From Slate’s Green Lantern, “What’s the greenest way to drink coffee in your office?” In other words, that old disposables versus reusable cup argument, a question I wonder why people continue to struggle with. It’s a no-brainer for me. True, making a Styrofoam or paper cup takes less energy than making a ceramic one, and they don’t need to be washed, but they’re still use-and-toss propositions that will take up room in our landfills—which release methane, a greenhouse gas about 21 times more potent than carbon dioxide. (Also, I don’t know anyone who doesn’t already own a mug, so that argument’s moot in most cases.) Then there’s the health issue: Polystyrene has been known to leach styrene, a possible carcinogen linked to increased risk of breast cancer. Here’s one Slate reader’s comment that makes a succinct case for reusables, after all the math’s been said and done.
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