By Trevor Reichman
On Wa$ted, a family of eco-criminals used disposable cups in order to avoid washing reusable ones. No, they are not saving water because it takes a significantly greater amount of water to produce a new polystyrene cup than it does to wash a re-usable one.
Polystyrene emerged in the dark ages of convenience. Its residue will be around for many thousands of years.
While some progressive businesses have turned to compostable packaging, most still use Styrofoam or plastic when packing up your food purchase. Why? It is inexphttp://cm.howstuffworks.com/article-template.php?step2ensive, meets current health code, and businesses assume that their customers are OK with it.
One day this highly toxic material may be banned altogether, as it is in San Francisco. In the meantime you can ban it in your own life by simply refusing it at the counter. Asking the business if they offer compostable packaging may plant a seed of interest in the subject, so be prepared to answer a few questions about it.
The more people who walk away from the counter empty handed because of packaging policies will let businesses know that it really is truly important to their customers.
Let them know that until they offer acceptable packaging, you will support businesses that do. Say it with a smile.
Of course, bringing your own container will avoid this scenario all together. Unfortunately, some regional health codes will not allow the re-use of a personal container. Ugh!
