Day 009 - 08 Jul 94 - Page 38
1 A. What happens in typical landfill management is a layer
of garbage is put on the landfill. At the end of the day,
2 they will line that. In some cases it is meant to be an
impervious plastic liner. Sometimes they use a
3 combination of that with soil, compacted soil, to try to
serve as a barrier. So that if it were to rain, it is
4 contained, it does not reach the garbage.
5 Q. So it is sealed on top as well as underneath and down the
sides?
6 A. Yes.
7 MISS STEEL: So McDonald's is maintaining its position that it
is a good thing to chuck lots of polystyrene foam into the
8 ground?
A. No, our position is that anything that we put into the
9 landfill we want to try to avoid putting anything into a
landfill. We feel that once it has reached a landfill,
10 that is the end, nothing is going to happen to it. We
want to minimise and prevent as much going to landfill as
11 possible.
12 Q. But you have only recycling projects in a handful of
stores?
13 A. For the post consumer, for the consuming packaging,
that is correct.
14
Q. What about the polystyrene that gets dropped as environment/index.html">litter?
15 It does not biodegrade, does it?
A. Polystyrene is inert and unbiodegradable.
16
Q. So if it gets dropped in the countryside or in a park, or
17 wherever, it is just going to sit there for ever?
A. In relative terms, yes, until it is picked up and put
18 away properly.
19 Q. Are you aware of studies that show that polystyrene clam
shells sometimes get eaten by wild life because they look
20 like food and have, sort of, remains of food on them?
A. That they eat food that is left in the -----
21
Q. No, they actually eat the clam shells themselves because,
22 to some species, they resemble food and, particularly,
when they are smeared with ketchup and other food remains?
23 A. I am not aware of that study. I am aware of studies
that have been done with plastics in ocean, waste plastic
24 is dumped into oceans, and I am aware of some issues
related to what sea wild life does digest. For instance,
25 the six hole plastic rings, I have seen pictures of them
being entangled in such matters, but the particulars you
26 are asking about, I am not familiar.
27 Q. Have you been aware of studies where it has been found
that certain animals have been found with so much
28 polystyrene in their stomachs that they have starved to
death?
29 A. I am not aware of that.
30 Q. Would it concern you if you had found that out, that your
polystyrene, some of your polystyrene, ends up as environment/index.html">litter
