the happy trashing of the Earth
I was watching a video of super-market chain "X," that quite explicitly admits they oppose any legislation that would put a price on the containers of sodas, beer and other containers. They would even put the money behind politicians who, they proudly say, are "business friendly." The reason is that it would add up to business costs...
The result is that trash is piling up across America at the same rate as pollution, while businesses merrily participate in the trashing of the Earth...
Activists push to widen scope of state bottle law
Drive calls for deposits on water, juice
By Gary Heinlein / Detroit News Lansing Bureau
Michigan environmentalists are ready for a major drive to slap a 10-cent deposit on drink containers not now covered by the state's 26-year-old bottle law.
Their pitch: It's time to expand the law to include 750 million empties from bottled water, juices and teas consumed by Michiganians each year and now piling up along roadsides or in landfills.
Few laws have been more popular than the current bottle deposit requirement, which cleared up litter along highways almost overnight. State residents redeem 95 percent of the more than 4 billion beer and soft drink bottles and cans purchased yearly. There's no reason to believe an expanded law would be any less successful, proponents argue.
"I'd pay an extra dime for a bottle of water if it helps with recycling," said 28-year-old Matthew Lee of Ferndale, a union electrician. "Our bottle return policy has worked very well for all these years, I believe, and has helped. Expanding it is an excellent idea."
Grocers and beverage distributors, however, say expanding the law will boost drink prices, add to their headache finding space for piles of empties and solve only a small part of the state's trash problem.
Gov. Jennifer Granholm favors the change. Senate Majority Leader Ken Sikkema is setting up a task force that will come up with recommendations for action by lawmakers no later than September. Michigan United Conservation Clubs, which spearheaded the campaign that won voter approval of the current bottle law in 1976, is again poised for action.
"We're more than willing to either take the lead on this or work with the Legislature," said Sam Washington, executive director of the 100,000-member conservation group. "What we don't want is for this to end up in a committee that takes the heat off (lawmakers) until it's all forgotten."
Washington said MUCC will launch a petition drive to put the issue on the ballot in 2004 or 2006 if lawmakers drag their feet.
The organization wants the bottle deposit law broadened enough to include not only containers for the various drinks that became popular after the current law was passed, but any new ones that come along later.
"The litter problem is back. Just slow down along the freeway sometime and take a look," Washington said. "Last summer, I got stopped on I-75 by an accident up north. I counted 18 assorted bottles in a 200-yard stretch I walked along while waiting."
Michigan is among 11 states with bottle deposit laws. Its 10-cent deposit is the highest. Deposit laws in Maine and Hawaii, however, are broader than Michigan's, including containers from some of the new drinks, as well as pop and beer.
Grocers and convenience store owners say they would have to dramatically increase their back-room space and hire more workers to sort the additional bottles and cans. Industry estimates suggest the number of returnables would increase by 20 percent. In addition, there is no recycling market for materials in some of the new containers, according to an industry coalition.
Linda Gobler, president of the Michigan Grocers Association, said major retailers such as Meijer and Farmer Jack already are struggling under the load of returnables they handle. Unsanitary used bottles and cans in storage areas tempt vermin, yet stores are under tough new regulations designed to protect the public from food contamination, she said.
"You'd be disgusted by what some people put in those used containers: cigarette butts, dead mice, condoms," Gobler said.
Michigan Soft Drink Association chief executive William Lobenherz said deposit laws have hidden costs that consumers pay at the cash register.
"The current deposit law costs about $180 million a year -- a pretty significant price tag to the public for getting rid of 2 percent of the municipal solid waste," Lobenherz said. Adding a 10-cent deposit to bottled water and noncarbonated drinks would add 8 cents to the cost of each container, while reducing solid waste by another one-half percent, he estimated.
Lee, of Ferndale, said his father strongly believes in recycling and he has picked up the same commitment. "We need to start now," he said. "I recycle everything I possibly can. Ferndale has a pretty decent program."
Senate Majority Leader Sikkema, R-Wyoming, said he wants his task force to look at the bottle deposit law in the broader context of Michigan's poor recycling practices. He hopes the the group will find ways for the state to bolster recycling efforts.
Michigan recycles only a quarter of its solid waste -- less than 27 other states, according to an industry group called the Michigan Recycling Partnership.
"The bottle law is widely supported, but deals with a small piece of what ought to be recycled in this state," Sikkema said. "I want to see what's done in other states that do a better job of recycling than we do."
http://www.detnews.com/2003/metro/0301/27/d01-68963.htm
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