-8225 (cell)

< http://www.gpcrc.com>

Read In Business magazine to learn about sustainable
businesses in communities across North America!
Go to: < http://www.jgpress.com/inbusine.htm >

on 9/19/07 1:41 AM, Nseldman at nseldman@no.address wrote:

-coca cola's announced policy is a bit disingenuous. Sort of like Ford puttingon an environmental roof on its plants but refusing to redesign its car to get more mileage per gallon. If coca cola uses recycled bottles, so what? Refillables are the zero waste solution, and their water policy is horrible. I do not know of one environmental group that has called for refillables, nor has comeout against the water policy in poor countries. Please tell me if i am wrong. Neil Neil-------- Original Message -------- From: GreenYes group <noreply@no.address> To: GreenYes digest subscribers <GreenYes@no.address> Subject: 11 new messages in 4 topics - digest Date: 18/09/07 12:54 > > GreenYes > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes?hl=en > > GreenYes@no.address > > Today's topics: > > * Environmental awareness - 5 messages, 4 authors > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/5dd459b75838e89d?hl=en > * Fwd: [zwiaplan] The latest on zero waste from NRC - 4 messages, 2 authors > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/cd5f08054bed56f1?hl=en > * Article on Zero Waste in CA, from Sri Lanka newspaper covering trip of Jaime > Lozano from City of Los Angeles - 1 messages, 1 author > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/ef655e12fcd640ff?hl=en > * FW: The latest on zero waste from NRC - 1 messages, 1 author > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/56657442f51dd4a8?hl=en > > ============================================================================== > TOPIC: Environmental awareness > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/5dd459b75838e89d?hl=en > ============================================================================== > > == 1 of 5 == > Date: Mon, Sep 17 2007 1:31 pm > From: David Biddle > > > Amy- > > Check out this Joel Makower blog entry that I received today: > http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2007/09/whats-behind-th.html He > makes reference to the Green Gauge reports. You might want to follow the > links in the article. > > The book "Breakthrough" by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, the > authors of infamous essay "The Death of Environmentalism," feel the same > thing Makower does, i.e., that opinion surveys about environmental awareness > are rather specious. There's a lot of evidence for this and S&N provide some > in their book. People say they are concerned about the environment when you > ask them, but at the same time more generally when asked what the top 10 > issues are that concern them, most folks don't even put the environment on > their list. > > Obviously you're after very specific info on recycling type awareness, but > I'm not sure how much value there is in it. This helps you not at all, I > know. Sorry. > > Db > -- > David Biddle, Executive Director > < http://www.blueolives.blogspot.com> > Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council > P.O. Box 4037 > Philadelphia, PA 19118 > > 215-247-3090 (desk) > 215-432-8225 (cell) > > < http://www.gpcrc.com> > > Read In Business magazine to learn about sustainable > businesses in communities across North America! > Go to: < http://www.jgpress.com/inbusine.htm> > > > > > on 9/8/07 8:39 PM, amy perlmutter at amy@no.address wrote: > > > I'm trying to find out if there have been any surveys done of environmental > > awareness, or indicators of it, in the US, broken down by state or region. > > Recycling rates may be one indicator of awareness, purchase of EPP's,... > > Anyone have any ideas or places they can steer me to? > > > > Thanks. > > > > > > > > == 2 of 5 == > Date: Mon, Sep 17 2007 1:39 pm > From: amy perlmutter > > > Thanks, David. Actually, what I am looking for are some statistics to back > up what businesses leaders have told me in some focus groups I have been > running on clean tech: that one of the draws of doing business in Ma is > heightened awareness and understanding of environmental issues. It's > interesting how many business people have said that. So I was thinking that > could perhaps be illustrated through documenting behavior (Ma recycling rate > compared to other states- not sure what else I can find to illustrate > behavior), or some sort of survey about environmental attitudes or awareness > that might compare states or regions. I'll look at the mackower piece. I > welcome any other suggestions. I'm looking for something that's less than 5 > years old, preferably relatively recent. > > > > > > > On 9/17/07 4:31 PM, "David Biddle" <Dbiddle@no.address> wrote: > > > Amy- > > > > Check out this Joel Makower blog entry that I received today: > > http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2007/09/whats-behind-th.html He makes > > reference to the Green Gauge reports. You might want to follow the links in > > the article. > > > > The book "Breakthrough" by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, the authors > > of infamous essay "The Death of Environmentalism," feel the same thing Makower > > does, i.e., that opinion surveys about environmental awareness are rather > > specious. There's a lot of evidence for this and S&N provide some in their > > book. People say they are concerned about the environment when you ask them, > > but at the same time more generally when asked what the top 10 issues are that > > concern them, most folks don't even put the environment on their list. > > > > Obviously you're after very specific info on recycling type awareness, but I'm > > not sure how much value there is in it. This helps you not at all, I know. > > Sorry. > > > > Db > > > > > > > == 3 of 5 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 2:17 am > From: David Biddle > > > There must be something you can use at the GreenBiz.com site. Try: > http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/reports.cfm > > -- > David Biddle, Executive Director > < http://www.blueolives.blogspot.com> > Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council > P.O. Box 4037 > Philadelphia, PA 19118 > > 215-247-3090 (desk) > 215-432-8225 (cell) > > < http://www.gpcrc.com> > > Read In Business magazine to learn about sustainable > businesses in communities across North America! > Go to: < http://www.jgpress.com/inbusine.htm> > > > on 9/17/07 4:39 PM, amy perlmutter at amy@no.address wrote: > > > Thanks, David. Actually, what I am looking for are some statistics to back up > > what businesses leaders have told me in some focus groups I have been running > > on clean tech: that one of the draws of doing business in Ma is heightened > > awareness and understanding of environmental issues. It's interesting how many > > business people have said that. So I was thinking that could perhaps be > > illustrated through documenting behavior (Ma recycling rate compared to other > > states- not sure what else I can find to illustrate behavior), or some sort of > > survey about environmental attitudes or awareness that might compare states or > > regions. I'll look at the mackower piece. I welcome any other suggestions. > > I'm looking for something that's less than 5 years old, preferably relatively > > recent. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 9/17/07 4:31 PM, "David Biddle" <Dbiddle@no.address> wrote: > > > >> Amy- > >> > >> Check out this Joel Makower blog entry that I received today: > >> http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2007/09/whats-behind-th.html He makes > >> reference to the Green Gauge reports. You might want to follow the links in > >> the article. > >> > >> The book "Breakthrough" by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, the > >> authors of infamous essay "The Death of Environmentalism," feel the same > >> thing Makower does, i.e., that opinion surveys about environmental awareness > >> are rather specious. There's a lot of evidence for this and S&N provide some > >> in their book. People say they are concerned about the environment when you > >> ask them, but at the same time more generally when asked what the top 10 > >> issues are that concern them, most folks don't even put the environment on > >> their list. > >> > >> Obviously you're after very specific info on recycling type awareness, but > >> I'm not sure how much value there is in it. This helps you not at all, I > >> know. Sorry. > >> > >> Db > > > > > > > > > > > > > > == 4 of 5 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 5:21 am > From: "Kim Leslie" > > > Of course there's also the survey of the states we do which provides > recycling rates. We last conducted it in 2005 so the numbers would be > for 2004 if I remember right. We will be working on the next survey > which would give you 2006 (maybe 2007) numbers. > > That may be helpful. > > Kim Leslie > Raymond Communications > 301-518-0215 > > On 9/18/07, David Biddle <Dbiddle@no.address> wrote: > > > > There must be something you can use at the GreenBiz.com site. Try: > > http://www.greenbiz.com/toolbox/reports.cfm > > > > -- > > David Biddle, Executive Director > > < http://www.blueolives.blogspot.com> > > Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council > > P.O. Box 4037 > > Philadelphia, PA 19118 > > > > 215-247-3090 (desk) > > 215-432-8225 (cell) > > > > < http://www.gpcrc.com> > > > > Read In Business magazine to learn about sustainable > > businesses in communities across North America! > > Go to: < http://www.jgpress.com/inbusine.htm> > > > > > > on 9/17/07 4:39 PM, amy perlmutter at amy@no.address wrote: > > > > > > Thanks, David. Actually, what I am looking for are some statistics to back > > up what businesses leaders have told me in some focus groups I have been > > running on clean tech: that one of the draws of doing business in Ma is > > heightened awareness and understanding of environmental issues. It's > > interesting how many business people have said that. So I was thinking that > > could perhaps be illustrated through documenting behavior (Ma recycling rate > > compared to other states- not sure what else I can find to illustrate > > behavior), or some sort of survey about environmental attitudes or awareness > > that might compare states or regions. I'll look at the mackower piece. I > > welcome any other suggestions. I'm looking for something that's less than 5 > > years old, preferably relatively recent. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > On 9/17/07 4:31 PM, "David Biddle" <Dbiddle@no.address> wrote: > > > > > > Amy- > > > > Check out this Joel Makower blog entry that I received today: > > http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2007/09/whats-behind-th.html > > He makes reference to the Green Gauge reports. You might want to follow the > > links in the article. > > > > The book "Breakthrough" by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, the > > authors of infamous essay "The Death of Environmentalism," feel the same > > thing Makower does, i.e., that opinion surveys about environmental awareness > > are rather specious. There's a lot of evidence for this and S&N provide some > > in their book. People say they are concerned about the environment when you > > ask them, but at the same time more generally when asked what the top 10 > > issues are that concern them, most folks don't even put the environment on > > their list. > > > > Obviously you're after very specific info on recycling type awareness, but > > I'm not sure how much value there is in it. This helps you not at all, I > > know. Sorry. > > > > Db > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > == 5 of 5 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 7:34 am > From: Alan Muller > > > At 04:31 PM 9/17/2007 -0400, David Biddle wrote: > >Amy- > > > >Check out this Joel Makower blog entry that I received today: > >< http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2007/09/whats-behind-th.html>http://makower.typepad.com/joel_makower/2007/09/whats-behind-th.html > >He makes reference to the Green Gauge reports. You might want to > >follow the links in the article. > > > >The book "Breakthrough" by Michael Shellenberger and Ted Nordhaus, > >the authors of infamous essay "The Death of Environmentalism," feel > >the same thing Makower does, i.e., that opinion surveys about > >environmental awareness are rather specious. There's a lot of > >evidence for this and S&N provide some in their book. People say > >they are concerned