Day 061 - 05 Dec 94 - Page 28
1 German company or the Austrian company.
2
3 Q. So you do not know anything about what you have written
4 here?
5 A. Yes, I do. I know that these are facts as relate to
6 polystyrene and polyethylene in Germany.
7
8 Q. Right.
9 A. I know that they have insufficient landfills. I know
10 that the polystyrene foam is inert and not biodegradable.
11 So, yes, I do know what is written there.
12
13 Q. Right. Would you agree it appears to imply that the change
14 is going to be made to polyethylene because the public
15 perceive it will be environmentally beneficial?
16 A. I am not going to give an opinion. I do not know,
17 I have told you.
18
19 Q. What are you saying there?
20 A. I am saying I do not know.
21
22 Q. No, but what is your statement saying there? I am not sure
23 what are you saying.
24 A. "There is a public perception that the change will be
25 environmentally beneficial, although I am not aware of any
26 environmental reason why this is more beneficial" but there
27 is a perception -----
28
29 MR. JUSTICE BELL: I think you are at cross-purposes because
30 Ms. Steel is pointing out that you are saying that it is
31 likely that there will be a change to polyethylene in the
32 near future because of a public perception that such a
33 change would be environmentally beneficial?
34 A. There is a public perception, yes.
35
36 MS. STEEL: That is why the company is making the change?
37 A. Because of the public perception?
38
39 Q. Yes.
40 A. It appears so in Germany but, as I say, I am not
41 responsible for them. There may be other reasons.
42
43 Q. So, the company is taking action because of the public's
44 opinion and views?
45 A. Well, I think they are also taking action because they
46 are well aware there are insufficient landfills and they
47 are going to have pay taxes, a landfill tax.
48
49 Q. So it is mainly an economical thing again?
50 A. No, it is both. It is public perception and it is
51 landfill. There are two things there.
52
53 Q. Right, OK. Those are the two reasons?
54 A. They are the two that I am aware of. There may be
55 others but they are the two I am aware of.
56
57 MR. JUSTICE BELL: You do not know whether they amount to one
58 and the same thing?
59 A. They could, yes.
60
