Archives: Rules

In 1999, Atherton, California passed an ordinance that requires all construction, renovation and demolition projects to divert fifty percent of waste from landfills (Section 15.52.040). Within the city, all buildings slated for demolition are made available for deconstruction (Section 15.52.030). Also, permits for construction or demolition require a deposit of $50 per ton of waste to be generated (Section 15.52.060), to be returned once the job and related resource recovery are complete.… Read More

The Canadian province of Prince Edward Island (pop. 136,000), pursuant to the Litter Control Regulations under the Environment Protection Act, all flavoured carbonated beverages must be sold in refillable bottles. banned non-refillable soft drink bottles in 1977, and soft drink cans in 1984. The island’s government decided that in addition to preventing litter on the beautiful resort island and avoiding the use of plastics, the ban would preserve a local bottling business and the associated jobs. The island also had a local glass recycling plant but no local aluminum recycling plant.… Read More

Refillable beverage containers are generally considered environmentally preferable to one-way containers – containers designed for a single use. Yet, for decades, their use has dwindled in the United States, to the point where refillables make up 5 to 7% of beer and soft drink containers. At the same time, American drink producers have maintained or re- introduced refillable containers in Europe and elsewhere. Many Canadian provinces promote refillables too. All beer and soft drinks produced in Prince Edward Island, for instance, are in refillable glass bottles.… Read More

A 2002 report on beverage container recycling suggests that we can double recovery of beverage containers – and save money at the same time. These are the findings of Understanding Beverage Container Recycling: A Value Chain Assessment, a study carried out under the watchful eyes of both beverage industry and environmental representatives.

Thisground-breaking study is the first accomplishment of the Multi-Stakeholder Recovery Project (MSRP), a project of Businesses and Environmentalists Allied for Recycling (BEAR). BEAR works under Global Green USA to pursue a ‘fact-based approach to public policy making’ in order to break through the traditional impasse between supporters and opponents of so-called ‘bottle bills.’… Read More

In 1998 San Francisco County adopted an ordinance aimed at reducing conflicts and adverse impacts in coastal waters. Central to the ordinance is the restriction of the use of personal watercraft, more commonly known as jet-skis. Under the law jet skis are banned within 1200 feet of the entire shoreline of San Francisco County – known as a "special use area"- including the east part of Angel Island and all of Alcatraz and Treasure Islands. An "access corridor" allows jet skis to launch from the public boat ramp and travel out to Bay waters beyond the specialuse area. The ordinance also includes a provision which allows citizens to file a private nuisance suit if harassed by jet ski activity.… Read More

The first limits on personal watercraft came in 1996, when Washington state’s San Juan County moved to ban their use in and around the San Juan Islands. The ban was challenged by the watercraft industry, who feared such bans could become contagious. The ban was overruled by a lower court in the fall of1996, but county officials, encouraged by jet-ski critics nationwide, took the issue to the Washington Supreme Court. The local ban was upheld in July 1998 in a 7-2 decision (see decision John Weden II et al. vs. San Juan County et al)… Read More