Jane,

How about sending us a list of names and addresses of the key grocer association and grocery chain officials so that we can write them in opposition to their actions on the bottle bill?

Dennis
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: Jane Clark 
  To: [log in to unmask] 
  Sent: Friday, November 30, 2001 5:09 PM
  Subject: Response to Grocery Association


  Posted by Jane Clark

  Contact: Dewayne Johnson (515) 265-1596   FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

  Recycling Association Opposes Proposed Change to Bottle Bill

  DES MOINES - November 30, 2001 - Today's proposal by the Iowa Grocery
  Industry Association to replace Iowa's Bottle & Can Deposit Law (the Bottle
  Bill) with curbside-only collection would be a step backwards for recycling
  and for litter control in Iowa.

  "The grocers appear to have forgotten that the current law already allows
  grocery and convenience stores to designate redemption centers to handle
  bottles and cans for them," said Dewayne Johnson, Executive Director of the
  Iowa Recycling Association.  "They are claming that the bottle bill causes
  food safety problems. People are already skittish about anthrax, now is not
  the time to add to this country's problems.  It looks like a smokescreen to
  try to remove them from their environmental responsibility.  There has never
  been a health violation in an Iowa grocery store due to the bottle bill."

  Redemption centers have a similar opinion: "My employees handle bottles and
  cans all day, every day and have never been infected with e-coli or
  listeria."  Troy Willard, The Can Shed in Cedar Rapids.  "It they were
  right, we would be at far greater risk than a clerk who only handles bottles
  occasionally.  It's simply not a problem."

  The Bottle Bill works to keep Iowa recycling and keep Iowa clean.  Iowa
  recovers approximately 93% of the containers covered by the Bottle Bill.
  Comparatively, Nebraska (a non-bottle bill state) recycles only 26% of their
  bottles and cans through their curbside-only programs.

  Additionally, the bottle bill means economic development and better markets
  for recycled materials in Iowa.  Iowa recycling industries receive twice as
  much in payment for plastic bottles collected through the bottle bill as
  compared to Nebraska's curbside collection program because their bottles are
  contaminated with other plastics and then need to be separated.

  "The grocers said they plan to petition Iowans about their feelings on the
  issue, but I think we can save them the trouble. I've got 56,000 names and
  three governor's endorsements from last year's drive to expand the bottle
  bill and University of Northern Iowa conducted a poll that showed 86%
  support the bottle bill in it's current form.  I think we know how Iowans
  feel," said Johnson

  The Iowa Recycling Association is a non-profit organization with more than
  450 members statewide.  It provides a forum to learn about recycling and
  waste reduction issues.  Members include recycling organizations,
  businesses, government officials, non-profit organizations, and individual
  citizens.

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