GOP Cancels Biodegradable Packaging, Brings Styrofoam Back

[marmar]

Treehugger, via AlterNet:



GOP Cancels Biodegradable Packaging, Brings Styrofoam Back


Okay, so it's not exactly earth-shattering green political news -- but it's still indicative of the new anti-environment attitude that's swept into the US House of Representatives. Four years after our nation's esteemed governing body decided to stop using one of the most destructive, ungreen materials in existence, our lawmakers have decided it's time to cancel the program that supported biodegradable packaging, and to bring Styrofoam back.

Wonkette has a gloriously epic rant:

"Foamed polystyrene" is a miraculous invention that manages to be completely awful through every step of its near-eternal "life cycle" -- it is manufactured with petroleum that must be imported from Middle East dictatorships, toxic "styrene oligomers" migrate into the food it holds, it's highly flammable and produces black poisonous smoke, and most of the 25 billion polystyrene cups tossed every year will take more than half a millennium to degrade. And that's why the Republican-led House of Representatives made it an immediate priority to cancel the House cafeteria's four years of biodegradable food and beverage packaging.

Congress switched to biodegradable packaging, along with a number of other green initiatives like composting, as part of its
Green the Capital program .................(more)

The complete piece is at: http://www.alternet.org/newsandviews/article/509010/gop_cancels_biodegradable_packaging%2C_brings_styrofoam_back/

[AndyTiedye]

1. Following in Reagan's Footsteps Here

As soon as Reagan was inaugurated, he ripped down the practically-new solar panels that former President Carter had had installed on the White House.

[Liberal Veteran]

2. Everything old is new again.

Petty and spiteful bastards, every single one.

[KT2000]

3. to say nothing of the

deadly fumes it creates when burned.

[derby378]

4. Behold, the new GOP theme song to celebrate the return of styrofoam...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4VVCjLerMUg

[stuntcat]

5. they want as much of their crap as possible made from petroleum

surprise! :eyes:

[madmax]

6. Of couse they would.

Why do they hate America?

[Kennah]

7. John Boner - The Styrofoam Man

Styrofoam is toxic, it has little substance, it is weak, and it infests our society.