Dave, There are couple of

Dave,

There are couple of complexities to your question:

First, biodegradable disposables are a fantastic idea and are also a great opportunity to be a change agent and leader - if you can compost them. However, without this end-of-life process, throwing your biodegradables into the landfill does little more than add to the landfill and potentially create methane and other wastes - and it doesn't provide you with an opportunity to teach your customers, distinguish your brand, or other eco-business strategies. Check out the Biodegradable Products Institute http://www.bpiworld.org/Default.aspx?pageId=190439

Styrofoam on the other hand, is a similarly sticky subject. No one is going to argue about its versatility and its low, low price. But quite frankly, it's not a good choice for any environmental reason - primarily because it never breaks down, is light and therefore spreads in wind and water throughout ecosystems, including into a number of organisms where it's nasty, carcinogenic components like benzene can bioaccumulate. Styrofoam, or more precisely polystyrene, comes from non-renewable petroleum resources. It is completely man-made and because it does not exist in nature, there is no natural ecology that addresses the cradle-to-grave issues associated with it. In fact, while we know many of the dangers associated with producing and using Styrofoam, it is the unknown impacts of styrofoam that may be more threatening to ourselves and our future generations.

Lets not forget that polystyrene comes from petroleum - after the Exxon Valdez, the overseas wars, and the tragic Gulf of Mexico rig disaster, it is clear that socially and environmentally responsible businesses need to take a hard look at their purchasing policies toward petroleum products. After all, there are alternatives out there, and they are getting cheaper and cheaper - and will continue to do so if the market creates demand for them.

Key Polystyrene Problems
• Chemicals like styrene are considered carcinogenic in many places, and health impacts include lung, nervous, skin, eye, and tissue damage .
• Polystyrene promotes the throw away consumer ethic. Each year American throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam cups, enough every year to circle the earth 436 times
• Polystyrene can be recycled, but the resulting product is a very low grade plastic that has limited use and is neither cost nor material-property competitive compared to virgin polystyrene. Consequently, there is little or no market for recycled polystyrene, and most post-consumer polystyrene waste ends up in landfills where it breaks down very slowly, and tends to disperse via wind, water, and soil in poorly managed landfills.

There is a lot of industry-funded research out there, and different standards around the world, but are some resources that might help:

The Earth Resource Foundation Polystyrene Foam Report http://www.earthresource.org/campaigns/capp/capp-styrofoam.html

The Ecology Center http://www.ecologycenter.org/factsheets/plastichealtheffects.html, http://www.ejnet.org/plastics/index.html

US EPA http://www.epa.gov/ttn/atw/hlthef/styrene.html, International Agency for Research on Cancer http://monographs.iarc.fr/

International Labour Organization http://www.ilo.org/global/lang--en/index.htm

Oblerlin College http://www.oberlin.edu/recycle/facts.html#styrofoam

European Commission Science for Environment Policy Report 2006

So Dave what do you do? Here are some thoughts:
Investigate disposables that contain post-consumer content or are made from renewable materials and/or move towards a disposable, zero-waste situation. This way you are not going the petroleum route, but are encouraging and using products that stem from better environmental stewardship. Check out Eco-Products for example.

Also, see if you can work towards a relationship or partnership with your nearest composter - there may be a b2b solution that will get you towards a more zero-waste solution. http://www.findacomposter.com/home

Good luck!

Dave, I agree with the

rben

Partner, Greenway

Location: USA

Role: Designer

Dave,

I agree with the assessment of Mr./Ms. Anonymous above. The options, as you have stated them, exclude recycling. If you are interested in considering food service items that are constructed of natural fibers, e.g. sugarcane, sawgrass or bamboo, then you will automatically be offered new options. A great choice would be recycling your sugarcane/bamboo tableware with your corrugated/paper waste. Another option; the company with which I am currently working also offers a machine that can break down such fibers so they can safely be disposed of with your company's waste water. This machine is designed to be used in large institutions, such as hospitals.

You may contact me at rben@live.com to learn more.

Good luck,
Rich
Greenway

Incineration

DBHanna- I cannot tell you how pleased I am to see your post. While most of us 'greenies' are overly focused on compostability you hit the nail right on the head by identifying that your county incinerates. WTE (Waste to Energy) is a fast growing end-of-life option and a great one!

People often ask me, "What happens to your products when people put them into the recycling or trash bin?" I often reply, "They end up getting burned for energy."

You've already taken the proper first step by identifying 'where' your waste will end up. The next step, I'd suggest would be to determine what materials do best in WTE plants- i.e. which materials burn cleanest and more importantly (since the carbon is typically 'scrubbed' at all modern WTE plants) which give off the most energy.

I'd like to recommend our favorite eco-friendly material here but will refrain as this is no forum for me to promote products i'm involved with.

Again, I found your post very refreshing. I'd be happy to comment further and look forward to the many 'spirited' posts we'll see in response to this one!