| Yes, I know. Before all of you start yelling | | | | controlled by non-domestic companies. Paper |
| Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle, please understand | | | | goods are made from trees, a renewable |
| there are times when disposable items are the | | | | resource, and they will eventually biodegrade |
| only practical option. For example, how about | | | | without leaving toxic remnants. This potentially |
| when you ask for that doggie bag at your | | | | could be a sustainable industry, however, the |
| favorite restaurant? Suppose your folks are over | | | | Forest Stewardship Council reports that less than |
| for a summer BBQ? Or your company is planning | | | | 10% of the paper used worldwide is from |
| an event or conference? | | | | sustainable forests. |
| Most restaurants today provide Styrofoam® | | | | One of the newest sustainable alternatives are |
| to package your take out foods. In the United | | | | items manufactured from Polylactic Acid (PLA), a |
| States, the word styrofoam® is often used | | | | polymer derived from corn, also known as "corn |
| as a generic term for expanded polystyrene | | | | plastic". This material mimics clear plastic, yet does |
| foam, such as disposable coffee cups, coolers, or | | | | not biodegrade in a natural or landfill environment, |
| packaging material. These goods are typically | | | | but instead requires commercial composting, a |
| white and constructed of expanded polystyrene | | | | service not available in many areas. Other items, |
| beads, a petroleum product. Unrecycled | | | | including packing materials, are made from corn- |
| polystyrene, which does not biodegrade, is often | | | | or potato-starch. These begin degrading |
| abundant in the outdoor environment, particularly | | | | immediately upon contact with water. |
| along shores and waterways, and contributes to | | | | Another alternative is Bagasse. This byproduct of |
| solid waste pollution. According to the Wikipedia, | | | | sugar production resembles the appearance and |
| polystyrene can be recycled, a "6" under the | | | | properties of Styrofoam®. As with PLA, |
| familiar plastics numbering system. | | | | bagasse also biodegrades quickly in a commercial |
| Now, here's the kicker. Even though polystyrene | | | | composting facility yet also breaks down in a |
| carries a #6 recycling symbol, the actual process | | | | landfill environment within a reasonable time |
| required to recycle the material is often more | | | | frame. However, this presents its own set of |
| costly than initial manufacturing. So what does | | | | problems. Landfills are not designed for their |
| that mean? Even if you carefully place all | | | | contents to rapidly break down, and waste |
| recyclable Styrofoam® into the appropriate | | | | management managers are concerned about such |
| recycling bins, it will likely still end up in a landfill...for | | | | products creating "holes" in their fills after exactly |
| thousands of years. When it does finally break | | | | that occurs. |
| down into its lowest basic form, it remains a | | | | So what's the answer? Right now, there is no one |
| major pollutant for wildlife and water supplies. Is it | | | | solution. We will need to approach the sustainable |
| any wonder some cities are attempting to | | | | disposables issue from a variety of paths. Perhaps |
| eliminate it? Seattle is leading the charge by | | | | one can embrace bagasse for utensils and coffee |
| becoming the first US city on record to | | | | cups, PLA for clear plates and uninsulated glasses, |
| completely ban Styrofoam® products. | | | | and recycled/certified paper containers for take |
| What about typical clear plastic cups, utensils, or | | | | out purposes (Advantage: Cardboard containers |
| even paper goods? The clear plastic cups and | | | | don't dissolve in the microwave!). While this |
| utensils are still made from petroleum. Even | | | | remains non-ideal due to the shortage of |
| though some of these items can be recycled, | | | | composting facilities and valid concerns with corn |
| "contamination" by food products excludes them | | | | products raising food prices, it is in everyone's |
| from the process and diverts them to the landfills | | | | interest to start the transition away from the |
| anyway! Additionally, we are still supporting a | | | | damaging disposables so prevalent in our lives |
| non-sustainable industry...of which 80% is | | | | today. |