A Montgomery County lawmaker is trying to save the planet, one government cafeteria at a time.
County Councilman George Leventhal plans to introduce a resolution on Tuesday aimed at eliminating the use of polystyrene, a plastic-like material used to make disposable plates, cups and other similar items, in county government cafeterias.
Though polystyrene can be recycled, it is not usually done because of food contamination and because the material is hard to transport to recycling facilities, according to the resolution. About 1 million tons of polystyrene dishes and utensils are thrown out in the United States every year.
Instead of using polystyrene, the cafeterias can use compostable, biodegradable plates — like those made of paper — or reusable trays, cups and silverware, according to the proposal.
“County residents, business, and government all need to be good stewards of the environment,” the resolution says. “County government should lead by example.”
