Staying "Green" at The River Tavern
These new containers from Greenwave take only 12 DAYS! to compost and take only 30 days in mixed garbage to biodegrate!
Some Facts on Disposables
970 thousand tons of paper cups and plates were discarded in 2003 (EPA). If, we approximate 15 grams weight for each cup or plate, we get 64 billion paper cups and plates being thrown away every year in USA.
730 thousand tons of Styrofoam and plastic plates and cups (710 thousand tons were Styrofoam) were disposed in 2003 (EPA). Using 10 grams weight for each cup or plate, we get 73 billion mostly Styrofoam cups and plates being thrown away every year in USA.
According to EPA statistics, a total of 3,810 thousand tons of plastic containers & bottles were thrown away in 2003. Using a generous number of 20 grams for each container, we get a number of 190 billion plastic containers & bottles being land filled or incinerated every year.
The above numbers do not include trash bags, grocery bags and other plastic materials like trays, utensils, clam shells, caps and other plastic packaging. A total of 8000 thousand tons of these items were discarded in 2003.
Why biocompostables?
Plastic and Styrofoam disposables made from petroleum based chemicals & additives. Petroleum is not only becoming an increasingly scarce resource, but it causes pollution and toxicity every step of its use - extraction, transportation (e.g. oil spills), refining and eventual production of the end use product. In addition the end use products made of Styrofoam and plastic do not degrade and persist in the environment for hundred of years, causing further pollution and toxicity.
Paper disposables on the other hand are made from "virgin" wood fiber, which comes from our steadily depleting forests. Forests provide invaluable ecosystem services in maintaining biodiversity, streams, regulating climate and rainfall etc. and it is quite amazing that even today forests are cut down to be made into disposable paper products with a lifetime use of few minutes or seconds.
Biodegradable and compostable food service and packaging disposables provide a sustainable alternative to the Styrofoam, plastic and paper products as they are made from readily renewable sources like sugarcane fiber, corn and potato, take less energy to manufacture, are not made from toxic or pollution causing sources and can be composted to reduce the amount of waste generated. They can also help reduce waste collection bills in counties and cities, which have a food waste/green waste pickup.
Rate of Biodegradability
Cotton Rags 1-5 months
Paper 2-5 months
Rope 3-14 months
Orange Peels 6 months
Wool Socks 1-5 years
Cigarette butts 1-12 years
Plastic coated paper cartons 5 years
Plastic bags 10-20 years
Leather shoes 25-40 years
Nylon fabric 30-40 years
Tin cans 50-100 years
Aluminum cans 80-100 years
Plastic 6-pack holder rings 450 years
Glass bottles 1 million years
Plastic bottles Never
Source: http://www.worldwise.com/biodegradable.html