URG Says Feds Missed Opportunity To Keep Cash for Clunkers Program Green

/PRNewswire/ -- The United Recyclers Group (URG) says that the federal government is not doing enough to help promote the green aspects of the auto salvage industry and encourage the use of environmentally-friendly green auto parts. "Cash For Clunkers (C4C) created some much needed green awareness for consumers and momentum within the auto industry," says Michelle Alexander, executive director of the United Recyclers Group. "But a big opportunity was missed by the federal government when they all but abandoned C4C once the front end of the program involving the new car manufacturers and dealers was completed. The back half of the program is far greener than the front half, and yet the ball has been dropped when it comes to promoting the truly green aspects of C4C. We call on the federal government to change course and help us promote the use of affordable and green auto parts to American consumers."

C4C has also resulted in a number of unanticipated problems for the nation's auto salvage industry. With 690,000 cars sold during the brief run of the C4C (otherwise known as CARS) program, and an equal number traded in and scrapped, a 'tsunami of steel' has hit the industry. A number of unexpected delays by the federal government and a shortened run time for the CARS program have meant less processing time for recyclers. There are still serious issues, despite the recent announcement of a 90 day extension to the 180 day deadline (making 270 days total) for processing all of the scrapped C4C vehicles.

Alexander says, "URG has requested and continues to fully support a minimum six month extension of the CARS program processing deadline mandated by the National Highway Traffic Administration (NHTSA). We need at least a full year to do this job right. The recent 90 day extension is a step in the right direction, but it doesn't go far enough. Many of our members now have a one to two year inventory of automobiles waiting to be processed. There has been no help at all from the federal government promoting the use of green reusable auto parts. So with no increase in demand, we are simply looking at an increase in our costs, and it isn't reasonable or fair to auto recyclers. Auto recyclers are hardworking small businessmen and women, very much tied to their communities, and can be found in every congressional district in America. Just because they don't have the lobbying clout of the 'Big Three' in Washington doesn't mean their needs and concerns don't matter when new programs like C4C are created."

"Cash For Clunkers started as a billion dollar program that was going to run until November 1, 2009," says Greg Wilcox, co-owner and president of Midway Auto Parts (Kansas City, MO), and a URG Manager. "Six months to process the clunkers traded in made sense. But then congress tripled the size of the program, it all came and went in a matter of weeks, instead of months, and then NHTSA finally got around to a small adjustment, less than what anyone in this industry has asked for, of the processing deadline even as they tripled the size of the program. This oversight creates huge problems for the auto recycling industry, because there is no money to support our extra costs - such as more staff, more space, and more inventory carrying costs - incurred because we now have to meet an unrealistic deadline."

John Fischl, President of Riteway Auto Parts (Phoenix, AZ) and a URG manager says, "Cash for Clunkers was all about being green and stimulating the economy. All of those good intentions backfire when auto recycling, one of the nation's greenest industries, and this country's 13th largest, is impacted in a way that hurts our profitability and causes us to be less green as we scramble to meet an artificial deadline."

Fischl says, "These vehicles need more time in the system to produce the maximum green benefit for this country and the American consumer. I wonder how many decision makers who supported C4C understand that the really green thing we do is process vehicles and reclaim the green parts for reuse by consumers. This is what separates us from car crushers, who simply shred cars to recycle the metals. Millions of Americans benefit from the green auto parts we put into the marketplace every year. Doesn't that matter to anyone in Washington?"

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The Coca-Cola Company Introduces Innovative Bottle Made from Renewable, Recyclable, Plant-Based Plastic

(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company unveiled yesterdayge a new plastic bottle made partially from plants. The “PlantBottle™” is fully recyclable, has a lower reliance on a non-renewable resource, and reduces carbon emissions, compared with petroleum-based PET plastic bottles.

“The ‘PlantBottle™’ is a significant development in sustainable packaging innovation,” said Muhtar Kent, Chairman and CEO of The Coca-Cola Company. “It builds on our legacy of environmental ingenuity and sets the course for us to realize our vision to eventually introduce bottles made with materials that are 100 percent recyclable and renewable.”

Traditional PET bottles are made from petroleum, a non-renewable resource. The new bottle is made from a blend of petroleum-based materials and up to 30 percent plant-based materials.

