[GreenYes] GRRN ACTION ALERT - National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act

["Bill Sheehan" <zerowaste@grrn.org>]

TAKE ACTION TODAY

The National Beverage Producer Responsibility Act
of 2002 (S. 2220) was introduced by U.S. Senator
Jim Jeffords (I-VT) on Earth Day 2002. This is a new
kind of national bottle bill that puts responsibility for
recycling on beverage brand owners and consumers --
a model for other products and packaging as well:

*  Government sets the performance standard (80 percent
     recovery, the level achieved in most deposit states) and
     ensures compliance.
*  Industry designs an efficient deposit-return program to
     reach the standard.
*  Won't use taxpayer dollars -- will actually save taxpayers
     money.
*  Creates jobs.
*  Will reduce energy-related pollution that causes acid rain
     and global climate change.
*  Reduces litter and the burden on landfills.

CALL YOUR U.S. SENATORS TODAY at
1-202-224-3121 (or write) and ask them to:
Co-sponsor S. 2220 and attend Sen. Jeffords' Environment
and Public Works Committee hearing on July 11th, 2002.

WRITE SENATOR JEFFORDS TODAY at:
The Honorable James Jeffords, United States Senate,
Washington DC 20510.   Letters / testimony from
elected officials, business people and recyclers are
especially needed for the hearing record. 
Letters of support should be on letterhead and mailed 
or faxed to 1-202-224-1273, ATTN: Cameron Taylor.

ORGANIZATIONS:  Join our sign-on letter
(see separate email).

FOR MORE INFORMATION: bill text, summary, 
a sample letter, etc., are posted at
www.grrn.org/beverage/jeffords/

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TALKING POINTS

THE NATIONAL BEVERAGE PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY
ACT OF 2002:
* Requires the beverage industry to recover 80%
of their beverage containers sold.
* Won't use taxpayer dollars -- will actually
save taxpayers money.
* Creates jobs.
* Will reduce energy-related pollution that
causes acid rain, smog, and global climate
change.
* Reduces litter and the burden on landfills.

WON'T TAKE A PENNY OF TAXPAYERS DOLLARS--
WILL ACTUALLY SAVE TAXPAYER DOLLARS

* Throwaway beverage containers are a burden on
taxpayers. When deposits are required on
beverage containers, twice as many containers
are recycled.  Disposal, recycling and litter
pickup costs go down, saving taxpayer dollars.

WILL CREATE JOBS

* Iowa reports that 1,200 additional jobs have
been created through the creation of their
bottle bill.
* If every state had a deposit / return system
about 100,000 jobs could be created nationwide.

WILL INCREASE CONTAINER RECYCLING

* In 1999 more than 114,000,000,000 (114
billion) beverage containers were wasted -
landfilled, burned or littered. [Businesses and
Environmentalists Allied for Recycling]
* The 10 deposit states recycle more beverage
containers than the other 40 states together.
States with a 5-10 cent deposit recover 78% of
the beverage containers they target.

WILL SAVE AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF ENERGY

* Recycling aluminum saves 65% of the energy
required to make aluminum from virgin materials.
In fact, recycling just one aluminum can saves
enough energy to run a television for three
hours. [Aluminum Association]
* The energy saved from recycling one glass
bottle will operate a 100-watt light bulb for
over an hour.

SAVING ENERGY REDUCES ENERGY-RELATED AIR
POLLUTION

* Recycling decreases energy-related emissions
by decreasing the energy needed to make products
form virgin materials.  When aluminum cans are
recycled, 65% of the pollution is reduced.
* Recycling decreases energy-related emissions
of gases that cause smog, acid rain, and global
climate change.

WILL REDUCE LITTER AND REDUCE BURDEN ON
LANDFILLS

* Seven states reported a reduction of beverage
container litter ranging from 70 to 83 percent
after implementing a deposit / return system.
* Existing beverage container recycling programs
reduce landfill space by 20 million cubic yards
a year -- or enough to fill the Rose Bowl 25
times.

ENJOYS STRONG PUBLIC SUPPORT IN BOTTLE BILL
STATES

* States that have deposit / return systems
consistently report 70-80 percent approval for
the system, and their populations support engage
more in other forms of recycling.
Data from Container Recycling Institute except
where noted.

********************************
Bill Sheehan
Executive Director
GrassRoots Recycling Network
P.O. Box 6707, Athens, GA 30604-6707
Tel: 706-613-7121   Fax: 706-613-7123
Email: zerowaste@grrn.org 
Web:  www.grrn.org
********************************


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