Day 008 - 07 Jul 94 - Page 38
1 in time, in a moment.
A. I want to clarify my answer then, because our
2 customers did not -- we always had a hard time
communicating this to our customers. Because of the
3 general issue of CFCs, no matter -- we tried to
communicate our phase out, but because of still all the
4 other uses of CFCs, our customers did not have a firm
understanding of that in a general way. I thought that is
5 what your question was.
6 Q. You told us that the principal consideration, principal
reason, for the change was the concern about the
7 diminishing availability of landfill?
A. Correct. That was a major concern.
8
Q. Can I ask you just briefly about this -- it may not be
9 terribly important -- was it that the existing landfill
sites were, as it were, saturated, full?
10 A. Yes, they were being depleted. They were closing
down; there were no new ones being added on at that point
11 in time.
12 Q. In America, as in this country, do you need permission to
open a landfill site?
13 A. There have become very strict regulations for landfill
management.
14
Q. You told us that this is the principal reason for the
15 change from polystyrene foam to paper, yes? Concern about
decreasing landfill ---
16 A. Absolutely.
17 Q. -- availability? My question was, whether or not the fact
that polystyrene, or some of it, was blown by HCFC-22 had
18 anything to do with the decision to change?
A. Not our decision, no.
19
Q. No, not your decision?
20 A. No.
21 Q. That is what I am asking. I want to go back in time a
little bit, a few years. When did you -- this is in your
22 preMcDonald's days, your Perseco days -- personally first
become aware that CFCs were accused of contributing to
23 depletion of the ozone layer?
A. I remember reading about it in the mid 80s, while
24 I was employed in the distribution functions. I just
remember reading about the issue.
25
Q. Do you know when it was that McDonald's first decided to
26 phase out the use of CFCs, or persuade their suppliers to
do so?
27 A. Yes. We made that decision in August of 1987 and
preceding that, it was during the mid 80s, 1985, 1986,
28 1987, there was more and more scientific evidence that led
towards many to conclude in the scientific community that
29 CFCs were potentially an ozone depleting agent.
30 Q. What was the reason for that decision taken in August 1987
by McDonald's, do you know?
