 Bring reusable containers to take home food instead of single use boxes.
When I’m at a restaurant and I ask for a to go box for my meal, I always notice one thing. The to go boxes restaurants provide are almost always made out of Styrofoam, or occasionally single use plastic. According to the EPA, Americans trash approximately 25 billion Styrofoam cups and take-out containers every year. Now, everyone knows that Styrofoam is bad for the planet, but what many people don’t know is that unlike plastic, it never biodegrades. In addition, it’s made out of polystyrene which is a petroleum -based plastic that further contributes to overall pollution and climate change. The National Bureau of Standards Center for Fire Research has found 57 chemical byproducts released during the creation of Styrofoam. This not only pollutes our air, but our food and water systems as well. Materials from single use take out boxes end up in oceans and other waterways and are consumed by organisms that we eat. Polystyrene can be recycled, but fewer and fewer recycling facilities are accepting it. Although recycling is vital when making eco-friendly choices, it really is better to reduce than to recycle. Bringing a reusable box from your house is such an easy switch to reduce Styrofoam and single use plastic consumption. Once again, this is another example of how small actions from individuals can make lasting impacts. Source: Comments are closed.
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