PET in general use?

[Benjamin Barrett]

>From Simon Varnam:

http://www.change.org/petitions/save-the-grand-canyon-from-coca-cola-ban-plastic-bottles-in-the-park

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Plastic PET bottles pose a clear and present danger to the overall health of the environment and contribute to marine plastic pollution. Coca-Cola sponsors groups that conduct beach cleanup efforts but consistently opposes solutions that would reduce pollution in the first place, like bottle deposits and bottle bans.
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The page does not have a date, but it is no later than November 10 of this year.

Benjamin Barrett
Seattle, WA

On Nov 15, 2011, at 1:21 PM, Victor Steinbok wrote:

> Some drink-container-specific recycling bins--such as those installed at
> some schools, airports, etc.--are labeled "Glass, Aluminum, PET
> Bottles", or, possibly, a rearrangement that mentions both bottles and
> cans. Other bins just say "plastic", but that's problematic because not
> all numbered plastics are recyclable everywhere. According to Wiki, PET
> was patented in 1941 and PET bottle--in 1973.
>
>     VS-)
>
> On 11/15/2011 3:23 PM, Benjamin Barrett wrote:
>> I first heard petto botoru (PET bottle) about twenty years ago in Japan, =
>> referring to the bottles made out of polyethylene terephthalate. In =
>> Japan, hard plastic is called purasuchikku (plastic) and soft plastic =
>> such as used for bags is called =E3=83=93=E3=83=8B=E3=83=BC=E3=83=AB =
>> (vinyl); as neither word for "plastic" is appropriate for plastic =
>> bottles, it seems PET was adopted.=20
>>
>> When translating petto or PET to English, I therefore use "plastic."
>>
>> I was surprised last night to find "PET bottles" listed as contents on =
>> the side of a Mr. Beer beer crafting kit.=20
>>
>> I see that the word is used in community forums discussing their PET =
>> bottles:
>>
>> =
>> http://community.mrbeer.com/index.php?option=3Dcom_kunena&Itemid=3D124&fun=
>> c=3Dview&catid=3D8&id=3D186964
>> =
>> http://mrbeer.net/index.php?option=3Dcom_kunena&Itemid=3D124&func=3Dview&c=
>> atid=3D8&id=3D188179
>>
>> The OED has PET back to 1965, with another citation in 1991 (nothing on =
>> the AHD). The 1965 citation is chemical and the 1991 is garbage-related, =
>> so neither seem to be indicative of popular usage.=20
>>
>> I don't imagine people latching onto PET soon for plastic Coke bottles, =
>> but at least the beer-crafting segment of the population is becoming =
>> acquainted with the term.

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