about the environment when you ask them, but at > >the same time more generally when asked what the top 10 issues are > >that concern them, most folks don't even put the environment on their list. > > Yep, I agree. And elected officials, with few exceptions, are the > same. Part of the problem is that "environment" and "environmental" > are terms so broad and vague as to mean little. Like "family > values." What does it mean ... ???? I also think a big part is the > disarray of the US environmental movement, if there still is one. It > seems tied up in turf-defence, competition, and grant-grubbing. Is > any real intellectual leadership coming from it, on, say, global > warming or resource management? > > Clearly the business community, bogus as most of the "green" > propaganda is, is shifting ground more quickly and more effectively than NGO's. > > Alan > > > >Obviously you're after very specific info on recycling type > >awareness, but I'm not sure how much value there is in it. This > >helps you not at all, I know. Sorry. > > > >Db > >-- > >David Biddle, Executive Director > >< http://www.blueolives.blogspot.com> > >Greater Philadelphia Commercial Recycling Council > >P.O. Box 4037 > >Philadelphia, PA 19118 > > > >215-247-3090 (desk) > >215-432-8225 (cell) > > > ><< http://www.gpcrc.com>http://www.gpcrc.com> > > > >Read In Business magazine to learn about sustainable > >businesses in communities across North America! > >Go to: < http://www.jgpress.com/inbusine.htm> > > > > > > > > > >on 9/8/07 8:39 PM, amy perlmutter at amy@no.address wrote: > > > >I'm trying to find out if there have been any surveys done of > >environmental awareness, or indicators of it, in the US, broken down > >by state or region. Recycling rates may be one indicator of > >awareness, purchase of EPP's,... Anyone have any ideas or places > >they can steer me to? > > > >Thanks. > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > ============================================================================== > TOPIC: Fwd: [zwiaplan] The latest on zero waste from NRC > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/cd5f08054bed56f1?hl=en > ============================================================================== > > == 1 of 4 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 4:27 am > From: Gary Liss > > > Apologies for Cross-Postings - Please share with interested colleagues. > > >From: "Mal" <mal.williams@no.address> > >To: <zwiaplan@no.address> > >Cc: "Russell Owens" > ><russell.owens@no.address>, <colink@no.address> > >Subject: [zwiaplan] Emailing: Marc Gunther > The latest on zero waste.htm > >Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:40:07 +0100 > > > >Hey - you can drink Coke again guys - it says so > >here Coke have adopted a Zero Waste aim. > > > >Mal > > > >---------- > >Wed 5 Sep 2007 > > > >< http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=253>The latest on zero waste > > > > > > > >Zero waste is one of the most exciting ideas to > >emerge from the environmental movement, and it > >won a powerful new supporter yesterday in the > >Coca-Cola Co., which set a long-term goal of > >having every bottle it sells in the U.S. > >recycled or reused. In another bit of welcome > >news for the zero-waste movement, a new report > >from NGO's Forest Ethics and the Dogwood > >Alliance gives high marks to office supply > >stores Staples and FedExKinkos for using more post-consumer recycled content. > > > >Zero waste means what it says-that we can strive > >for a world where nothing is thrown away, where > >anything that's no longer needed becomes > >feedstock for new stuff. It's not merely about > >reducing waste; it's about eliminating the very > >idea of waste. We called it > >< http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402369/index.htm>The > >End of Garbage last spring in FORTUNE. > > > >At a news conference in Washington, Coca-Cola > >announced that it will help build the world's > >largest plastic bottle-to-bottle recycling plant > >in Spartanburg, N.C., at a cost of about $45 > >million, in conjunction with a big private firm > >called United Resource Recovery Corp. The plant > >will open next year; it will produce about 100 > >million pounds of food-grade recycled PET for > >reuse each year, the equivalent of making nearly > >two billion 20-ounce Coke bottles. The company > >said it will open regional recycling centers as well. > >Coke's plastic bottles currently contain about > >10% recycled PET. The company has a goal of 30% > >by 2010. It didn't set a target date for its > >100% goal-but merely promising to move in that > >direction means the company can and will be held accountable. > > > >"Coca Cola has staked a clear leadership > >position in its approach to sustainable > >packaging," said Kate Krebs, executive director > >of the National Recycling Coalition. "I hope other industries will follow." > > > >Coca Cola is also expanding its investment in > >< http://www.recyclebank.com/>Recycle Bank, a > >for-profit company that aims to drive up > >recycling rates by, in effect, paying people to > >put more stuff in their recycle bins. Recycle > >Bank's curbside recycling programs in > >Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware have > >driven up recycling rates substantially. Are you > >surprised? if you reward people for recycling, > >with discount coupons that can be used at > >Starbucks or Whole Foods, they'll respond. > >Recycle Bank plans a national rollout by 2009. > > > >Recycling, as you probably know, saves energy, > >raw materials and curbs greenhouse gas > >emissions. But for the economics of recycling to > >work, we need to drive up both the inputs (more > >stuff in the recycle bin, less in the trash) and > >the demand for products made with recycled content. > > > >That's where the office stores come in. They > >more they promise to stock, promote and sell > >recycled paper, the more demand that creates; of > >course, the demand will only be sustained if > >organizations and individuals buy more recycled paper. > > > >That seems to be happening. Forest Ethics and > >Dogwood Alliance, in their "report card" on the > >paper practices of the office supply sector, say > >that recycled pulp mills enjoyed record-high > >demand in 2005. They give an A grade to