Co.Exist

One of the most ubiquitous plastics, polyurethane, may have finally found its match thanks to a group of students working as part of Yale’s annual Rainforest Expedition and Laboratory. Teaming up with molecular biochemistry professor Scott Strobel, the group ventured to the jungles of Ecuador and brought back a fungus new to science with an insatiable appetite for plastic.

The fungi, Pestalotiopsis microspora, is the first anyone has found to survive on a steady diet of polyurethane alone. What's even more startling is its ability to perform extraordinarily in an anaerobic (oxygen-free) environment that is close to the condition at the bottom of a landfill.

Read more about this amazing discovery at Fastcoexist.com.

Image: PCWorld

Chicago Tribune

If you own a Keurig, or have had the pleasure of enjoying a warm cup of single-serve something from one, then you've likely wondered if the price of convenience is worth the environmental consequences of those speedy little capsules.

Turns out many people have opted for convenience: In the 12 months ending in November, nearly 46% of the money going toward the purchase of coffee or espresso makers went to single-serve machines, according to NPD Group, a market research firm.

Keurig confronts this disposable issue head-on, stating on its website: "As the single-cup coffee market and our Keurig brewing systems grow in popularity, we understand that the impact of the K-Cup portion pack waste stream is one of our most significant environmental challenges." However, the Wall Street Journal has reported that 9 billion cartridges have been sold. Keurig said it doesn't make that information public, but it did release that sales of K-Cups more than doubled in 2011 over 2010.

But before you ditch your convenient friend, read the full story here for methods of reusing keurig cups & more. While you're at it, don't forget to check out our reusable alternatives to disposable Keurig cups.

The Washington Examiner

Did you know about 34,000 cancer deaths a year are due to environmental pollutants?

Consider this: You wouldn't bathe in paint-thinner or intentionally breathe gas fumes for amusement, so it's important to recognize that small "everyday" doses of environmental toxins aren't OK either.

A new report on breast cancer and environmental toxins provides advice that can help individuals realize the potential risks certain chemicals have. Hormone-mimicking chemicals in cheap plastics, pesticides and elsewhere could be a problem if exposure exceeds a normal level. Yes, that means BPA, PVC and many others.

The most famous one, BPA, is linked to a protein found in up to 30 percent of women with breast cancer.

Wanna protect yourself? Check out the Washington Examiner's top 5 steps here.

Image: Ditchyourfridge

TriplePundit

Following in the footsteps of Hawaiian islands Maui and Kauai, the “Big Island� of Hawai’i is the third island in the chain to ban plastic bags. In December the Hawai’i County Council passed a bill banning the use of plastic bags while yesterday, Mayor Billy Kenoi signed the bill into law. Kenoi had the option to simply abstain and let the bill pass into law, but his signature adds political credibility to the growing movement.

A few businesses have misgivings, citing the extra cost of providing paper bags to customers, reports TriplePundit. However, with the elimination of plastic bags, businesses might consider charging 5 or 10 cents for each paper bag given (implementing a tax) as a means of encouraging shoppers to bring their own bags. The bill will take effect January 17, 2013, and businesses on the Big Island will still be able to give plastic bags for one additional year.

Our take: Here at reuseit, we don't believe Bag Bans are the Solution; however, we applaud The Big Island's efforts in the fight against single-use plastic bags. A few reuseit employees have visited Hawaii and seen firsthand the effects plastic and disposable debris have on the ocean and the state's beautiful beaches. Mahalo, Hawaii, for taking a stand!

Image: campaignforrecycling.org

Patch.com

According to officials, Howard County is "exploring the idea." 

Following the momentum created by Montgomery County — the first jurisdiction in the state to implement a bag tax, which went into effect Jan. 1 — state officials say they expect a movement to make the bag tax mandatory statewide, reports Patch.com. 

In Howard County, County Executive Ken Ulman has requested that environmental protection staff members research the idea of a bag tax and offer him options to consider, according to county spokesman Kevin Enright.

"At this time it’s safe to say we are exploring the idea, but certainly have no definitive answer on whether or not the executive supports a county or statewide tax for plastic bags," said Enright.

Montgomery’s bag tax precedes the bag tax enacted in Washington, D.C. that is in effect for businesses that sell food or alcohol, according to The Washington Post. Officials in Montgomery County said they will use a portion of the money generated by the bag tax to clean up waterways and fund storm water management programs.

Read the full article at Patch.com and check out what supporters and opponents of the ban are saying! Could this be the first statewide ban?

Image: Elizabeth Janney

Green American 

In the search for a more sustainable alternative to petrochemical-based plastic, or plastic made from petroleum, researchers and industry experts lift a magnifying glass to things like corn, sugar cane and soy beans. Although biomass-produced polymers made from renewable resources have been heralded, Green American suggests we shouldn't "ride off into the sunset with bioplastics just yet." Find out why.

The path of least impact is to use compostable bioplastics, particularly if you are able to compost them through a commercial composter, or through trial and error in your own compost pile.

A couple more tips to keep in mind:

• Look for products made from biomass, not a conventional plastic with biodegrading additives (e.g. BioGreen Bottles)
• Make sure it meets at least a SBC BioSpec Bronze level
• Verify it meets ASTM (D6400 or D6868) or EN 13432 standards of compostability or displays BPI’s Compostable Label or Cedar Grove Approved logo (European companies Vinçotte and Din Certco also have compost labels)
• Look for products made from as much biomass material as possible, preferably displays the USDA Certified Biobased Product label
• Purchase products made from GMO-free crops

Check out the Benefits and Pitfalls of Bio-plastics for more information on why Renewable Isn't Always Green and how to Recycle Bioplastics.

