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<br />_ _ _ 1 <br />~~ ~ ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: April 17, 2001 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. .5 - G <br />SUBJECT: Endorsement of Letters to Soft Drink Manufacturers Urging More Recycling of <br />Their Containers <br />DEPARTMENT: Solid Waste Management PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) NO No <br />ATTACHMENT(S): <br />Letter from GrassRoots Recycling .INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Network Describing the Campaign. Blair Pollock, Solid Waste Programs <br />Draft Letter to Soft Drink Companies Manager, 968-2800, x161 <br />Proposed Resolution Endorsing Grass <br />Roots Recycling Network Letters TELEPHONE NUMBERS: <br /> Hillsborough 732-8181 <br /> Chapel Hill 968501 <br /> Durham fi88-7331 <br /> Mebane 336-227-2031 <br />PURPOSE: To consider adopting a resolution that would endorse the campaign by the <br />GrassRoots Recycling Network to encourage increase container recycling on the part of the soft <br />drink manufacturers. <br />BACKGROUND: The markets for plastic PET (polyethylene terephthalate), used <br />predominantly in soft drink bottles, have been flat to declining in the past four years. With the <br />current economic downturn, the markets are likely to soften still further. At the same time, PET <br />bottles are increasing their market share of all containers at the expense of aluminum and <br />glass. Further, the amount of bottled beverages being consumed outside the home is <br />constantly increasing. These factors combine to lower recycling rates and decrease any <br />revenues that Orange County may receive from recycling. <br />If the major users of PET plastic bottles increased their recycled content, market prices for PET <br />scrap would be strengthened through increased demand for this plastic. If these companies <br />also invested mare in overall improvements to the recycling rate, which is falling for both cans <br />and plastic bottles, then they would be acting responsibly in the communities in which they sell <br />their products. Now their contributions to improving recycling are small. <br />Shareholder meetings for Coca Cola and Pepsi Cola are being held on April 18 and May 2, <br />respectively. The GrassRoots Recycling Network is leading an effort, supported by many solid <br />waste management professionals across the Triangle J Council of Governments region, to gain <br />endorsements for letters that would be presented to the companies' boards ofdirectors-asking <br />them to increase soft drink bottle recycled content. The proposed resolution drafted by staff <br />