University of Montana and MontPIRG in the News...

This article was originally published in the Montana Kaimin (April 30, 2003)

MontPIRG ponders use of biodegradable 'clam shells'
By KATIE ASCHIM for the Montana Kaimin

Students who get food to go from the Food Zoo and other campus dining venues havent been able to use anything but styrofoam to box up their meals.

MontPIRG and University Dining Services may soon be teaming up to change that.

Since its introduction last spring, Dining Services Zoo to Go takeout program has been wildly popular.

Between 145 and 200 students take advantage of the service at every meal, said Nastasia Shannon, a senior in French and sociology who works at the Food Zoo.

Students are taking out more than chicken strips with those meals. The clam shell styrofoam containers that hold the food and the plastic-coated paper cups may pose a threat to the environment.

Styrofoam and plastic-coated paper are often used in food service because of their excellent insulating qualities, but their advantages may be outweighed by their potential to pollute.

Plastic-coated paper products cannot be recycled, nor can any paper products that come into contact with food, according to information that Dining Services gave the Kaimin. While styrofoam products are 100 percent recyclable, many are not recycled, and they are filling landfills at a rapid rate.

MontPIRG recently began looking into alternative takeout containers, MontPIRG board member Jessica Laferriere said. They discovered Bio-Corp, a company that makes products from cellulose.

Its essentially cornstarch, MontPIRG Director Mo Essen said.

Among the sample products Bio-Corp sent to MontPIRG are trash bags, drink cups and clam shell containers.

MontPIRG displayed samples of the products in the UC atrium during Earth Day festivities last week.

The products look and feel like plastic and are sturdy, Laferriere said. Unlike plastic, however, the products decompose in 30 to 60 days, depending on climate and location.

It might take a little longer here because of the dry climate, Laferriere said.

MontPIRG has not looked at any alternative providers, Essen said.

Laferriere said she is currently working with the company to determine which products the University would need and how much it would cost.

MontPIRG hopes that eventually the products can be used as fuel for Dining Services newly implemented composting project, Laferriere said.

A school in California uses Bio-Corp products and composts its wastes, and they save about $6,000 a year in waste disposal she added.

And thats just a small elementary school, Laferriere said.

The project will take at least a year or longer to implement, Essen said.

Factors that need to be addressed include cost and which products the University will use.

Laferriere said she hopes to meet with Dining Services after getting more information on available products and cost from Bio-Corp.

Were still in the preliminary stages of this project, and its been pushed to the side a little by other things like the reaffirmation drive, Laferriere said.

Dining Services Director Marc LoParco said that MontPIRG had not contacted him about the alternative products but that he was enthusiastic about the idea. Dining Services used to buy similar products years ago, he said, but the company that sold them went out of business.

If theyve got a product and source, well be all over that, LoParco said.

LoParco said the products Dining Services had used actually cost less than the paper products they use now.

The success of the Zoo To Go program and Dining Services environmentally friendly stance make this a project worth looking at.

We have no intention of not providing (the Zoo To Go) service, LoParco said. If MontPIRG ever brings this project to us, itll be a very short debate.