Day 009 - 08 Jul 94 - Page 45


     
     1        is, could we take McDonald's waste and safely,
              appropriately incinerate the waste on site, and could we
     2        practically do it, could we financially do it and would it
              meet all the regulations by the law to do so?  So we did
     3        do a two store test for a short period of time.
 
     4   Q.   What was the result of that test?
              A.  The results showed that it really successfully
     5        answered the question of whether or not it met government
              regulations.  We monitored all the emissions and found
     6        that all emissions were safe and complied with federal
              regulations.  We discontinued the test because of the lack
     7        of practicality of really doing it in our restaurants.
 
     8   Q.   Is it not true that there was quite a bit of controversy
              about this, and that various campaigning groups and other
     9        organisations in the States said that pollutants were
              released when polystyrene and the other materials were
    10        being incinerated, and that McDonald's refused to make
              this study public?
    11        A.  Well, I am not aware of the specifics you are talking
              about.  I am aware that incineration back then, and still
    12        today -- it is probably more controversial today as a
              general issue than it was in 1987 and 1988 -- and that is
    13        why there has been absolutely no growth in incineration
              practices in the United States.
    14
              There is basically a public outcry against the growth of
    15        incineration.  The common belief is that it is not -- I am
              not sure whether it is really based on technical matters;
    16        it is more based on not having it in my backyard type
              thinking -- nobody wants an incinerator located near where
    17        they live.
 
    18   Q.   Why do you think that is?
              A.  It is not a nice site.  Aesthetically, it is not
    19        pleasing.
 
    20   Q.   And people might be concerned for their health as well?
              A.  There are those concerns of people about the emissions
    21        from incinerators, correct.
 
    22   Q.   Does McDonald's sell Sundaes in many of its outlets?
              A.  Yes.
    23
         Q.   And what are they usually sold in?
    24        A.  There is no one package that is used for that
              worldwide.  To my knowledge, we use either polystyrene,
    25        polystyrene container.  I know in some countries we use a
              paper board container and in other countries we use what 
    26        I would call a starch based material.  It is actually like 
              a cone, if you were to buy an ice cream cone.  It is a 
    27        cone material, edible.
 
    28   Q.   You mentioned that in your statement.  I was just
              wondering why you do not use edible waffle in all the
    29        countries that you serve Sundaes in?
              A.  It is something that I would like to see happen over
    30        time, and so we are working on it.  We are testing it.  In
              Germany, I personally like the idea that we are using that

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