RE: [GRRN] plastic vs aluminum

Kennedy Cheri L DLVA (KennedyCL@NSWC.NAVY.MIL)
Thu, 18 Nov 1999 10:28:31 -0500

I don't have any answers for you John, just wanted to echo what you said. I
work at a Navy Base and the Navy Exchange has been replacing all the
aluminum can dispensing machines with bottles. When I asked them if they
had performed any kind of environmental impact study before making this
decision, they looked at me like I was crazy.... And stated that it was
purely an economical decision. They said that their marketing folks had
determined they could make a bigger profit... unfortunately I do not yet
recycle plastic here because I still do not have a facility to operate out
of. (The Navy is downsizing, getting money for new programs is
laughable...) We collect paper products in closed top 40 cubic yd roll-offs
and haul 75 miles to the nearest buyer. We're very rural and there's no way
I could generate enough plastic to make the effort worthwhile. Boooooo.

*************************************************
Cheri L. Kennedy, CD287, Solid Waste Program Manager
Naval Surface Warfare Center, Dahlgren Division
17320 Dahlgren Rd, Dahlgren, VA 22448-5100
Phone: 540-653-2342 Fax: 540-653-2339
*************************************************

> -----Original Message-----
> From: John Lavery [SMTP:mgpn@mb.sympatico.ca]
> Sent: Friday, November 12, 1999 8:02 PM
> To: multiple recipients of
> Subject: [GRRN] plastic vs aluminum
>
> Hi, I know there has been a lot of discussion on this list about soft
> drink packaging - A large institution that I work with is reviewing a
> tender for 40 soft drink machines. At present these machines carry
> aluminum cans. There is a recycling program set up for these cans, and
> the institution receives some revenue from this recycling. The new
> tender wants to replace the machines with 600 ml plastic bottles.
> Recycling of these bottles will be cost neutral at best and may actually
>
> cost, because the bottles have to be shipped quite far (often to the US
> from Canada). Does anyone have any thoughts, or comments on this
> proposed change? Are there significant environmental impact differences
>
> between using the aluminum as opposed to the plastic? Any info you can
> provide would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Thanks,
>
> John
>
> --
> John Lavery
> Coordinator
> Manitoba Green Procurement Network Inc.
> c/o NA325 Environmental Protection
> Health Sciences Centre
> 820 Sherbrook Street
> Winnipeg, MB R3A 1R9
>
> (204) 787-2767 (phone)
> (204) 787-4854 (fax)
> (204) 793-4016 (cell - the best way to reach me!)
> mgpn@mb.sympatico.ca
>