As editor of The New York Times today editorialized on the topic of plastics recycling. The bottom line: the newspaper supports expanded bottle deposit laws.
The column starts with the hot-button issue of bottled water, arguing that "it is time to start thinking twice about drinking commercially bottled water." It cites the energy needed to manufacture and transport plastic bottles as an important reason. Plastic water bottles contribute to global warming and create a "huge recycling problem," the paper reports.
Of the mountain of individual plastic water bottles created by Americans each year — including enough to hold more than seven billion gallons of water — less than one-fourth are sent to the recycling industry for a second round.That makes absolutely no sense for the environment or for the economy.
The newspaper laments that only three states — California, Hawaii and Maine — put deposits on water bottles. "Passing new bottle laws or expanding old laws to include plastic bottles should be an easy call for most Legislatures. But the grocery and drink industry have been able to use their clout, and campaign funds, to keep that from happening. That needs to change."
I'm happy to see the editorial writer places the blame where it belongs. Many people in the plastics industry quietly support bottle deposits. But opposition from their customers -- grocers and soft drink companies -- has made it nearly impossible for state legislatures to pass new bottle bills.
Plastics News has editorially supported expanding deposit programs to more kinds of plastic bottles since 1997 -- and we've supported a national bottle bill even longer. It's a stance that hasn't been unanimously supported by all of our readers, but I think time has shown that it is the right position. Perhaps now that the NY Times has joined our bandwagon the march will pick up speed.
Comments (2)
It is time to start thinking twice about drinking commercially bottled water, so drink only boiled water and drink only sterilized water which is very good for your health. For more information about water bottles please visit the following site...
Water Bottles
Posted by Jackie | August 9, 2007 3:22 AM
Posted on August 9, 2007 03:22
The Container Recycling Institute, a small 501 c 3 non-profit research organization, was founded in 1991 to help communities, public policy makers and government officials understand the positive benefits that can be achieved using container deposits. These benefits include reduced litter (and the municipal costs of picking up and disposing of that litter) and unprecedented recycling rates - 66-70% in states with a five-cent deposit, 97% in Michigan with its ten-cent deposit. In additon to achieving unparalleled return rates, deposit systems keep these commodities in private hands - consumers, processors, end users - so the materials are never considered "trash." And since returnables are never comingled with other commodities, recyclable or otherwise, the deposit system provides a significantly cleaner product for processing that actually gets remanufacturing into something worthwhile. It's not collected curbside and then, because of contamination issues, relegated to some low-end use like landfill cover. And the costs are totally privatized, so the reliable supply of usable materials that manufacturers need to make intelligent business plans is not subject to the volatility of municipal budgets that other recycling programs rely on. Higher participation, higher quality, and no tax dollars - win, win, win. At CRI, we use industry-reported sales data to produce beverage market data analyses that help inform decision makers about how much material is being lost when it is not recycled. We understand that many in the plastics industry support deposit legislation quietly, but their business relationships with those that oppose such laws makes their open support difficult. Those supporters can help us get the word out by supporting our work, without compromising their customer relations. I would encourage you to visit our website for more information about us and our work -- and invite you to make an online donation to help spread the word about the positive benefits of deposits and "redemption recycling."
Betty McLaughlin
Executive Director
CONTAINER RECYCLING INSTITUTE
202-263-0999
Posted by Betty McLaughlin | August 10, 2007 9:25 AM
Posted on August 10, 2007 09:25