GreenYes Digest V98 #229

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Fri, 22 Jan 1999 17:25:43 -0500


GreenYes Digest Mon, 2 Nov 98 Volume 98 : Issue 229

Today's Topics:
Beer in PET Bottles
New Coke Campaign endorsements -Sunday, Nov. 1st
NRC affiliation

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Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 15:04:17 -0600
From: "RecycleWorlds" <anderson@msn.fullfeed.com>
Subject: Beer in PET Bottles

This is to provide further information with regard to late breaking events
surrounding beer in PET type bottles.

1. The Miller test market will not be in Charlotte, as I was previously
informed, but, according to a Miller press release on 10/30/98, in
Phoenix-Tucson, Norfolk, VA; Miami, Dallas-Fort Worth and San Antonio.

2. The AP wire story dateline Milwaukee quoted two industry experts with
opposing viewpoints about the likelihood of a successful consumer
acceptance. Craig Bystrynski, editor of BrewPub Magazine was quoted as
stating "I think it'll take a lot of marketing dollars to convince peopole
that plastic bottles are appropriate for beer." Jerry Steinman, publisher
of Beer Marketer's Insights was quoted saying "I think it's worth the
effort. If it works for them, everybody else will follow.

3. The Miller Lite and Icehouse brands will be sold in brown bottles, and
Miller Genuine Draft, in clear, again according to the same AP story.

4. We are led to believe that Miller's bottle is from a Continental PET
Technologies (a subsidiary of Owens-Brockway) design, information that was
confirmed by O-B. My contacts in O-B
did not know the details of the bottle composition, and a call to the key
person at Continental has not yet been returned. I am intending to ask the
nature of the desiccant and any carrier agent, as well as any barrier
layers, and, any other non-PET material in the bottle.

5. Another oxygen scavanging type PET beer bottle is about to be unveiled,
according to the 10/19/98 Packaging Management Update which reports that
Amoco will introduce Amosorb(R) 3000 PET bottle with oxygen scavanging for
beer and juice. Initial promotion in Germany will be for Bass Brewer's
Carling beer. The nature of the desiccant is not disclosed, but the nature
of the supplemental barrier property is: as expected the Amosorb(R) will
use EVOH. According to PET reclaimers that I have talked with, even though
EVOH was previously accepted as an oxygen barrier in a multilayer PET
ketchup bottles and as a substitute for PVC in the PP cap liner to retain a
seal, the use of the
ethylene vinyl alcohol for beer would not be processable. The reason is
that ketchup bottles are a insignificant fraction of the PET stream and the
EVOH cap liner is asperated or floated out with the residual amount being
insubstantial. On the other hand, PET bottles for beer, if they caught on,
would presumably be a very substantial fraction such that the EVOH would
not be lost. No information
is presently available as to how the bottle could be detected for proper
separation to avoid such problems, nor if it can be, how much that would
cost.

6. I have been unable to ascertain, as of this writing, whether Miller
undertook any efforts to consider recycling issues implicated by its new
bottle.
____________________________________
Peter Anderson
RecycleWorlds Consulting
4513 Vernon Blvd. Ste. 15
Madison, WI 53705-4964
Phone:(608) 231-1100/Fax: (608) 233-0011
E-mail:recycle@msn.fullfeed.com

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Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 21:30:00 -0500
From: "Bill Sheehan" <zerowaste@grrn.org>
Subject: New Coke Campaign endorsements -Sunday, Nov. 1st

[new endorsements for the Coke Take It Back Campaign -- Sunday, Nov. 1st]

**********************************************
Hi: I'm swamped and can't organize a protest, but do sign us on to the list
of groups who are concerned about Coke.
Judith Enck
Senior Environmental Associate
New York Public Interest Research Group
107 Washington Ave.
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: 518-436-0876
fax: 518-432-6178
**********************************************
Add the name Horace L. Morancie, Brooklyn, New York. President,
Trinidad and Tobago International to the list.
**********************************************
You can sign us on as either the Plactory or the Zero Waste Institute or
both.
Cheryl & Stephen Suess

************************
Bill Sheehan
Network Coordinator
GrassRoots Recycling Network
P.O. Box 49283
Athens GA 30604-9283
Tel: 706-613-7121
Fax: 706-613-7123
zerowaste@grrn.org
http://www.grrn.org
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Date: Sun, 1 Nov 1998 20:05:34 EST
From: STEVESUESS@aol.com
Subject: NRC affiliation

Hi Krista,

I think you will find that most of our members are not NRC members, and that
most of our members who are NRC members either don't really know why, or they
are old timers like Rick and Gary who started the thing and find it hard to
break old habits. To "force" all CRRA members to become NRC members would in
essence tell the public that on a national level all of us recycling promoters
agree with the policies of the NRC. I for one find the policies and "ways" of
the NRC so contrary to the promotion of recycling that I would NOT continue my
CRRA membership if I was forced to be a member of the NRC!

But to continue, you know that I am of the opinion that the CRRA is far more
progressive, but more importantly we are on a totally different track than the
NRC is... for this reason I think the CRRA should discontinue any kind of
relationship with the NRC - except perhaps on an adversarial level!

I have not followed all of the the details of the new NRC - ROC agreements,
but it seems to me that the NRC is not only trying to squeeze more money out
of the locals, but more importantly they are trying to become more dominant in
their relationships with us.... My paranoid self tells me this is a power
grab which will ultimately lead to the NRC being in total control of all
recycling politics in the United States! Where does this leave Zero Waste?
For that matter where does it leave those of us who support bottle bills, or
anything more than what is for that matter?
I recognize that it is a bit frightening for a state organization to drop out
of the NRC and so with this in mind I'd be curious what other state
organizations are thinking? Perhaps it is time for the more conservative
RMA's of America to go with the NRC and for the more progressive recycling
groups to get out and perhaps begin a new national organization that actually
wants to move things forward, and not just sit around and talk till hell
freezes over.

Stephen Suess
----------------------------

Krista Henkels wrote:
While the negotiations are FAR from over, I'm curious where the NRC stands
with the members of CRRA. Is there a need for a National Recycling
Coalition and are we willing to pay what it takes to sustain a national
organization that truly meets our needs? What are your needs?

I'd like to hear from you on this issue, I know many of you have very
definite opinions about the NRC and I'm gonna need your thoughts to be able
to represent CRRA well.

thanks much!
Krista Henkels
CRRA VP- Membership Chair & NRC Liasion

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End of GreenYes Digest V98 #229
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