Ask Audubon

Reprinted from Audubon Newswire

"For an event where disposable plates and cups are the only practical choice, which is least damaging for the environment: paper, plastic, or Styrofoam?" --Submitted by Maggie S, Hopkinsville, KY

Unfortunately anything disposable is not good for the environment. I'll give you the lowdown on each of the products you mention to help you make your own choices. Determining the environmental impact of a product requires looking at the complete life cycle-manufacturing, use and disposal. Styrofoam is actually a type of plastic, which we'll talk about in a moment. Manufacturing either paper or plastic requires water and fossil fuels. Paper uses trees as well and is often bleached with chlorine, releasing the carcinogen dioxin in the air and water. Certain types of plastic, such as polyvinyl chloride (PVC), release dioxin as well. Recycled products, either paper or plastic, use fewer resources and are a better choice from a manufacturing point of view.

Styrofoam, also known as polystyrene, contains the toxic component styrene which can leach into food and beverages. Styrene is classified as a possible human carcinogen by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the International Agency for Research on Cancer. Over a dozen US cities such as Berkeley, Santa Monica, Portland, OR and Suffolk County, NY have legislation banning the use of polystyrene, which means restaurants and others in those areas have to use safer materials. Plastics are identified by a triangle enclosed number on the bottom of the product. Styrofoam, #6, and polyvinyl chloride (PVC), #3, should be avoided. The safer plastics to use are 1, 2, 4 and 5.

As far as disposal, plastic does not biodegrade. Scientists have varying predictions of how long a plastic item will remain in the environment and these estimates range from hundreds of years to forever. Discarded plastic tends to break into smaller particles, which are a threat to birds and other wildlife. Approximately 15 percent of the world's 280 species of sea birds are known to have eaten plastic in the form of pellets, bits of Styrofoam, or small toys.

Paper, on the other hand, does biodegrade within two to five months, but only in the presence of air and light. These conditions do not exist in a landfill, where most discarded paper ends up. If you have a compost (http://www.howtocompost.org/) in your backyard, or access to one in your neighborhood, you can put biodegradeable items in there to make sure they break down. But the best choice-is anything reusable.

It's definitely more work to have a picnic or children's party and wash plates afterwards, but you can toss them in a trash bag and bring them home to the dishwasher. The effort you make is another part of the gift you are giving to the children at the event as well as future generations to come-a cleaner, healthier environment.

Submit your questions about consumer choices and how they affect the environment to Cynthia Blayer at cblayer@audubon.org.