Day 009 - 08 Jul 94 - Page 37
1
MISS STEEL: Pink V, yes, sorry.
2 A. Yes.
3 Q. Document No. 34?
A. Yes.
4
MISS STEEL: The last statement on that page: "Polystyrene
5 remains"?
A. Which page number?
6
Q. On page 668, the first page, the statement: "Polystyrene
7 remains inert and harmless and creates stable landfills
which can be converted into new areas such as parks".
8 I think you made a similar statement yesterday about --
well, other McDonald's leaflets have said that polystyrene
9 is safe and helpful in landfill because it does not
biodegrade and it creates air pockets.
10 A. What is your question?
11 Q. McDonald's has made those statements, has it not?
A. That is correct, and that is a fact, that polystyrene
12 is safe and very inert in a landfill. The position that
we take, based on the scientific evidence in landfill
13 technology, though -- it does not matter at this point in
time in the United States it really does not matter what
14 material you put into a landfill, because what research
has shown is that the way the landfills are designed
15 today, basically they are tombs, so whether it is
polystyrene which is not biodegradable or whether it is
16 paper. That in general with what I know today, it does
not really make much of a difference.
17
Q. Right, but when you say that is a good thing in landfill,
18 would you say that is a bit over the top?
A. No, because remember the times that I was referring to
19 earlier in the 80s: One of the big issues with landfills
before proper management was the fact that other
20 degradable products, such as paper, would leech chemicals
and other by-products into the ground water and into the
21 local communities. So it was a significant issue, but
more significant before the controls were put in place.
22
Q. Has McDonald's actually carried out any studies to find
23 out whether it is a good thing to have large quantities of
polystyrene foam buried in the ground?
24 A. Not to my knowledge. We are very aware -- there have
been landfill studies. In the United States there have
25 been studies were an archeologist has actually redug up
plant to examine what goes on in a landfill. We do have
26 access and have studied that information.
27 MR. JUSTICE BELL: Could you just help me with one thing: If
it is a tomb with a lining, that is an impervious lining,
28 is it?
A. It is meant to be, in general.
29
Q. What happens when it rains on it and the water runs
30 through grass and top soil, or whatever you put on top of
it?
