I used to be upset about Bon Appétit’s frequent use of disposable plastic cups and containers, especially at Late Night. But, about a month ago, I looked at the bottom of my cup, and was surprised to find that it is compost-able!
Apparently there are “bioplastics” made mostly from corn starch and cellulose, that fully degrade into water, carbon dioxide and organic material when composted. Pretty cool.
So, while Bon Appétit’s plastic cups and containers are not recyclable through Middletown’s collection program, they are compost-able… so stick them in the compost buckets on your way out!
UPDATE: Oops! Apparently the plastics are compost-able, but not compost-able enough. Helpful comment, from Elisa:
We tested sticking them in the earth tub composters and boiling them and neither really did anything. We’d need a super, industrial shredder and a super, industrial compost facility to compost them! Sorry to bust the myth, but there it is. At least Bon Appetit is trying.
In other words, don’t stick the containers in the composting bins!
soylent green is, people!
soylent green is, people!
8:38 – sometimes it’s funny what a difference a comma can make.
8:38 – sometimes it’s funny what a difference a comma can make.
whatever who the fuck cares. compost smells like shit anyway, stop composting people
whatever who the fuck cares. compost smells like shit anyway, stop composting people
fuck bon appetit.
fuck bon appetit.
seconded, 5:15. still better than regular plastics and bon apetit is still deserving of praise for switching over to it.
seconded, 5:15. still better than regular plastics and bon apetit is still deserving of praise for switching over to it.
Yikes! OK, updated. Thanks for the tip!
Yikes! OK, updated. Thanks for the tip!
The cups etc. are compostable, but right now Wesleyan doesn’t have the facilities to compost this type of material. There are plans for them to be sent to a composter that can handle them next year – hopefully they will work out! Either way, this stuff is better for the environment than regular plastics.
The cups etc. are compostable, but right now Wesleyan doesn’t have the facilities to compost this type of material. There are plans for them to be sent to a composter that can handle them next year – hopefully they will work out! Either way, this stuff is better for the environment than regular plastics.
Yeah, as far as I know compostable plastics generally need special facilities to actually compost them, since they don’t degrade very easily.
Yeah, as far as I know compostable plastics generally need special facilities to actually compost them, since they don’t degrade very easily.
I’m afraid they are lying to you. We tested sticking them in the earth tub composters and boiling them and neither really did anything. We’d need a super, industrial shredder and a super, industrial compost facility to compost them! Sorry to bust the myth, but there it is. At least Bon Appetit is trying.
I’m afraid they are lying to you. We tested sticking them in the earth tub composters and boiling them and neither really did anything. We’d need a super, industrial shredder and a super, industrial compost facility to compost them! Sorry to bust the myth, but there it is. At least Bon Appetit is trying.