DIFFERENT USES FOR FOOD

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DIFFERENT USES FOR FOOD AND A WASTE-FREE LUNCH
by JANE BOGNER
SUNDAY, October 17, 2004

Scientist are discovering new uses for vegetables and fruits that will keep more material out of our landfills. The humble mushroom could help clean up everything from oil spills to pesticides using a new technology called mycoremediation. The technology uses the natural ability of fungi to break down dead plants and animals to accelerate decomposition of petroleum products. In a field study, fungi was successful at cleansing soil contaminated with petroleum products thus making fungi a potentially powerful ally in the battle to clean up the 24,000 oil spills that occur in the U.S. every year.

U.S. Department of Agriculture researchers have come up with an edible food wrap. The wrapping material is made from 100 percent fruit or vegetable material. The edible film could provide extra nutrients (minerals, vitamins) and flavor to food. A tomato wrap could melt while the pasta is cooking. A targeted group is expected to be children who should enjoy eating their lunch, wrapper and all. Flavors being tested include tomato, mango, carrot, peach and broccoli. An edible straw is also in the works.

While we are waiting for the edible wraps, Miriam Reiter from RecycleWorks of San Mateo County (www.recycleworks.org) lead me to their website for waste-free lunch tips. Did you know that if you use a disposable lunch, you will throw away approximately six ounces of garbage everyday? Multiply that by 5 days a week and everyone you know is throwing away 97 pounds of extra and avoidable garbage each year. And that is just the end of the ‘disposable’ story. Think of all the resources, time and energy it took to gather the materials (wood for napkins or bags, plastic for straws, cutlery, wrap or baggies) just to make these one-use products.

I suggest that you try one of these tips from RecycleWorks for a greener lunch:

Carry your lunch in a lunch box, a reusable bag or a brown bag made from recycled paper. Check out www.wastefreelunches.org for Laptop Lunch kits or Asian markets for metal three-tiered lunch pails called tiffins. Pack your sandwiches and snacks in Tupperware or other reusable food containers such as yogurt containers. Use a cloth napkin and utensils that you can wash and reuse. Put fruit juice or other liquids in a thermos or reusable bottle.

Aluminum foil can be re-used and then recycled. Pack fresh fruit since it doesn't require any additional packaging. Bring home the peel for the compost bin. If you must use a disposable plastic bag, wash it out and keep reusing it. RecycleWorks website answers waste prevention, recycling, green building and composting questions of all who live, work, attend school, or play in San Mateo County. They include a lot on information that can be used anywhere. For those who compost, there are new biodegradable hot coffee cups and clear drink glasses now available from www.sinlessbuying.com (415 279-3221) and www.greenearthofficesupply.com (800 327-8449). These companies also sell biodegradable plates, bowls and cutlery.

The Solano Group of the Sierra Club provided these items for State Senator Wes Chesbro’s annual picnic on Mare Island last August.This used picnicware is now breaking down in VALCORE’s composting bins. It you want a sample of these products, please email solanobreeze@yahoo.com or leave at message at VALCORE for me.

Composting and Healthy Gardening Class

Vallejo Sanitation and Flood Control District is sponsoring a gardening class at YardBirds (66 Admiral Callaghan Lane) on Oct 23 starting at 10 am. This class will cover composting, less-toxic pest control and planting bulbs. Coffee and pastries will be served at 9:30 am. For more information call 644-8949 x 292. VALCORE welcomes it’s newest account groups: Girl Scout Troop 191 and the Vallejo Elks Club. Their members and the public can donate CRV containers to these groups when they recycle at our site.

VALCORE Recycling Vice President Jane Bogner's "A Sorted Affair" is published every other week in the Times-Herald, Community Outlook Section. For recycling information call Genie Kaggerud, VALCORE Recycling manager at 645-8258 or visit www.VALCORErecycling.org.