Palo Alto Joins the Ban Against Non-Recyclable Materials

This Spring, Palo Alto joined the list of more than 30 cities and counties in California who are making good on their efforts toward reducing their greenhouse gas emissions by enacting partial or comprehensive bans on polystyrene (PS) foam and/or non-recyclable disposable foodservice containers. Around the same time, a California statewide ban on the use of PS containers was tabled before reaching the State Assembly floor. Representative Jerry Hill, one of AB 1358’s sponsors, pulled the bill due to concerns addressed in the Appropriations committee hearing of the bill, regarding the fiscal impacts which were not addressed in bill’s contents.

There are the unquantifiable and “hidden” costs of contaminating our bodies and environment which would far surpass the fiscal impact on the plastics, restaurants and consumer industries. Studies published by the Foundation for Advancements in Science and Education have indicated that varying levels of styrene residues are present in 100% of all human fat tissue in the United States, as PS products are found to lose weight after in contact with hot or fatty/acidic foods and liquids, causing migration of the styrene into the food or fluid, ending up in the human body. On the high end, the levels were “one third of levels known to cause neurotoxic symptoms”. In the environment, PS is rarely recycled and does not biodegrade.

Supporting safer alternatives to polystyrene, in addition to the collection infrastructure and processing mechanisms for the compostable and recyclable products would help create more green jobs in the long run and would be a move in the right direction away from unnecessary harm to our health, our communities and our world. Keep your eyes open for a revised version of AB 1358 in Spring 2010!

For more information about polystyrene visit Earth Resource.

For a partial energy, emissions and water analysis of polystyrene and its alternatives visit our website.

World Centric Compostable Hot Cup Lid

World Centric is pleased to announce we now offer a fully compostable hot cup lid that fits our 10oz, 12oz, 16oz, and 20oz paper hot cups.

The lids can be ordered in cases of 1000 or packs of 100.

For more information or to order, please visit our website.

This Month We’d Like to Applaud Project Open Hand

San Francisco's non-profit organization that prepares and delivers food to seniors, people living with HIV and homebound critically-ill residents. For nearly 25-years Project Open Hand has been providing “meals with love” to local residents in need of help and care in California’s San Francisco and Alameda counties.

Programs include meals, groceries and nutrition information as well as education and referral programs for all of the people served. A staff dietitian also visits several sites per week to speak with seniors and critically ill local residents about the importance of eating well and staying healthy.

Project Open Hand continues to serve nearly 800,000 annually and has served as a model for over 100 organizations across the United States and the world.

If you are interested in making a donation, please visit Project Open Hand.