Staples, > >which has achieved a 30% average of > >post-consumer recycled content when all product > >tonnage is included, and says it wants to get to > >50%. FedExKinkos also "meets or exceeds > >ambitious goals" for post-recycled content and > >gets a B+ grade. Office Max and Corporate > >Express are the industry laggards, in recycling > >as well as other environmental metrics. > > > >This kind of progress is driven by activism, and > >by the willingness of big companies to listen, > >engage and reform. You can learn more by reading > >the Forest Ethics and Dogwood Alliance > >< http://www.forestethics.org/article.php?id=1899>press > >release or downloading their full report. Coke's > >announcement can be found > >< http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070905/20070905006109.html?.v=1>here. > >I'll have more to say about the zero-waste > >movement in a couple of weeks from the National > >Recycling Coalition's annual convention in Denver. > >Posted by Marc under > >< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=1>Sustainability > > , < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=7>CSR , > >< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=8>Energy , > >< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=9>Environment , > >< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=20>NGOs , > >< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=23>Consumption > >Comments > > > >< http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarcGunther> > >Subscribe to Marc's Blog via an RSS feed at Feedburner > >< http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarcGunther> Click > >here for the RSS feed and receive automatic > >updates whenever a new article is published to 'MarcGunther.com' > > > > > > > >Leave a Reply > > > > > > > >Name (required) > > > >Mail (will not be published) (required) > > > >Website > > > > > > > >Archived Entry > > > > > > > > * Post Date : > > * Wednesday, Sep 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pm > > * Category : > > * > > < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=1>Sustainabilit > > y and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=7>CSR > > and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=8>Energy > > and > > < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=9>Environment > > and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=20>NGOs > > and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=23>Consumption > > * Do More : > > * You can leave a response, or > > < http://www.marcgunther.com/wp-trackback.php?p=253>trackback > > from your own site. > > > >(c)2006 -- by Marc Gunther // Site built by < http://www.fatroman.com>Fat Roman > > > >> > > > > Gary Liss & Associates > 916-652-7850 > Fax: 916-652-0485 > www.garyliss.com > > > > == 2 of 4 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 5:17 am > From: Gary Liss > > > For more details, see: > http://www.marcgunther.com/ > and > > Coca-Cola Sets Goal to Recycle or Reuse 100 > Percent of Its Plastic Bottles in the U.S.: Financial News - Yahoo! Finance > http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070905/20070905006109.html?.v=1 > > At 04:27 AM 9/18/2007, Gary Liss wrote: > >Apologies for Cross-Postings - Please share with interested colleagues. > > > >>From: "Mal" <mal.williams@no.address> > >>To: <zwiaplan@no.address> > >>Cc: "Russell Owens" > >><russell.owens@no.address>, <colink@no.address> > >>Subject: [zwiaplan] Emailing: Marc Gunther > The latest on zero waste.htm > >>Date: Tue, 18 Sep 2007 10:40:07 +0100 > >> > >>Hey - you can drink Coke again guys - it says > >>so here Coke have adopted a Zero Waste aim. > >> > >>Mal > >> > >>---------- > >>Wed 5 Sep 2007 > >> > >> > >>< http://www.marcgunther.com/?p=253>The latest on zero waste > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>Zero waste is one of the most exciting ideas to > >>emerge from the environmental movement, and it > >>won a powerful new supporter yesterday in the > >>Coca-Cola Co., which set a long-term goal of > >>having every bottle it sells in the U.S. > >>recycled or reused. In another bit of welcome > >>news for the zero-waste movement, a new report > >>from NGO's Forest Ethics and the Dogwood > >>Alliance gives high marks to office supply > >>stores Staples and FedExKinkos for using more post-consumer recycled content. > >> > >>Zero waste means what it says-that we can > >>strive for a world where nothing is thrown > >>away, where anything that's no longer needed > >>becomes feedstock for new stuff. It's not > >>merely about reducing waste; it's about > >>eliminating the very idea of waste. We called > >>it > >>< http://money.cnn.com/magazines/fortune/fortune_archive/2007/03/19/8402369/index.htm>The > >>End of Garbage last spring in FORTUNE. > >> > >>At a news conference in Washington, Coca-Cola > >>announced that it will help build the world's > >>largest plastic bottle-to-bottle recycling > >>plant in Spartanburg, N.C., at a cost of about > >>$45 million, in conjunction with a big private > >>firm called United Resource Recovery Corp. The > >>plant will open next year; it will produce > >>about 100 million pounds of food-grade recycled > >>PET for reuse each year, the equivalent of > >>making nearly two billion 20-ounce Coke > >>bottles. The company said it will open regional recycling centers as well. > >>Coke's plastic bottles currently contain about > >>10% recycled PET. The company has a goal of 30% > >>by 2010. It didn't set a target date for its > >>100% goal-but merely promising to move in that > >>direction means the company can and will be held accountable. > >> > >>"Coca Cola has staked a clear leadership > >>position in its approach to sustainable > >>packaging," said Kate Krebs, executive director > >>of the National Recycling Coalition. "I hope other industries will follow." > >> > >>Coca Cola is also expanding its investment in > >>< http://www.recyclebank.com/>Recycle Bank, a > >>for-profit company that aims to drive up > >>recycling rates by, in effect, paying people to > >>put more stuff in their recycle bins. Recycle > >>Bank's curbside recycling programs in > >>Philadelphia, New Jersey and Delaware have > >>driven up recycling rates substantially. Are > >>you surprised? if you reward people for > >>recycling, with