Re: [GreenYes] San Francisco Passes Resolution Calling Batter EPR Inadequate

[Michele Raymond <michele@raymond.com>]

Welcome to the Recycling Policy Bulletin from Raymond
Communications!
(http://www.raymond.com) 
This is a free service for those concerned about recycling policy
worldwide.

In this issue:
City Claims Battery Recycling Efforts 
Inadequate
New Batteries Report Released
Rumors of Packaging Directive Draft Circulate
Workshop Helps Packagers Comply with EPR Mandates
Sponsorship Opportunities

City Claims RBRC’s Battery Recycling Efforts
Inadequate

 

San Francisco has passed a resolution recommending new local
“producer responsibility” legislation for household batteries, claiming
industry has not collected enough volumes in its national recycling
program.

        

Battery makers charge they were left out of the decision loop and say the
Department of Environment is spreading misinformation about battery
toxicity to push legislation that is not needed because of existing
federal law.

The resolution urges all city departments to use rechargeable batteries
when feasible and nickel metal hydride (Ni-MH) batteries in place of
nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries. The resolution (005-01-COE) also calls
for new legislation to force industry to spend more money on public
education in San Francisco, require more battery chemistry labeling and
consider placing a deposit on Ni-Cd’s and non-rechargeable alkaline
batteries. It also urges the Department of Health to work with battery
makers to develop a better municipal collection program.

Industry, which is already spending about $7 million per year complying
with “EPR” legislation in nine states with a national collection and
public education campaign, is outraged not only at the resolution, but
also a city press release, which refers to “most” batteries as containing
“ toxic” heavy metals.

Norm England, head of the Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corp., estimates
only 7% of today’s portable batteries contain enough heavy metals to be
considered “hazardous” by EPA.  David Assman, deputy director of the
environment dept. in San Francisco, is concerned that most rechargeables
have heavy metals in them and all need to be recycled.

Mainly, Assman says RBRC’s efforts just have not been very successful in
his city. 

 “We looked at the numbers, and recycling is less than 1%,” Assman
told SRLU. 

RBRC apparently doesn’t calculate the recovery percentage rate anymore,
though it collected 3.8 million pounds of batteries in 2000, and this
year’s collections are 14% ahead of last year’s. RBRC does collect all
types of rechargeables in its national program.

(Full story in the current  State Recycling Laws Update this
week.)

Batteries Report Updated

More details on how the U.S. system works are in “Battery
Recovery Laws Worldwide,” the 2001 update, published this
week.   The report covers battery recycling laws in the U.S.
and 24 countries.  The new version has more details on most
countries covered. It includes a detailed worldwide reference table, and
a regular appendix with about 19 new documents providing details on
industry positions, and background on battery chemistries.  The
title is available on CD, (hard-copy on request) and can be ordered with
an optional appendix that includes the full text of major international
battery recovery laws--nearly 50 documents in all.

For more information on “Battery Recovery Laws Worldwide,” go to
http://www.raymond.com
. To order, go to the SUBSCRIBE page and click on the fax order form, or call 301-345-4237.  A summary of the report is on the Special Reports page. The title will be available online on pay-per-view in late July.

Rumors of Packaging Directive Amendments Circulate

A 60% recycling goal for packaging waste by 2006 is expected to be proposed by the European Commission in the long-awaited revisions to the 1994 packaging directive. The Environment Directorate showed its plans to a committee of experts from member states in June.

 Differentiated targets are expected for specific materials as well, such as a 60% paper and paperboard rate, 50% for metals, 70% for glass and 20% for plastics. The proposal is in reaction to the completion of a study on recycling economics by consultants RDC, which recommended a prime recycling rate between 50 and 68%. The target of the 1994 directive is between 25 and 45% – a goal reached by all member states. A new draft is expected at the end of summer.

Workshop to Help Packagers 
Comply with Recycling Laws Worldwide

        

California’s Integrated Waste Management Board is moving against 200 manufacturers this summer for failing to use recycled content in their plastic containers.  Meanwhile, the European Commission is likely to introduce a new draft directive requiring a new recycling target of 60% for packaging – no incineration.

Packagers that find the patchwork of “takeback” mandates worldwide too confusing to cope with can get help Sept. 13, right after Pack Expo in Las Vegas. “Global Packaging Mandates: How to Design for Environment and Save Money” is a unique workshop organized by Recycling Laws International publisher Raymond Communications (http://www.raymond.com), and co-sponsored by Packaging World Magazine (http://www.packworld.com).

The one-day workshop, to be held at the Hampton Tropicana Inn, will provide guidance to comply with the complex  “takeback” laws now on the books in 30 countries around the world.  In addition, it will cover how to comply with California’s recycled content mandate on rigid plastic containers.

“We’ve found only a small percentage of companies affected by these laws even follow recycling issues,” says organizer Michele Raymond. She notes the U.K., Germany, Luxembourg, and soon some of the Nordic countries have or will take action against companies that do not join the appropriate recycling collection organizations in Europe.
“If your distributor has not asked you for packaging data, then you should be worried,” explains instructor Victor Bell, a 20-year veteran of recycling and packaging compliance issues.  Bell will provide practical guidance, for beginners and others, through the basics of what’s required in California, Europe and Asia. Moreover, he will provide tips on how to design your packaging to minimize collection fees in Europe.

In addition, Jerry Claes from Graham Packaging, world’s largest consumer of recycled plastic resins for containers, will address how and when to use recycled plastic in your bottles.  Robert DeNola from Web Packaging will provide insights on how to design your compliant packaging on the web to save time and money throughout the production chain.

This is part of the “Take It Back!” series of international conferences and workshops originated by Raymond. Workshop registration includes a manual with packaging compliance details for 22 countries and bonus CD material.

Raymond Communications publishes Recycling Laws International and State Recycling Laws Update, which are now also available on the web for subscribers. 

Information: Call 301-345-4237 or go to http://www/raymond.com/conference/index.html
Fax: 301-345-4768; michele@raymond.com

Sponsorships Available

Sponsorships for this free E-zine are now available.  We reach thousands of manufacturing executives, compliance managers, packaging managers, government managers, and others concerned about recycling policy issues. Please call the publisher for further information at 301-345-4237.

Michele Raymond
Publisher
Recycling Laws International/ State Recycling Laws Update
5111 Berwyn Rd. Ste 115 College Park, MD 20740)
301/345-4237   Fax 345-4768
http://www.raymond.com