They called on PepsiCo to stop opposing bottle bills or come up with an alternative that achieves comparable results. Wasting of beverage containers increased more than 50 percent since 1992. Growing reliance on single-serving throwaway packaging is the biggest problem, particularly plastic bottles. Bottle and can litter is a growing problem of special concern to Georgia environmentalist Bob Woodall. One-way, disposable containers used by PepsiCo are thrown on the streets of metro Atlanta, in parks, along highways, and on farmland and beaches.
Litter is one of the primary reasons for the passage of most bottle bill laws.
Whatever the final vote tally at today's shareholder meeting, we consider the debate a step forward. During the last 4 years, the GrassRoots Recycling Network led a campaign targeting Coca-Cola's bottle waste. Coke is finally starting to address the issue. The GrassRoots Recycling Network presented a letter to the PepsiCo Board of Directors signed by 98 public officials, government agencies, businesses, environmental organizations, student and community groups in support of the shareholder recycling proposal. A campaign spokesperson will be available following the PepsiCo shareholder vote to offer reaction.