discount coupons that can be > >>used at Starbucks or Whole Foods, they'll > >>respond. Recycle Bank plans a national rollout by 2009. > >> > >>Recycling, as you probably know, saves energy, > >>raw materials and curbs greenhouse gas > >>emissions. But for the economics of recycling > >>to work, we need to drive up both the inputs > >>(more stuff in the recycle bin, less in the > >>trash) and the demand for products made with recycled content. > >> > >>That's where the office stores come in. They > >>more they promise to stock, promote and sell > >>recycled paper, the more demand that creates; > >>of course, the demand will only be sustained if > >>organizations and individuals buy more recycled paper. > >> > >>That seems to be happening. Forest Ethics and > >>Dogwood Alliance, in their "report card" on the > >>paper practices of the office supply sector, > >>say that recycled pulp mills enjoyed > >>record-high demand in 2005. They give an A > >>grade to Staples, which has achieved a 30% > >>average of post-consumer recycled content when > >>all product tonnage is included, and says it > >>wants to get to 50%. FedExKinkos also "meets or > >>exceeds ambitious goals" for post-recycled > >>content and gets a B+ grade. Office Max and > >>Corporate Express are the industry laggards, in > >>recycling as well as other environmental metrics. > >> > >>This kind of progress is driven by activism, > >>and by the willingness of big companies to > >>listen, engage and reform. You can learn more > >>by reading the Forest Ethics and Dogwood > >>Alliance > >>< http://www.forestethics.org/article.php?id=1899>press > >>release or downloading their full report. > >>Coke's announcement can be found > >>< http://biz.yahoo.com/bw/070905/20070905006109.html?.v=1>here. > >>I'll have more to say about the zero-waste > >>movement in a couple of weeks from the National > >>Recycling Coalition's annual convention in Denver. > >>Posted by Marc under > >>< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=1>Sustainabilit > >>y , < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=7>CSR , > >>< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=8>Energy , > >>< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=9>Environment > >>, < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=20>NGOs , > >>< http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=23>Consumption > >>Comments > >> > >>< http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarcGunther> > >>Subscribe to Marc's Blog via an RSS feed at Feedburner > >>< http://feeds.feedburner.com/MarcGunther> Click > >>here for the RSS feed and receive automatic > >>updates whenever a new article is published to 'MarcGunther.com' > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>Leave a Reply > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>Name (required) > >> > >>Mail (will not be published) (required) > >> > >>Website > >> > >> > >> > >> > >>Archived Entry > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> > >> * Post Date : > >> * Wednesday, Sep 5th, 2007 at 9:34 pm > >> * Category : > >> * > >> < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=1>Sustainabili > >> ty and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=7>CSR > >> and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=8>Energy > >> and > >> < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=9>Environment > >> and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=20>NGOs > >> and < http://www.marcgunther.com/?cat=23>Consumption > >> * Do More : > >> * You can leave a response, or > >> < http://www.marcgunther.com/wp-trackback.php?p=253>trackback > >> from your own site. > >> > >>(c)2006 -- by Marc Gunther // Site built by < http://www.fatroman.com>Fat Roman > >> > >>>> > >Gary Liss & Associates > >916-652-7850 > >Fax: 916-652-0485 > >www.garyliss.com > > Gary Liss & Associates > 916-652-7850 > Fax: 916-652-0485 > www.garyliss.com > > > > == 3 of 4 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 1:36 pm > From: Gary Liss > > > Bill, > > Thanks for your input on this. They were very > helpful! For the record, I only was circulating what was published elsewhere. > > I also understand that Coca-Cola did NOT adopt a > Zero Waste goal. Instead, they adopted > a goal to recycle or reuse 100 percent of its > plastic bottles in the U.S. The way Marc Gunther > reported that was his view that this was a major > step forward towards Zero Waste. But he was NOT > suggesting that Coca-Cola is a Zero Waste > company, nor have they adopted that goal. > > This is NOT diluting the brand of Zero Waste, > just some positive actions and commitments by a > major player in the field. We also clearly need > to address the refillables issues with them to > ensure that these positive actions do not > undercut the higher priority of reuse. > > Gary > > At 07:03 AM 9/18/2007, Bill Sheehan wrote: > >A couple of clarifications on Marc Gunther's > >article circulated by Gary Liss that suggest > >prudence on hawking the Zero Waste brand too > >cheaply. Coke is to be congratulated on > >committing to invest in recycling more of its > >plastic, but calling that Zero Waste may be premature. > > > >Gunther: "Zero waste ... won a powerful new > >supporter yesterday in the Coca-Cola Co., which > >set a long-term goal of having every bottle it > >sells in the U.S. recycled or reused." > > > >An article in Plastics News (August 31, by Mike > >Verespej) had a more sober article with some interesting specifics. > > > >Plastics News: "In 2006 ... [Coca-Cola] > >introduced in the Netherlands a light-weight, > >recyclable bottle containing 25 percent recycled > >material that will replace the refillable > >plastic bottles it previously sold in that market." > >Is this Zero Waste? > > > >Gunther: "Coke's plastic bottles currently contain about 10% recycled PET." > >Plastics News: "Coca-Cola Enterprises, which > >bottles 19 percent of Coca-Cola nonalcoholic > >beverages worldwide and is its largest bottler, > >used recycled PET for 3.8 percent of its needs last year." > > > >Gunther: "The plant will open next year; it > >will produce about 100 million pounds of > >food-grade recycled PET for reuse each year. > >Plastics News: "In 2006 ... almost 4 billion > >pounds of PET bottles were not recycled." [U.S., industry wide] > >A long ways to go to Zero! > > > >And most importantly: > > > >Plastics News: "Coca-Cola also has invested $2 > >million" in voluntary recycling programs, which > >it plans to promote nationally. "Despite the > >need for more recycled materials, Coca-Cola and > >PepsiCo Inc. have opposed bottle deposits." > >Deposits have proven to be effective. Is it > >o.k. to declare a Zero Waste goal and then > >promote a marginal, self-serving strategy? > > > >/Bill Sheehan > >Product Policy Institute > > > >__._,_.