{"id":25,"date":"2026-01-06T15:21:13","date_gmt":"2026-01-06T15:21:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/new.umaine.edu\/reuseme\/?page_id=25"},"modified":"2026-02-05T15:31:25","modified_gmt":"2026-02-05T15:31:25","slug":"environmental-benefits","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/umaine.edu\/reuseme\/environmental-benefits\/","title":{"rendered":"Environmental Benefits of Reuse"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The Problem of Disposability<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The bulk of single-use plastic products are associated with food service.<\/a><\/strong> As of 2015, about 39 million tons of disposable food and beverage packaging were landfilled each year, with 75% of disposable plastic food serviceware coming from takeout. Trends in the restaurant industry have shown a steady increase in takeout services and an associated rise in food packaging waste. The COVID-19 pandemic increased the use of single-use plastics by nearly 60%<\/a> and post-pandemic figures have yet to decrease.<\/p>\n\n\n

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\""Today's<\/a><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n

The problem of disposability begins long before waste is discarded.<\/strong> Upstream production processes deplete natural resources and generate toxic emissions. After being shipped, plastic packaging and serviceware are used once and then discarded. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Recycling cannot keep up with the plastics industry.<\/strong> <\/a>The U.S. only recycles about 5% of its plastic <\/a>waste. Many recycling processes consume more<\/em> energy on top of the initial plastic production and create re-emissions. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cGreen\u201d alternatives like compostables can have even worse environmental impacts<\/a> <\/strong>than conventional packaging; These containers require industrial composting facilities to break down, and limited access to proper facilities reduces compostables\u2019 efficacy in waste reduction. <\/strong>The overwhelming majority of compostables end up landfilled<\/strong> or incinerated<\/strong>, just like plastic waste. Additionally, many of these bioplastics contain toxic additives, <\/strong>like PFAS<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

All of this represents a pressing concern for the well-being of coastal communities <\/strong>as an overwhelming amount of waste ends up in marine environments. Around 100,000 marine animals<\/a> die each year from plastic debris. Over time, plastic waste degrades and leaches chemicals that accumulate in the environment and in food chains.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For coastal communities and the seafood industry, ingestion of microplastics is a major concern.<\/strong> For example, emerging research in oyster aquaculture shows that more than 94% of oysters<\/a> harvested globally contain microplastics.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Environmental Benefits of Reuse<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Reusable packaging reduces the environmental impact of supply chains<\/strong> in a variety of ways, according to the Reusable Packaging Association<\/a>:<\/p>\n\n\n\n