LANSING – State Representative Marie Donigan (D-Royal Oak) announced on Monday that the cafeteria in the Cora B. Anderson House of Representatives Office Building has gone green, at her request, by replacing all polystyrene containers with recyclable ones.
"I am very pleased the State Plate III has become more environmentally friendly," Donigan said. "Many of us who work in downtown Lansing frequent the State Plate. By changing from polystyrene foam to easily recyclable takeout containers and plastic cups, our cafeteria is helping to make Michigan a little greener."
The State Plate III now offers takeout containers derived from sugarcane stalk fibers, and plastic cups and lids derived from corn. The products are completely biodegradable and under commercial composting conditions, such as a landfill, will compost in approximately 30 to 60 days.
Commonly used polystyrene foam is not easily recyclable because of its light weight and low scrap value and takes approximately 900 years to decompose. According to the California Coastal Commission, polystyrene foam is also a principal component of marine debris – human-created waste floating in lakes, oceans and other waterways.
In addition to many cities around the world, more than 20 U.S. cities have banned polystyrene food packaging, including San Francisco; Portland, Ore.; and Suffolk County, N.Y. Both the California and New York legislatures are considering bills that would effectively ban expanded polystyrene in all takeout packaging statewide.
"As my colleagues and I work to create good-paying jobs for our workers and move Michigan forward, it is important that we also find ways to go green and recycle," Donigan said. "As legislators many of us talk the talk, but now we will walk the walk too. It's a small effort, but the right thing to do for Michigan to protect our land, air and water."