Monday, June 15, 2009

Am I a Hypocrite?

Am I a Hypocrite?

It's been entirely too long since my last post (I sound like a Catholic going to confession!), but I've been busy planning green events and spreading the gospel of green!

Since my last post had to do with polystyrene, I figured it was apropos for me to resume my blogging habit with another story about its evils.

Thursday night I had the pleasure of appearing on Washington Business Tonight on the local cable station News Channel 8 to talk about green events. I "outed" the host Rebecca Cooper for drinking out of a polystyrene cup. Hopefully, they'll switch to mugs or Sigg bottles or good old glassware at the station.

On my way home, I decided to stop at a favorite Mexican restaurant in my neighborhood. Normally, since I was by myself, I would just get carryout, but I remembered that their takeout containers are made of polystyrene; therefore, I decided to eat in. It was nice to sit down and relax and enjoy dinner and catch up on newsletters from Green America. What I didn't anticipate was getting so full that I couldn't eat my entire meal. What to do? Waste the food? I'd hate to do that AND I needed some food for lunch the next day. I compromised by requesting "the smallest takeout container you have" from the waitress.

I FELT AWFUL for accepting that darn polystyrene container, but vowed to NEVER accept them again AND to keep containers in my car for such a purpose. Heck, I have about 20 cloth bags in my car, so adding in a few Tupperware-type containers won't hurt. I also sent an email to the restaurant expressing my disappointment that they use polystyrene and I provided a link to a green alternative.