___ > > > >Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional > >< http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustainablebusiness/join;_ylc=X3oDMTJnZmkyNnRrBF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzExMTQwNDYyBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTAwNDM3NQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNzdG5ncwRzdGltZQMxMTkwMTI0Mjc4>Change > >settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) > >Change settings via email: > >< mailto:sustainablebusiness-digest@no.address?subject=Email > >Delivery: Digest>Switch delivery to Daily Digest > >| > >< mailto:sustainablebusiness-fullfeatured@no.address?subject=Change > >Delivery Format: Fully Featured>Switch to Fully Featured > >< http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sustainablebusiness;_ylc=X3oDMTJlbXRhY2x0BF9TAzk3NDc2NTkwBGdycElkAzExMTQwNDYyBGdycHNwSWQDMTcwNTAwNDM3NQRzZWMDZnRyBHNsawNocGYEc3RpbWUDMTE5MDEyNDI3OA-->Visit > >Your Group | > >< http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/>Yahoo! Groups > >Terms of Use | > >< mailto:sustainablebusiness-unsubscribe@no.address?subject=Unsubscribe>Unsubscribe > > > > > >__,_._,___ > > Gary Liss & Associates > 916-652-7850 > Fax: 916-652-0485 > www.garyliss.com > > > > == 4 of 4 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 2:09 pm > From: Dan Knapp > > > Bill Sheehan's response to the Coke initiative was indeed helpful. > His last question: > > Is it o.k. to declare a Zero Waste goal and then promote a marginal, > self-serving strategy? > > applies beyond Coca-Cola to the current situation of Canberra, > Australia, the original adopter of the zero-waste goal. There, a > government agency calling itself ACT-NoWaste has disrupted and > limited recycling businesses while presiding over a massive landfill > expansion and roundfiling a 1996 plan to build a zero waste transfer > facility on land it bought for the purpose. So far they're still > getting away with it, although ZWIA has decided to intervene on > behalf of Revolve, one of the affected recycling businesses. > Goodonya, ZWIA! > > Dan Knapp > Urban Ore, Inc. > > > On Sep 18, 2007, at 1:36 PM, Gary Liss wrote: > > > Bill, > > > > Thanks for your input on this. They were very helpful! For the > > record, I only was circulating what was published elsewhere. > > > > I also understand that Coca-Cola did NOT adopt a Zero Waste goal. > > Instead, they adopted > > a goal to recycle or reuse 100 percent of its plastic bottles in > > the U.S. The way Marc Gunther reported that was his view that this > > was a major step forward towards Zero Waste. But he was NOT > > suggesting that Coca-Cola is a Zero Waste company, nor have they > > adopted that goal. > > > > This is NOT diluting the brand of Zero Waste, just some positive > > actions and commitments by a major player in the field. We also > > clearly need to address the refillables issues with them to ensure > > that these positive actions do not undercut the higher priority of > > reuse. > > > > Gary > > > > At 07:03 AM 9/18/2007, Bill Sheehan wrote: > >> A couple of clarifications on Marc Gunther's article circulated by > >> Gary Liss that suggest prudence on hawking the Zero Waste brand > >> too cheaply. Coke is to be congratulated on committing to invest > >> in recycling more of its plastic, but calling that Zero Waste may > >> be premature. > >> > >> Gunther: "Zero waste ... won a powerful new supporter yesterday > >> in the Coca-Cola Co., which set a long-term goal of having every > >> bottle it sells in the U.S. recycled or reused." > >> > >> An article in Plastics News (August 31, by Mike Verespej) had a > >> more sober article with some interesting specifics. > >> > >> Plastics News: "In 2006 ... [Coca-Cola] introduced in the > >> Netherlands a light-weight, recyclable bottle containing 25 > >> percent recycled material that will replace the refillable plastic > >> bottles it previously sold in that market." > >> Is this Zero Waste? > >> > >> Gunther: "Coke's plastic bottles currently contain about 10% > >> recycled PET." > >> Plastics News: "Coca-Cola Enterprises, which bottles 19 percent > >> of Coca-Cola nonalcoholic beverages worldwide and is its largest > >> bottler, used recycled PET for 3.8 percent of its needs last year." > >> > >> Gunther: "The plant will open next year; it will produce about 100 > >> million pounds of food-grade recycled PET for reuse each year. > >> Plastics News: "In 2006 ... almost 4 billion pounds of PET > >> bottles were not recycled." [U.S., industry wide] > >> A long ways to go to Zero! > >> > >> And most importantly: > >> > >> Plastics News: "Coca-Cola also has invested $2 million" in > >> voluntary recycling programs, which it plans to promote > >> nationally. "Despite the need for more recycled materials, Coca- > >> Cola and PepsiCo Inc. have opposed bottle deposits." > >> Deposits have proven to be effective. Is it o.k. to declare a > >> Zero Waste goal and then promote a marginal, self-serving strategy? > >> > >> /Bill Sheehan > >> Product Policy Institute > >> > >> __._,_.