“The Coca-Cola Company is a company with the power to transform the marketplace, and the introduction of the ‘PlantBottle™’ is yet another great example of their leadership on environmental issues,” said Carter Roberts, President and CEO of World Wildlife Fund, U.S. “We are pleased to be working with Coke to tackle sustainability issues and drive innovations like this through their supply chain, the broader industry and the world.”

The “PlantBottle™” is currently made through an innovative process that turns sugar cane and molasses, a by-product of sugar production, into a key component for PET plastic. Coca-Cola is also exploring the use of other plant materials for future generations of the “PlantBottle™.”

Manufacturing the new plastic bottle is more environmentally efficient as well. A life-cycle analysis conducted by Imperial College London indicates the “PlantBottle™” with 30 percent plant-base material reduces carbon emissions by up to 25 percent, compared with petroleum-based PET.

Another advantage to the “PlantBottle™” is that, unlike other plant-based plastics, it can be processed through existing manufacturing and recycling facilities without contaminating traditional PET. So, the material in the “PlantBottle™” can be used, recycled and reused again and again.

Coca-Cola North America will pilot the “PlantBottle™” with Dasani and sparkling brands in select markets later this year and with vitaminwater in 2010. The innovative bottles will be identified through on-package messages and in-store point of sale displays. Web-based communications will also highlight the bottles’ environmental benefits.

“The ‘PlantBottle™’ represents the next step in evolving our system toward the bottle of the future,” said Scott Vitters, Director of Sustainable Packaging of The Coca-Cola Company. “This innovation is a real win because it moves us closer to our vision of zero waste with a material that lessens our carbon footprint and is also recyclable.”

The Coca-Cola Company – the first company to introduce a beverage bottle made with recycled plastic – has been focused on ensuring the sustainability of its packaging for decades. It has put resources behind creating packaging that is recyclable and investing in recycling infrastructure to ensure that its packages are collected, recycled and re-used. Earlier this year, the Company opened the world’s largest plastic bottle-to-bottle recycling plant in Spartanburg, S.C. The plant will produce approximately 100 million pounds of recycled PET plastic for reuse each year – the equivalent of nearly 2 billion 20-ounce Coca-Cola bottles. These efforts are all focused on helping “close the loop” on packaging use and produce truly sustainable packages for consumers.

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U.S. Forest Service Strengthens Environmental Commitment Through Partnership With Call2Recycle

/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- U.S. Forest Service (USFS), an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the largest forestry research organization in the world, and Call2Recycle(R), the nation's most comprehensive rechargeable battery and cell phone recycling solution, have partnered to provide all USFS units, and by extension their local communities, a convenient way to recycle rechargeable batteries.

Call2Recycle collection boxes will be located in approximately 500 USFS offices, allowing staff and local community members to reduce their environmental footprint by properly disposing of their used rechargeable batteries and old cell phones.

"With its efforts to protect our national forest resources, the U.S. Forest Service is already a leading environmental steward and an example for other federal agencies," said Carl Smith, Chief Executive Officer, RBRC. "By joining Call2Recycle, the agency is bolstering its environmental platform and engaging local communities to do something simple to protect the environment."

Call2Recycle provides a convenient way to collect and recycle the used rechargeable batteries found in cordless electronic products, such as cell phones, digital cameras, laptop computers, cordless power tools, two-way radios, mp3 players, cordless phones, PDAs and camcorders. With the addition of the USFS to its participant roster, Call2Recycle adds to the more than 50,000 enrolled collection sites throughout the U.S. and Canada where rechargeable batteries and cell phones can be recycled.

"Partnering with Call2Recycle is a natural alignment, as both our organizations are committed to improving sustainable operations and protecting the environment," said Susan Alden Weingardt, Partnership Coordinator, USFS, Rocky Mountain Region. "We can always be doing more to lessen our environmental impact; Call2Recycle will help strengthen our environmental efforts at a grassroots level. Our mission has always been to care for the land and serve the community, and this partnership is an extension of that mission."

USFS was established in 1905 to provide technical and financial assistance to state and private forestry agencies. Headquartered in Washington, D.C., USFS operates throughout nine geographical regions of the U.S. and manages public lands in national forests and grasslands, encompassing 193 million acres.

For more information and local Call2Recycle collections sites, call toll-free 877-2-RECYCLE or visit www.call2recycle.org.

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