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16 May 01 - reusable cups; polystyrene; college reuse ** WASTE PREVENTION FORUM ** -- A project of the National Waste Prevention Coalition -------- Forum archive: http://www.reuses.com/nwpcarchive -------------------- The first four postings are in response to the 5/10/01 posting describing comments that were made by a sales representative for polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups, and asking if anyone has additional information on the environmental impact of these cups. -------------------- From Gina Hawkins, City of Gainesville, recycling program, Gainesville, FL: I've heard the same fuel and landfill arguments in favor of polystyrene (PS) over paper cups for many years now. In response, the case has been made by some paper cup producers that paper cups are from renewable energy sources, since wood waste is used to fuel paper plants, and therefore paper cups are the right choice. But this argument wears thin when you consider many trees are grown using fossil fuels for fertilizer. The main argument against PS cups originally was the presence of greenhouse-effect gases, CFCs. We have advocated paper cups when there is composting available and non-disposable cups are not an option. I have advocated "souvenir cups" that can be reused, but this is an expensive option for vendors. I haven't given up and hope these souvenir cups can be provided by event sponsors as a fund-raiser, since the success of this type of program is usually according to how it's "packaged," i.e. promoted. For example, at Oktoberfest events in Germany where people pay a $5 deposit for their steins. (I'll bet this is a great fund-raiser, too, since people probably wander off with the steins after too many beers...) Closer to home, the Kanapaha Botanical Garden, near Gainesville, FL, requires their beverage vendors to use paper cups (and paper straws, if any) at their Spring Garden Festival. Festival organizers compost nearly all of the waste from the festival on-site. This is only possible because pre-cycling, including source reduction, and recycling, are requirements for a vendor to participate in the current year's festival and subsequent festivals. As an aside, I was intrigued by a recent article on the benefits of incorporation of small amounts of polystyrene into compost. There are probably niches for permanent, PS, and paper cups, and some reliable information on the true cost of each of these options would be useful. However, these costs will vary since local conditions vary: If you have plenty of water and energy, and not many disposal options, those reusable cups will start looking better and better! E-Mail: hawkinsrm (A T) ci (D O T) gainesville (D O T) fl (D O T) us -------------------- From David Allaway, Oregon Department of Environmental Quality, Portland, OR: Dr. Richard Denison of The Alliance for Environmental Innovation published a paper in 1998 titled "Environmental Comparison of Reusable Ceramic Mugs vs. Disposable Cups Made from Polystyrene or Virgin Bleached Paperboard." His report suggests that the amount of energy used to manufacture polystyrene cups is only about 10 percent less than the amount of energy used to manufacture paper cups (not 16 times less, as the sales rep suggested). Material inputs are about 90 percent less than paper cups. Compared to paper cups, air emissions are less for polystyrene (around 10 - 50 percent less, depending on the pollutant), and water emissions are dramatically less for polystyrene. The report doesn't explicitly address the issue of pollutants from burning, but it wasn't clear (in the 5/10/01 posting) whether it was referring to controlled incineration, or rather back-yard/home burning, where the issues are different. The report is copywritten but I assume that it can be obtained from the Alliance for Environmental Innovation. Biodegradable cups have been used at a public amphitheater in Eugene, Oregon, for at least a year. I haven't seen much information comparing their environmental impacts to other disposable cup options. E-mail: ALLAWAY (D O T) David (A T) deq (D O T) state (D O T) or (D O T) us -------------------- From Kathy Stein, San Francisco bay area: That Styrofoam cups have less environmental impact than paper cups is news to me. I'd insist that the cup rep provide specific data to back up that statement. Yes, manufacturing paper cups requires energy and water and trees. But Styrofoam also requires energy. Styrofoam is made from benzene (a petroleum product and known carcinogen), and it is foamed using HCFCs, which (although less damaging to the ozone layer than the banned CFCs) are still damaging to the ozone layer. Also, the blowing agents used in the foaming process are not readily captured and recycled, so they're usually discharged into the air. Pentane, one of the most widely used blowing agents (in 1993, when I did a bit of research) contributes generously to urban smog and global warming. Styrofoam cups are utterly unbiodegradable, whereas paper cups can biodegrade under the right circumstances. What needs to happen is that the right circumstances for biodegrading need to be created at landfill facilities. I have a really hard time believing the claim that incinerated Styrofoam burns cleaner than paper. According to my old notes, recycling post-consumer polystyrene actually produces about 8 percent more air pollution emissions than manufacturing with virgin resins. The environmental impact of the energy used to manufacture paper cups depends entirely on where that energy came from. If it came from a solar collector or a wind turbine, then the impact is truly nominal. If it came from burning coal or oil, well, then the impact is considerably greater. Hope this is helpful. E-mail: Reuser2 (AT) aol (DOT) com -------------------- From Nicole Schellenberg Stewart, Washington County Public Health & Environment, Stillwater, MN: (Note from Tom: Nicole posted the original query that people are responding to above.) I have received numerous e-mails in response to my polystyrene posting (including the ones above, which I was cc'd on), and they have been very helpful. I am surprised at the 50/50 split on how "environmentally friendly" Styrofoam is or isn't. I am still partial to a paper cup or even a compostable cup and will be researching those options to see what will work best for our parks. E-mail: nicole ( D O T ) stewart ( A T ) co ( D O T ) washington ( D O T ) mn ( D O T ) us -------------------- From Michelle Portman, Department of Environmental Protection, Boston, MA, responding to the 5/10/01 item about the new DormOutfitter.com website, an electronic exchange (currently in a testing phase) for reusable items for students at the University of South Florida: I took a look at the Florida "DormOutfitter" website and think it's great. I'm wondering if there is anything comparable in Massachusetts (Boston area). I'm not a college student but will be moving very soon and I'd like to make some of my discards available to college students. There are certainly enough colleges around here. The rumor is one for every day of the year, just in the greater Boston area! E-mail: Michelle ( DOT ) Portman ( AT ) state ( DOT ) ma ( DOT ) us - end -