[GRRN] Miller's Plastic Beer Bottles - Another Update

RecycleWorlds (anderson@msn.fullfeed.com)
Fri, 14 May 1999 11:42:23 -0500


The 5/14/99 Milwaukee Sentinel newspaper has an article, "Miller
uncorks new plastic bottle tests/Environmentalists decry
difficulty in recycling," by Tom Daykin. The article seems to raise the
posssibility that Miller will be doing something in between stopping with
the current six test markets and certain sports stadiums, on the one hand,
and a full national rollout, on the other -- namely an expansion of the
test market areas. It may be -- and this is just conjecture -- that they
are really testing to ascertain how strong the reaction will be from
recyclers.

The article states, in part, as follows:
"Miller Brewing Co. plans to greatly expand its sales of beer
in plastic bottles --
a move that will likely bring opposition from environmental
groups.
Miller began test marketing its plastic bottles last fall in
six metropolitan areas,
and has since added three other areas. Miller also has since
test marketed plastic
bottles at several sports venues, including County Stadium.
Now, Miller is preparing to add another six to eight
metropolitan areas to its test
market, spokesman Scott Bussen said Thursday.
"We've had encouraging results," Bussen said. "We want to
continue to gauge
that."
Bussen said the expanded test marketing will help Miller
decide whether it
should sell beer in plastic bottles nationwide.
There are some signs that Miller is headed that way."

Because of copyright issues, I have only excerpted the article. Please
use your browser to tap into the full article at the paper's webpage for
your files at http://www.jsonline.com/bym/news/may99/0514miller.asp.

____________________________________
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