By Ken Storey
Orlando Theme Park News is reporting that Sunshine Seasons, the cafeteria within EPCOT’s The Land pavilion, has begun to recycle all plastic utensils. Collection bins have been placed in the dining area. The bins will then be taken backstage to be rinsed and recycled. There are plans to expand the recycling program to include other plastic utensils.
OTPN mentions that the current system does cause flies and creates unpleasant smells, so expect the system to be updated soon. The system is somewhat similar to programs found in Europe and at IKEA where patrons place their used trays in carts in special busing areas.
The separating and washing also allows for it to be exported to China, who enacted stricter solid waste import rules in the first quarter of the year. The new rules call for plastic imported to the country to be pre-sorted and washed. In the first five months of 2013 more than 68,000 tons of waste was rejected from entering China due to the new rules.
While recycling plastics has gotten a new friend in Disney, the City of Orlando is going a different route. It banned food trucks from using expanded polystyrene foam (i.e. Styrofoam) packaging. The city’s green campaign seems to stop at the doors of brick and mortar retail, however.
OTPN mentions that the current system does cause flies and creates unpleasant smells, so expect the system to be updated soon. The system is somewhat similar to programs found in Europe and at IKEA where patrons place their used trays in carts in special busing areas.
The separating and washing also allows for it to be exported to China, who enacted stricter solid waste import rules in the first quarter of the year. The new rules call for plastic imported to the country to be pre-sorted and washed. In the first five months of 2013 more than 68,000 tons of waste was rejected from entering China due to the new rules.
While recycling plastics has gotten a new friend in Disney, the City of Orlando is going a different route. It banned food trucks from using expanded polystyrene foam (i.e. Styrofoam) packaging. The city’s green campaign seems to stop at the doors of brick and mortar retail, however.
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| Busch Gardens, who claims to be eco-friendly, uses these environmentally hazardous styrofoam plates in its Garden Gate Cafe. Imagine how much does this buffet alone contribute to local landfills. |