Day 008 - 07 Jul 94 - Page 30
1 efforts we were making and they told us later that they
respected that and thought they could work with us,
2 correct. But in terms of knowing us beyond the public
image, they did not.
3
MR. RAMPTON: Then it says: "While the task force originally
4 intended only to recommend options for McDonald's to
consider, the six month process instead produced a
5 corporate Waste Reduction Policy and a comprehensive Waste
Reduction Action Plan, both of which are already in
6 effect", and that is April 1991, is it?
A. That is correct.
7
Q. Then we see the footnote in the report: "In this report
8 'waste reduction' refers to actions that reduce the
quantity or toxicity of solid waste requiring disposal in
9 landfills or incinerators. 'Source reduction' is
construed more narrowly, referring to measures that reduce
10 the weight, volume or toxicity of products and packaging
prior to their use". That is in effect, I think, what you
11 told us this morning?
A. Correct.
12
Q. If you cannot hear me, say so.
13 A. It was drying up a little bit.
14 Q. That, in effect, is what you said to us this morning about
source reduction, is it not?
15 A. Correct, and waste reduction is an umbrella term.
16 Q. Is what is printed here true? Was that policy and that
plan actually in place by April 1991?
17 A. Yes, it was developed during the partnership and
completed during that time.
18
Q. Is it true that, contrary to prediction, once the
19 partnership got going, it produced a good deal more than
had been expected of it at the beginning?
20 A. Yes, because what happened was rather than come up
with ideas and recommendations which was our plan at the
21 beginning, as we got into the meat and substance and
evaluated all the options, what we learned at McDonald's
22 is that we had several upon several opportunities to not
only reduce waste, but we saw how they fit into our
23 business in a very practical sense. We saw ways to
incorporate the environment even more in our business than
24 we had anticipated.
25 Q. Can I ask you this question: As one reads through this
document -- I am certainly not going to do that this
26 afternoon, Mr. Langert -- one finds that its tone is, what
shall I say, complimentary of or favourable to
27 McDonald's. Can I ask you who wrote it?
A. Well, we both wrote it. This is a joint. The "our"
28 refers to the Environmental Defence Fund and McDonald's.
This is a joint report signed, documented by both parties.
29
MR. JUSTICE BELL: But someone has to do a first draft, do they
30 not?
A. There is an interesting process to write this report.
