Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Green Garbage
Posted by Ian McNulty on Wed, Jan 21, 2009 at 8:58 PM
Gott Gourmet, reviewed in this week's issue, is one of a growing number of casual local cafes and coffee shops to use biodegradable food and drink containers. Here's how Gott Gourmet explains it:
"Say goodbye to the Styrofoam you have grown up using. We are proud to offer disposable products that will keep our earth smiling. Our compostable cups, lids and straws are made from a renewable source: US grown Corn! Want some soup to go? We send you home with it in a container made of both corn and paper. And best of all: Our biodegradable food containers, derived from sugarcane fibers, are stronger than Styrofoam and are better for the environment."
It seems like a worthy effort and noble step. But the question I'm always left with is what to do with these containers afterward. Should I bury them in the compost pile I don't yet have, or save them up for someone who does actively compost?
My feeling is most of these containers join their more conventional, plastic brethren in the trash can. If they end up in a landfill, does it make any difference that they are biodegradable, or is it just garbage unless it is composted?
Comments (4)
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And should we really be encouraging more non-food production of corn? And how much fossil fuel is required to make these?
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Eco Products of Boulder, CO markets compostable packaging that looks similar to that pictured. They have a FAQ entry for this very topic: http://www.ecoproducts.com/cms/resources/13.html If I throw PLA in the trash, will it biodegrade in a landfill? Most landfills are not designed to allow biodegrading of their contents. With that being said, PLA will react in landfills like other organic waste such as food. PLA is fully compostable in a commercial composting facility. In addition, PLA is made from a renewable resource – corn – instead of regular plastic that is made from oil.
Frolic, You raise good points. As a restaurant that uses these cups, I would argue that they are a step in the right direction. But, not the end all be all. They do at least stand a chance of breaking down, unlike conventional plastic which will be around for eons. And, I think if enough places do start using them, then there might be proof that a city wide composting program could succeed. I have already spoken with my city council member about instituting such a program. As far as fossil fuels go, if there was enough demand for this product, perhaps a company would consider manufacturing it locally. For example, bagasse is a product made from sugarcane that is used to make biodegradable disposables. But, even with as much sugar as we grow in LA, I have been unable to find a local supplier. I can only assume that is because the market is not there yet. But, that would be a big step towards reducing the oil that is used to transport the product.
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