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WSWC Column: Wine and Spirits Industry Forms New Group to Eradicate Litter

 Lawrence F. Cafero Jr.

Lawrence F. Cafero Jr.

By Lawrence F. Cafero Jr.

In June, wine and spirits companies and organizations throughout Connecticut announced the formation of Three Tiers for Connecticut, Inc. (Three Tiers), a not-for-profit, charitable, 501(c)3 organization, whose mission is to help eradicate land-based litter, particularly 50 ml “nip” bottles, and educate and promote to the public responsible disposal and recycling of their product containers for the benefit of Connecticut’s environment.

Three Tiers for Connecticut, Inc. has launched a five-year, three-step campaign which consists of collaboration with Live Green CT, a statewide environmental organization dedicated to land-based litter eradication by 2025.

As an industry working together to take the initiative and do our part in helping to eradicate land-based litter, especially 50 ml “nip” bottles, we are pleased to partner with Live Green CT on this very important mission that will benefit the environment and improve the quality of life for Connecticut residents.

Live Green CT is known for its successful community cleanups and is excited to work with the wine and spirits industry to take its mission to the next step. Three Tiers and Live Green CT are committed to conducting 20 community cleanups each year for the next five years.

Daphne Dixon, Executive Director of Live Green CT, said, “We are more than willing and able to take on this challenge and we appreciate the opportunity to partner with Three Tiers and join in their commitment to help make Connecticut a better and cleaner place to live.”

The goal is to start with cleanups in the New Haven and West Haven communities, followed by cleanups in the towns of Norwalk, Wallingford and Sprague.

In addition, Three Tiers is committing to purchase 100 trash or recycling bins each year of the campaign and, in collaboration with Connecticut’s Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP), place those bins throughout the state at the direction of DEEP. Lee Sawyer, DEEP spokesperson, said of the effort, “Nip bottles too often end up as litter, but that doesn’t need to be the case. We are hopeful that the program provided by Three Tiers will lead to meaningful reduction in litter, which is important to preserving the environment and quality of life in the state.”

Finally, Three Tiers will launch a five-year public service and public education campaign focused on litter eradication and responsible recycling, especially of wine and spirits containers. This part of the campaign will be known as “Nip it in the Bin,” in recognition of the increased litter caused by the irresponsible disposal of 50 ml alcohol containers known as “nips.”

The founding membership is as follows:

  • Supplier/Manufacturer Tier: Beam Suntory, Brown-Forman, Diageo, Pernod Ricard and Sazerac.
  • Wholesaler/Distributor Tier: Allan S. Goodman, Inc.; Brescome Barton; Connecticut Distributors, Inc.; Eder Brothers, Inc.; Hartley & Parker Limited, Inc.; Northeast Beverage; Opici Family Distributors; Slocum & Sons, Inc.; The Winebow Group; and Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc.
  • Retailer Tier: Connecticut Package Stores Association.

The organization officers are Lawrence F. Cafero, Jr., Three Tiers President and Treasurer, and Executive and General Counsel of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc.; A. Dwayne Kratt, Three Tiers Vice President, Senior Director of Government Affairs, Diageo North America; and Stephen Downes, Three Tiers Secretary and President, Connecticut Package Store Association.

Three Tiers’ membership is representative of all three tiers of the wine and spirits industry consisting of supplier/manufacturers, wholesaler/distributors and retail package stores. Three Tiers, through its members, has committed hundreds of thousands of dollars to the cause over the next five years.

For information on this combined effort, contact any of us listed and learn how to support these efforts statewide.

Find out more about any of these issues and the benefits of WSWC, at wswc.org.

Lawrence F. Cafero Jr. is Three Tiers President and Treasurer, and Executive and General Counsel of Wine & Spirits Wholesalers of Connecticut, Inc

 

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