Day 008 - 07 Jul 94 - Page 28
1 MR. RAMPTON: We notice in passing it is printed on recycled
paper. That is on page 133. We notice on page 135 -----
2
MR. JUSTICE BELL: Mr. Morris, the page you have, if I can
3 correct it, is 133.
4 MR. RAMPTON: We notice on page 135 that Mr. Kouchoukos was one
of those who contributed to the evidence given to this
5 task force?
A. That is correct.
6
Q. The executive summary starts at 136. It says this: "On
7 August 1st, 1990, the McDonald's Corporation and the
Environmental Defence Fund (EDF) joined forced in a unique
8 collaborative project. In this effort, the nation's
largest quick-service restaurant business and one of
9 America's leading environmental research and advocacy
organisations", pausing there, is that a correct
10 description, so far as you know, of the EDF?
A. Yes.
11
Q. " ... worked together to find ways to reduce McDonald's
12 solid waste through source reduction, reuse, recycling and
composting." So that we can get composting dealt with
13 now, Mr. Langert: What does it mean? We know what it
means in gardening terms in this country, but what does it
14 actually mean in these terms?
A. The same thing. It is taking organic material,
15 exposing it to the environment. It goes through a
natural, biological break down to its natural elements.
16
Q. Is it a useful tool in environmental terms?
17 A. I think very, very useful.
18 Q. How far has it got just now?
A. In the United States?
19
Q. Yes.
20 A. In the United States, I would put it in terms of being
still in its infancy stage. It is primarily targeted --
21 it has been in growth over the last five years,
particularly with yard waste. We had a significant
22 problem going back to the late 80s, one of the biggest
contributors to the landfill volume issue was yard waste,
23 grass clippings and weeds.
24 MR. JUSTICE BELL: "Yard" being the US word for "garden" or
"garden" being the English word for "yard"?
25 A. I did not know that. So, what happens was many states
banned yard waste from going into landfills. That spawned
26 the development of composting of yard waste. At the same
time there has been exploration of composting other
27 organic materials that are more difficult than yard waste,
but paper products, for example, like ours are organic and
28 can be composted.
29 MR. RAMPTON: Pause there. Could you compost -- you call it
compost but I will continue to use my language, if you do
30 not mind -- the sandwich wrapper which has poly ethylene
in the middle of it?