Image: Wild Green Yonder

TriplePundit

Could future city sky rises and parking structures be constructed by substituting hard-plastics (soda bottles and laundry soap containers) for concrete? New Jersey’s Axion International (AXIH) seems to think so! Converting plastic that lines streets and occupies landfills into a stronger and cheaper building material than even cement or steel, Axion claims that the product will not “rust, splinter, crumble, rot, absorb moisture or leach toxic chemicals into the environment.� Don't believe it? Check out this 26-by-15 foot bridge in Maine (picture), which serves as living proof!

A 2004 research paper estimated that up to 5 percent of the world’s global carbon dioxide emissions come from the production of cement. And while the world remains full of limestone, the key ingredient in concrete, we also happen to be up to our necks in an abundance of discarded single-use plastic bottles.

The supply chain of recycled plastics is not infinite, and although this might be a resourceful use of a material that presently exists today, could a promotion of its use have the potential to drive demand? Or must we seek change now and initiate sustainable building methods immediately by re-envisioning and altering the very foundation of our society? 

To read the full article, click here. For more information check out our Plastic Bottle Facts. 

Image: Meaduva, Creative Common License

KTVB.com

Retailers in Seattle will no longer be able to hand out free single-use, plastic carry-out bags due to an ordinance that aims to reduce pollution, free up landfill space and improve the environment. Passed on Monday and taking effect next July, the bag ban will require that stores charge a 5-cent "pass-through charge" for each recyclable paper bag a customer receives as an alternative to plastic.

Representatives of some of the area's largest grocery store chains support the new Seattle plan; however, as AP and KING5.com report, a cited upside to the ban includes the ability to "provide cheap reusable bags at checkout stands." Here at reuseit.com we applaud Seattle's efforts, but we firmly believe that you get what you pay for. Cheap reusable bags contribute equally to wasteful consumption. Check out our Myth:Cheap Reusables are a Good Thing for more information. 

Make the switch to high-quality, reusable shopping bags today and make a difference!

Check out the full article for more on Seattle's plastic bag ban.

Image: KING5.com and Associated Press

Care2

At first glance, bottled water seems pure; but in reality, nearly 40 percent of bottled water is tap water with added minerals or filtration. There's absolutely no guaranteed safety simply because it's surrounded by plastic.

Besides the environmental havoc use-and-toss plastic bottles create, chemicals like phthalate, used to soften plastics and make it less brittle, when heated (even from a hot day in the car) begin to leach into the contents of the bottle. Phthalates can cause reproductive difficulties, liver problems and increased risk of cancer. Surprisingly enough, phthalates are regulated in tap water, but the FDA maintains an exemption for bottled water. Check out these facts below.

• Municipal water is not permitted to contain E. coli or fecal coliform bacteria. FDA rules for bottled water include no such prohibitions.

• Municipal water from surface sources must be filtered and disinfected, or it must have strict pollution controls. There are no filtration or disinfection requirements for bottled water at the federal level. The only source-water protection, filtration or disinfection provisions for bottled water are delegated to the states, and many states have adopted no meaningful programs.

• Cities must have their water tested by government-certified labs. No certification requirement exists for bottlers.

• Municipal tap water must be tested for coliform bacteria 100 or more times a month. New York City takes 500,000 samples of its water per year. That’s nearly once a minute all year long. Bottled water plants only have to test once a week.

Read the full Care2 article here. Make the switch to a high-quality reusable bottle today! For more information, check out our Use-And-Toss Plastic Bottle Facts and 10 Simple Ways to Cut Down on Disposables.

Image: Care2

Asiancorrespondent.com

Since Hong Kong's 50 cent (US$0.06) plastic bag levy took effect in 2009, it has resulted in a 90 percent reduction in bags issued by the initial list of 3,000 retailers. However, while the levy has been heralded by many, loopholes still continue to exist. For instance, retailers who sell products that are not packaged when displayed on shelves are given leeway, such as bakeries. And unfortunately, an estimated 4.4 billion plastic bags were dumped at city landfills last year, including more than 316 million from bakeries and cake shops (7 per cent more than the previous year).

Luckily, in a move to significantly reduce that number, the government has outlined that approximately 60,000 retailers will soon be required to charge at least 50 cents for every plastic bag they distribute to customers. This will include not only conventional retailers like supermarkets and convenience stores, but also other service providers like hair salons and restaurants. Failure to comply the rule will result in a fixed penalty ticket.

Best way to avoid the consumption of plastic bags? Be it a bakery, convenience store, or hair salon, simply bring your own! Reuseit.com has many ultra-compact reusable bags that make toting one easy and convenient. Check out our wide selection of reusable shopping bags today.  

For more information, read the full article here.

Image: asiancorrespondent.com

China Daily

Beginning Dec. 1, food and beverage businesses in the Shaanxi province of China will no longer be allowed to distribute disposable wooden chopsticks. Citing deforestation and waste, Zhang Maizeng, vice-chairman of the standing committee of the provincial people's congress, hopes to conserve natural resources and maintain a reasonable rate of consumption for every family and person.

The operator of one small restaurant said more than 100 pairs of disposable chopsticks are used there every day. He likes the chopsticks because nobody ever has to wash them, which lowers his labor costs, reports China Daily. Despite controversy over sanitation and labor, Maizeng hopes businesses and individuals will follow suit, helping to eliminate unnecessary waste spent on disposables. 

Our take? Bring reusable chopsticks with you ever time you dine! That way you'll know they are clean, and you can help businesses avoid the extra cost of labor.  

Read the full article here. Replace disposables with high-quality reusables. Shop today at reuseit.com!

Image:China Daily