___ > >> > >> Your email settings: Individual Email|Traditional > >> Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID required) > >> Change settings via email: Switch delivery to Daily Digest | > >> Switch to Fully Featured > >> Visit Your Group | Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use | Unsubscribe > >> > >> __,_._,___ > > Gary Liss & Associates > > 916-652-7850 > > Fax: 916-652-0485 > > www.garyliss.com > > > > > > > > > > ============================================================================== > TOPIC: Article on Zero Waste in CA, from Sri Lanka newspaper covering trip of > Jaime Lozano from City of Los Angeles > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/ef655e12fcd640ff?hl=en > ============================================================================== > > == 1 of 1 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 4:58 am > From: Gary Liss > > > Apologies for Cross-Postings - Please share with interested > colleagues. FYI, Jaime Lozano works for the City of Los Angeles, > Citywide Solid Resources Recycling Division (see contact info > below). He is also President of the South Bay Business Environmental > Coalition (www.sbbec.org) in the Los Angeles area, and a Boardmember > of the CA Resource Management Training Institute (www.crmti.org ). He > was recently invited to speak in Sri Lanka about solid waste, > resource management, and zero waste in CA. > > >From: "Jaime Lozano" <Jalozano1@no.address> > >Date: Mon, 17 Sep 2007 23:26:09 -0700 > > > >---------- > >From: Weerasekera, Chamalie [ mailto:WeerasekeraC@no.address] > >Sent: Monday, September 17, 2007 1:49 AM > >To: Jaime Lozano > >Subject: ARTICLE IN THE SUNDAY OBSERVER > > > >Jaime > >Give below is an article featureed in the Sunday Observer -- re your > >interview > >Regards > >Chamalie Weerasekera > >Cultural Affairs Specialist > >American Center > >Colombo, Sri Lanka > >Tel: (94) 11 249 8163 > >Fax:(94) 11 244 9070 > >EMail:weerasekerac@no.address > > > >< http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/09/09/imp02.asp>http://www.sundayobserver.lk/2007/09/09/imp02.asp > > > > > >Recycling trash: the best solid waste management > >by Shanika Sriyananda > > > >Picture (Metafile) > > > >Recycled items > > > >Picture (Metafile) > > > >Jaime A. Lozano > >When you are pointing your finger at somebody how many fingers are > >pointing back at you? Yes, it's a matter of fact to think seriously. > >There are three fingers of your own hand waiting impatiently to accuse you. > > > >You may accuse the others, may be the government, Ministry of > >Environment and Municipal Councils for not sorting out your > >household trash properly. Did you ever think that three other > >fingers are accusing you for not sorting out your own household > >trash and separate the things that can be re-cycled. > > > >This was the message given by Jaime A. Lozano, Environmental > >Specialist, Bureau of Sanitation, California who was in Sri Lanka to > >share the experiences in solid waste management systems in > >California, USA with the Sri Lankan authorities. > > > >"Everyone has to be part of the whole solid waste management > >programs. Every one should ask the question from him or herself, > >what did I do to re-cycle trash today", he said in an exclusive > >interview with the 'Sunday Observer' recently. > > > >The story of solid waste management in California, which generates > >thousands and thousands of tonnes of waste, did not turn to zero > >waste overnight. Strong commitment from the political leadership to > >the villagers through systematic educational and awareness programs > >implemented to give novel meaning to waste brought good results > >today. Waste or trash is not waste to the residents of California any more. > > > >Decades-long struggle to give a value to waste have now turned waste > >into profitable business ventures. California, which generates > >thousands tonnes of household and business waste daily, has been > >able to reduced waste by 25 per cent in 1995, then by 50 per cent in > >2000 and 60 percent now. > > > >The local authorities have given targets and if they fail they are > >liable to a fine of US$ 10,000 a day. > > > >The Californians pay taxes for their household waste. The small > >garbage bins are taxed less and saving waste will save more money. > >Most of the materials in waste bins end up in re-cycle bins. > > > >"In California we have been working with waste management since the > >early 70s. Since then lots of people are working on recycling and > >everybody was talking about recycling. Lots of programs were > >evolved. But people started asking, if I keep collecting and recycle > >waste no body wants to buy my products. > > > >Then they found something qualitywise was missing to some extent in > >the product. Then we created the market for these products and went > >for market development programs. We started realising that waste is > >becoming a commodity that something to be sold", Lozano said. > > > >According to Lozano, all these people should be made to come to a > >common understanding that we live in a limited planet and we do not > >get any more resources as they are limited. Meanwhile, we have to > >manage the resources that we already have. > > > >These resources are not in a store and cannot multiply. Therefore, > >we have to manage what we have. For this we first need to reduce and > >recycle. Before we reduce, we need to rethink, need to redesign and > >we need to reevaluate how we have to do things. > > > >We need to refuse and return material that has been made to handle > >in the wrong way and which are not beneficial to the planet. We all > >have to take initiatives to use the limited resources on the earth > >for the use of the next generation. > > > >It is important to think what we are going to leave for them, he > >said.In California, waste ended up in landfills but now the country > >has run out of land areas to continue dumping of waste. It costs > >lots of money to take waste to landfills and land is very expensive. > > > >These obstacles due to limited land resources, the Californian > >authorities were compelled to re-define waste . In the 1800 we had > >world's largest resources but after 1900 with population boom it had > >reduced greatly. Today we have realised that our resources are > >further shrinking and this is the phenomena around the world. All > >the countries are suffering from limited resources. > > > >"Then we started to use less energy to save water in effective ways > >as consumers. In California we have also realised that the resources > >are becoming more and more expensive. Especially the landfills are > >more expensive as they have already been filled with trash. > > > >So we thought, why not find other ways to deal the things that > >people call waste and lets make it a commodity? asked Lozano who > >called it as a successful saga. Like taking stuff from a magic box > >Lozano took out re-cycled products brought from California. > > > >"This