“We are asking consumers to recycle their glass bottles and jars to help reduce the amount of recyclable materials entering landfills and help create a ‘greener' future,” says GPI president, Joseph Cattaneo. “We hope people make recycling all forms of packaging a habit this Earth Day and every day, because when we work together, we can save energy and our planet.” During Recycle Glass Week, GPI and its member companies will hold nationwide activities around glass recycling; provide consumers with information and opportunities to hold their own recycling events; virtually announce the winners of its 2009 Clear Choice Awards; and recognize “Friends of Glass,” those companies, organizations, and/or persons that recycle glass or promote the recycling of glass as one way to better the environment. More GPI and O-I Testify to Maryland Legislature on Beverage Container RecyclingLast month the Maryland legislature held hearings on House Bill 1306, requiring the majority of bars and restaurants to recycle their beverage containers and Senate Bill 530, which would require the state to study deposits on returnable beverage containers and issues relevant to setting up container deposit legislation. On behalf of the glass container industry, the GPI submitted testimony explaining the importance of sorted, high quality cullet for use in the manufacturing process, as well as the reduced greenhouse gas emissions that result when levels are high. O-I, the largest glass container manufacturer in the world, testified on SB 530, highlighting different avenues for recycling that assist the glass container industry's ability to better utilize what is collected in municipal programs. House Bill 1306 is similar to an existing North Carolina ABC permit holder recycling law, which has increased the annual tonnage of glass recycled in the state by approximately 40,000 tons and has a high bar/restaurant participation rate. O-I Testifies Before Congress on Climate Change
Prior to its release, Jack McMackin, O-I, presented testimony to both the House Ways and Means Committee and the House Energy and Commerce Committee.McMackin spoke on behalf of the Energy-Intensive Manufacturers' Working Group, whose member companies include the glass container industry. A focus of McMackin's testimony was the "leakage" issue, whereby energy-intensive manufacturing industries would face competitive disadvantages through the costs imposed by a cap and trade program, unless cost mitigation issues were addressed. As a remedy, testimony also highlighted an amendment, offered by Rep. Jay Inslee (D-WA) and Rep. Mike Doyle (D-PA), which seeks to allocate appropriate credits to energy-intensive industries, moving the emissions allocation scheme from historic to current output and by rewarding industries for carbon efficiency. Read testimony to House Energy and Commerce Committee and House Ways and Means Committee PACKAGING TRENDS A Look Inside: FEVE's "Friends of Glass" Campaign
New Online Tool to Evaluate “Green” PackagingThe Sustainable Packaging Coalition has unveiled an online tool for packaging professionals to evaluate the environmental impact of packaging designs.Called Comparative Packaging Assessment, or “COMPASS”, the tool rates packaging on a host of environmental indicators, including raw materials, greenhouse gas emissions, and solid waste generation. More about the software LEGISLATION EPA Proposes National Greenhouse Gas Emissions InventoryIn March, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency proposed the first comprehensive national system for reporting emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases produced by major sources in the U.S, which includes glass manufacturing facilities. All glass industry sectors, along with several members of the GPI Environmental Subcommittee, met with EPA officials to provide input on program reporting guidelines. Once finalized, this rule will likely directly link to future federal climate change legislation. The Obama Administration included an additional $19 million in the EPA's budget to ensure that a GHG inventory is completed, as it views this as a necessary first step prior to Congress enacting climate change legislation. Get proposal and dates for public hearings New York Expands Container Deposit Law
GLASS RECYCLING Study Shows Economic Value of RecyclingA study commissioned by the Northeast Recycling Council (NERC), a coalition of ten northeastern states, found that recycling and reuse in a five state region—Delaware, Maine, Massachusetts, New York, and Pennsylvania—was a $35 billion industry in 2007, employing in excess of 100,000 people at over 11,000 recycling and reuse businesses. Get the report, Recycling Economic Information Study Update Chicago Unveils Multi-Unit Recycling ToolkitThe City of Chicago, IL has released a new “Multi-Unit Residential Recycling Toolkit” which is posted on their web site. The Toolkit includes everything from vendor contact lists and recyclable collection worksheets to sample letter to residents, pledge cards, and posters. Also on the City's web site, check out the bar/restaurant recycling resources 1000 WORDS Make Room for More Glass BottlesWomen celebrate walk-in closets while men discover the perks of floor to ceiling shelf space...Watch the video
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House Energy and Commerce Committee Chair, Henry Waxman (D-CA), has released climate change draft legislation which seeks to reduce greenhouse gas emissions 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 and 83% by 2050.
GPI sat down with Dominique Tombeur, President of FEVE, the European Glass Packaging Federation, to talk about FEVE's new "Friends of Glass" campaign and "Choose Glass Week," which occurs in conjunction with GPI's Recycle Glass Week during the month of September, 2009. Dominique also provides a "look inside" consumer perceptions of glass in Europe, as well as what it will take to make glass recycling part of the consumer DNA.
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New York Governor David Patterson (D) recently signed into law as part of the state's budget an expansion of the container deposit law to include bottled water. This measure also raises the handling fee per container from 2 cents to 3.5 cents, and permits the beverage industry to reclaim 20% of the unredeemed deposits. The remaining 80% would be sent to the state's General Fund. Currently, unredeemed deposits are in excess of $100 million annually. The deposit on the bottled water containers takes effect June 1, 2009.
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