Styrofoam Ban Still In The Works

The styrofoam ban date is approaching rapidly (Jan. 1), and it looks like it's really going to happen. Yesterday, the City of Seattle held an open house to help educate the restaurant industry about recyclable and compostable alternatives. Some of the options: "wheat-based clamshells" and "corn-based plastic cups." We noticed last week that Taco Del Mar has switched to recyclable plastic bags for take-out. The bags are translucent, with green ink and a large "recycle" symbol. Have you seen any other restaurants changing their materials yet?

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By Katelyn in News on December 11, 2008 1:30 PM

Comments [rss]

bilco

Not so quick, silverstar - those bags are only recyclable if they're in virgin condition. No del Mar sauce allowed!

Silverstar

Not only are Taco del Mar's bags recyclable, their dishes are now, too. But being the greenie I am, I take my own container for them to fill.

Troy Morris

Seriously, Seattle's view on plastic is annoying. I just don't recycle any plastic because it's too damn complicated. Oops, I mean "simple"

ChrisB

Not a restaurant, but the cafeteria where I work has made the switch to all bio-degradable plastics for utensils and the like. It's great and all, but it's frustrating to watch the tines on your fork start to warp and bend halfway through a salad.

bilco

Our stupid recycling system really needs to get its act together. After going through all the work to get the plastics industry to agree on standardized recycling symbols, Seattle decided they weren't good enough. If that's the case, why is TdM using plastic bags with the big recycling emblem - to add to the confusion.

Instead, we have a 'simplified' system, that means I need to look at their documentation anytime a novel piece of plastic comes my way. Seattle explicitly says 'ignore the recycling symbols'. WTF?

We're supposed to make repeated judgments about whether a plastic butter tub is different than a margarine tub is different than a yogurt tub. All 'dairy tubs', no? To a non-specialist, these can seem like very different materials. Is yogurt really dairy? And by the way, the plastic you can recycle at home is different that the plastic you can recycle at a transfer station:

http://www.ci.seattle.wa.us/util/Services/Recycling/Recyclable_Items/PLASTIC_2003120207594611.asp

Yep, transfer stations take FEWER items than home pickup.

On the other hand, some of these containers sound tastier than the food inside.