Styrofoam Carryout Containers Are A Problem
A study from the UK found that simply recycling disposable carryout containers could help reduce greenhouse gas emissions in an amount equivalent to those generated each year by 55,000 cars. Researchers from the University of Manchester found that Styrofoam containers have the least carbon foot print – three times lower than clear plastic ones. However, because they’re not recycled, these containers usually end up in landfills. The team estimated that by 2025, given the current rate of growth, disposable containers will likely exceed 2 billion units per year in the EU alone. Recycling half the Styrofoam containers now in use would cut their carbon footprint by a third in 2025, the investigation revealed, and reusing or recycling plastic containers five times would cut their carbon footprint below that of Styrofoam. Project leader professor Adisa Azapagic noted that consumers “can play a significant role in reducing the environmental impacts of food packaging by reusing food containers as long as possible.”
Source:
Alejandro Gallego-Schmid et al, “Environmental impacts of takeaway food containers.” Journal of Cleaner Production, February 2019, doi.org/10.1016/j.clepro.2018.11.220
Also in this week’s bulletin:
- Why Dancing Is Healthy for Women
- Good And Bad Migraine News
- This week’s recipe: Curried Salmon Soup
