Wax-coated Cardboard & Aluminum Soapbox

[da]

Walking back from lunch at the University Plaza, elbie_at_trig & I counted about half a dozen Tim Hortons cups and at least that many pop cans.

Now, I know the Tims cups have a wax/plastic lining, so recycling probably isn't cost effective (though I seem to remember that some western municipality, perhaps Vancouver(?) found the political will to recycle them anyhow). But can anybody explain why there isn't an aluminum can deposit in Ontario?

[Concerning Tims cups: I wonder how many people realize that the year-round discount for using one's own mug is considerably higher than the 1:9 odds of winning a free coffee or doughnut during the "Roll Up the Rim" month. That is, my mug rings in at "medium" but it's 20 oz. ...so, something like 2/3 a free medium in each cup. All things considered, I'd prefer they keep their empty cup, and I'll keep my mug.]

Comments

[da-lj.livejournal.com]

I'll be. Even the environmentalist web-magazine "Grist" approves of foam cups.

http://www.grist.org/advice/ask/2003/02/06/umbra-styrofoam/index.html

Should you avoid [Expanded Polystyrene] EPS? There is some debate in the environmental community about whether EPS is an ecologically good or bad product choice. Because it is derived from petroleum, it is not a renewable resource, and it is completely non-biodegradable. Industry advocates consider this a selling point, as EPS will not leach any nasty chemicals into landfill. Solid-waste experts are still unclear as to whether it is better to use products made from paper or EPS; if I uncover any decisive literature in the future, I'll let you know immediately.

But I couldn't find stats there on total energy costs of reusables versus disposables. (I'm lazy, they're lazy, etc).

Bats, thanks for your research by the way- I did appreciate that. :)