[GreenYes] NEW PEPSI-COKE CHALLENGE LAUNCHED

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 2, 2002 

NEW PEPSI-COKE CHALLENGE LAUNCHED 
BY GRASSROOTS RECYCLING NETWORK

The GrassRoots Recycling Network 
(GRRN) takes their efforts on behalf 
of national deposit legislation to the 
U.S. Capitol next week.  They are 
supporting Senator Jim Jeffords' 
(I-VT) National Beverage Producer 
Responsibility Act, Senate Bill 2220.  
Jeffords has scheduled a recycling 
hearing on Thursday, July 11, at 
9:30 A.M. in Room 406 of the Senate 
Dirksen Office Building.

In anticipation of the hearing, GRRN 
is launching THE NEW PEPSI-COKE 
CHALLENGE in the nation's capitol, to 
find out which of the nation's two 
major beverage brand-owners actually 
does a better job of recycling.  THE 
NEW PEPSI-COKE CHALLENGE asks average 
citizens which company, Pepsi or Coke, 
is better for the environment.

GRRN will be conducting the test at 
different sites in the Washington, DC 
area.  One 25-foot Pepsi and one 25-
foot Coke bottle make it easy for DC 
area residents to notice THE NEW 
PEPSI-COKE CHALLENGE.  The wording on 
the banners on the Coke bottle says, 
"Tell Coke to Support S. 2220" and 
"Make Coke Take Responsibility - Stop 
the Waste."  The banner on the Pepsi 
bottle is the same except that the 
brand name Pepsi is used.

Residents will be asked a number of 
key questions and the results will be 
tabulated and distributed nationally.  
For example:

Which company has a solution for the 
114 billion beverage containers wasted 
every year in the U.S.?
   Pepsi____   Coke_____   Neither___

Which company has pledged its support 
for Senate Bill 2220, Senator 
Jeffords' National Beverage Producer 
Responsibility Act?
  Pepsi____   Coke_____   Neither___

Senate Bill 2220 sets a performance 
standard -- 80 percent container 
recovery -- which industry must meet, 
but the bill allows industry the 
freedom to design the most efficient 
deposit-return program to reach the 
standard.  Photos and more information 
are at www.grrn.org/media and 
www.grrn.org/beverage/jeffords .

The GrassRoots Recycling Network is a 
North American network of waste 
reduction activists and professionals 
promoting producer responsibility and 
Zero Waste as critical elements of a 
sustainable economy.

Contact: 
Bill Sheehan 706-613-7121

[Note-- the quiz will be on our web site tomorrow!]


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