pen is made out of recycled cardboard and plastic and wood in > >it recycled popsicle sticks. This is a key tag made out of corn > >starch, a ruler made out of saw dust. This pencil is made out of > >blue jeans (denim pants) and this is made using old currency notes > >which are old and torn. This is just a few out of many products in > >California," he said after exhibits his products. > > > >According to Lozano it is not difficult to find markets but just to > >create markets. For an example we have lots of plastics and we found > >out those who are interested in plastics. > > > >Then we find a company which is interested in. Then find somebody to > >wash, check and given us the stock in the quality which we need, he > >said adding that the state would help them to have a private public > >partnership through the recycling market development zones. > > > >We give them low interest loans to open up their shops. Where do we > >get money to do that ? We get that by adding small fees at the > >landfill. At the landfill every household has to pay. What we do is > >we add small fee into that and that money goes directly to the > >recycling market development zoneand they are available for low > >interest loans?, he said. > > > >Educating school children is the most successful step, according to > >Lozano, that a country can adopt to reduce waste and promote re-cycling. > > > >"The most powerful group is the school children and they will go any > >home and change the parents, educate the parents and make a > >sustainable change. We started programs where the teachers got > >involved. The children are given the training on re-cycling from > >small days. They are given assignments to understand how does > >landfill work. Ultimately they will influence their parents and also > >the neighbours to change their environment", he pointed out. > > > >Lozano said that Sri Lanka can get products from India, China and > >the USA and it is vital to implement programs to start businesses > >with trash. "You can consume them, collect them, manage it in a way > >where you give value added with change them so make them in another > >industry locally and make a new product, which generatesself > >employment", he added. > > > >According to Lozano, there are lots of opportunities for education > >and lots of people are very interesting and but Sri Lankans are not > >communicating with each other about the matter. > > > >"Solid waste management in Sri Lanka has a growth but I think that > >the educational experts and the government should get together to > >implement a workable program on solid waste management. There's lots > >of promise in Sri Lanka. If not, Sri Lanka is going to face many > >problems in future", he warned. > > > >< mailto:shanika@no.address>shanika@no.address > >************************* > Jaime A. Lozano > Environmental Specialist II > Department of Public Works > Bureau of Sanitation > Citywide Solid Resources Recycling Div. > 1149 South Broadway > 10th Floor, Mail Stop 944 > Los Angeles, CA 90015-2213 > (213) 485-3873 Fax (213) 485-3671 > > > > > > > > > > > Gary Liss & Associates > 916-652-7850 > Fax: 916-652-0485 > www.garyliss.com > > > > > ============================================================================== > TOPIC: FW: The latest on zero waste from NRC > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/browse_thread/thread/56657442f51dd4a8?hl=en > ============================================================================== > > == 1 of 1 == > Date: Tues, Sep 18 2007 7:08 am > From: "Bill Sheehan" > > > A couple of clarifications on Marc Gunther's article circulated by Gary Liss > that suggest prudence on hawking the Zero Waste brand too cheaply. Coke is > to be congratulated on committing to invest in recycling more of its > plastic, but calling that Zero Waste may be premature. > > Gunther: "Zero waste . won a powerful new supporter yesterday in the > Coca-Cola Co., which set a long-term goal of having every bottle it sells in > the U.S. recycled or reused." > > An article in Plastics News (August 31, by Mike Verespej) had a more sober > article with some interesting specifics. > > Plastics News: "In 2006 . [Coca-Cola] introduced in the Netherlands a > light-weight, recyclable bottle containing 25 percent recycled material that > will replace the refillable plastic bottles it previously sold in that > market." > Is this Zero Waste? > > Gunther: "Coke's plastic bottles currently contain about 10% recycled PET." > Plastics News: "Coca-Cola Enterprises, which bottles 19 percent of > Coca-Cola nonalcoholic beverages worldwide and is its largest bottler, used > recycled PET for 3.8 percent of its needs last year." > > Gunther: "The plant will open next year; it will produce about 100 million > pounds of food-grade recycled PET for reuse each year. > Plastics News: "In 2006 . almost 4 billion pounds of PET bottles were not > recycled." [U.S., industry wide] > A long ways to go to Zero! > > And most importantly: > > Plastics News: "Coca-Cola also has invested $2 million" in voluntary > recycling programs, which it plans to promote nationally. "Despite the need > for more recycled materials, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo Inc. have opposed bottle > deposits." > Deposits have proven to be effective. Is it o.k. to declare a Zero Waste > goal and then promote a marginal, self-serving strategy? > > /Bill Sheehan > Product Policy Institute > > > > > > > ============================================================================== > > You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "GreenYes" > group. > > To post to this group, send email to GreenYes@no.address or visit http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes?hl=en > > To unsubscribe from this group, send email to GreenYes-unsubscribe@no.address > > To change the way you get mail from this group, visit: > http://groups.google.com/group/GreenYes/subscribe?hl=en > > To report abuse, send email explaining the problem to abuse@no.address > > ============================================================================== > Google Groups: http://groups.google.com?hl=en > > ________________________________________________ Message sent using UebiMiau 2.7.9

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