Setting the Record Straight:
Plastic (PET) Soda Bottle Recycling
The Coca Cola Company published a document titled "Setting the Record Straight: PET Recycling" designed to "help associates to better understand this issue". The document is filled with misinformation about PET recycling in the U.S. and fails to acknowledge that the container deposit system or 'bottle bill' is the system that is collecting most of the PET soda bottles for recycling. In fact, the bottle bill is not even mentioned in the section "Where can I recycle my PET bottles?" The following questions were posed in Coke's document. Coke's answers are on the left. CRI's answers are on the right.
Are PET plastic bottles recyclable?

Coke's answerWe are currently using packaging containing Recycled PET in a number of U.S. markets, and we believe our use of recycled-content PET will expand over time. (NOTE: In April Coke announced that it will use 10% recycled content in 25% of its PET bottles.) CRI's answerYes, but in 1998 nearly 2 out of 3 PET soda bottles (15 billion) were NOT recycled. There are many companies that could have recycled those bottles into new bottles, or fibers for carpets and clothing and a variety of other products.
Where can I recycle my PET plastic bottles?

Coke's answerMore then 90% of the nation's 9,300 curbside programs accept PET bottles. A majority of dropoff systems collect PET. CRI's answerCurbside programs and dropoff centers are two ways to recycle PET bottles. Another way is through the bottle bill. Most of the PET soda bottles recycled in the U.S. are recovered through container deposit systems or bottle bills in ten states. (CA, CT, IA, OR, ME, MA, MI, NY, VT and DE)
Does Coca-Cola use
recycled PET in its soda bottles?

Coke's answerWe are currently using packaging containing Recycled PET in a number of U.S. markets, and we believe our use of recycled-content PET will expand over time. (NOTE: In April Coke announced that it will use 10% recycled content in 25% of its PET bottles.) CRI's answerIn April 2000 Coke announced that they would 10% recycled content in 25% of their plastic soda bottles. That amounts to 2.5% or a fraction of the 25% they used in 1993. In April 199, Steve Apotheker, editor of Plastics Recycling Update estimated that "adding 25% PET PCR would reduce Coke and Pepsi's profits by less than 0.5%."
What are PET bottles recycled into?

Coke's answerFiberfill, carpets, clothing, automotive parts and industrial strapping, sheet and film. CRI's answerThere are many products made from PET bottles. Millions of pounds of PET bottles are made into new plastic bottles each year.
Did Coca-Cola break a promise
to use recycled content PET?

Coke's answerNo. In 1991 they system introduced the first Plastic soft drink bottles with recycled content but was forced to stop after two years due to sustainability issues. We conducted a test and the results of that test were unsustainable. CRI's answerCoke 'pledged' in 1990 to use recycled content in their soda bottles. In 1994, they stopped using recycled content in their plastic bottles. Just one year earlier Coke introduced the 20-ounce plastic contour bottle that has proven to be an enormously profitable bottle for Coke and its bottlers.
How Does Coke support recycling?

Coke's answer•Recycled PET bottle research
•Buy products made with recycled content
•Sponsor America Recycles Day
•Sponsor Campus Recycling Series
•Support Keep America Beautiful
•Buy Recycled Business Alliance
•Sponsor CMC's Coastal Cleanup
•Display "Please Recycle" on company Containers
•Bottle makers are member of NAPCOR
•Sponsor of Upper Chattahoochee Riverkeepers
CRI's answerCoke has spent millions of dollars in their efforts to destroy the single most successful soft drink container recycling program in the nation - the bottle bill. Coke opposes new bottle bills and expansion of existing bottle bills and works to repeal bottle bills in Iowa, Oregon, Connecticut and Massachusetts, New York, Michigan and Columbia, Missouri.
Does the blue DASANI bottle harm recycling?

Coke's answerNo. Major recyclers confirmed no problems with DASANI blue and continue to confirm these facts. CRI's answerThe blue DASANI bottle is not a problem as long as it remains a small percentage of total PET collected. High quantities, however, could cause contamination of PET supplies.