Styrofoam Rocks!

Mark42

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Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
About 3 weeks ago, my employer decided to get "greener" and eliminate the large Styrofoam cups from the cafeteria. Only the small 8 oz for hot coffee is available. In place of the big Styrofoam cups, they issues everyone a big travel mug with company logo for their drinks.

After about 3 days, the travel mugs disappeared and many people were walking around with large Styrofoam cups again. I asked a few people around me where they found the large cups, and they all said the same thing, They all tossed the travel mug, went and bought their own Styrofoam cups (as I had done! LOL!) .

Sometimes, you just can't beat Styrofoam.

Mark
 

cheburashka

Senior Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 28, 2005
Messages
715
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Kudos to your employer for trying to make a difference.

I find it depressing that so many people are unwilling to make minor changes in their lives that are good for the environment. Or are you saying you each have one styrofoam cup that you re-use?

Aside from being disposable, what does a styrofoam cup do that a travel mug doesn't?
 

Mark42

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Joined
Oct 8, 2003
Messages
9,334
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Kudos to your employer for trying to make a difference.

I find it depressing that so many people are unwilling to make minor changes in their lives that are good for the environment. Or are you saying you each have one styrofoam cup that you re-use?

Aside from being disposable, what does a styrofoam cup do that a travel mug doesn't?

I think my employer is concerned with saving a few bucks and just uses conservation as an excuse.

But to the styrofoam vs travel mug issue, travel mugs have a screw on top that only let you drink through a small hole. Great in a car, not so good in an office. Take the top off, and you are trying to drink on a threaded edge that tends to leak the drink down your chin. Also, every travel mug I have ever had ends up with some liquid inside the insulating part of the mug. What ever it is, its yucky, and if it can get in, it can leak back out into my drink. Styrofoam has none of those drawbacks.

And I do use my styrofoam cup multiple times before tossing. One will usually last me 3-5 days.
 

jonesg

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Feb 22, 2008
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Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

I ran a coffee shop for 20 yrs, had to listen to one side after the other, you should use paper cups, no wait..save the trees, save this save that.

Lets see, paper cups w/ lid 14 cents ea.
Styro cup /lid 4 cents.
But then they want 2 paper cups because its easier on the fingers and keeps the coffee hotter. Drove me nuts, went to styro and ignored it all.
 

kenimpzoom

Rear Admiral
Joined
Jul 13, 2002
Messages
4,807
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Did anyone research as to which choice is actually "greener"? Or is it the perception of greener?

You can try a regular coffee mug or plastic coffee mug.

Ken
 

kenmyfam

Supreme Mariner
Joined
Aug 10, 2006
Messages
14,392
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Or ceramic !!!! just don't drop it though !!!
 

Bob_VT

Moderator & Unofficial iBoats Historian
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May 19, 2001
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26,066
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Well.... I am crazy and have some unique old habits .......

I drink my coffee at home from a ceramic mug.....same one for the past 10 years.

When I worked in an office I would drink my coffee from a clear drinking glass...... specifically a water glass. Many of the former service people will remember where that habit came from...... we never had coffee mugs in the mess halls and a water glass gave us a proper "cup of coffee" :D

I actually prefer paper to Styrofoam when I stop for a take out cup.
 

ne7800

Lieutenant Junior Grade
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Jul 10, 2008
Messages
1,195
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

i drink out of a travel mug at work everyday
 

Doug N.

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
May 20, 2010
Messages
85
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Styrofoam is bad for the environment...paper wastes trees...travel mugs leak down your chin and breed bacteria...coffee causes cancer (or cures it depending on which quack you read). It turns out that the only thing good for you is iboats forum, and that gives headaches from the wife bopping you for not paying her enough attention. I've had enough - I'm going fishing tomorrow.
 

fishrdan

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Jan 25, 2008
Messages
6,989
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

And I do use my styrofoam cup multiple times before tossing. One will usually last me 3-5 days.

That reminds me of..... One day when I was working in an office and noticed a wretched looking styrofoam cup that had a science project growing under the plastic lid. The kind of thing that would make you hurl if you drank from it. Anywho, I'm working away and they guy comes into his office grabs the science project styro cup and takes a huge swig, goes off and refills it and sets it back down on his desk, still looking the same with a enough mold under the lid to make a years worth of penicillin for a small 3rd world country.

I guess he didn't want anyone else drinking from his cup..... :D
 

81 beachcomber

Petty Officer 2nd Class
Joined
Mar 20, 2009
Messages
187
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

just spend the money and buy a decent travel mug, mine has lasted 5+ years and is still good, water dosent leak into the insulation and its a press fit top so no threads, and as long as you rince it daily no problem with germs, and dont have to worry about anyone drinking from your cup or running out of cups
 

MrsBoatinOkie

Petty Officer 3rd Class
Joined
Apr 21, 2010
Messages
78
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

When on the road I prefer styrofoam to paper. By the time the cup is cool enough to hold, you have to hurry up and drink the rapidly cooling coffee before it gets too cold.

+1 Styrofoam
 

royal0014

Master Chief Petty Officer
Joined
May 6, 2010
Messages
874
Re: Styrofoam Rocks!

Stainless steel mug! Available in the camping dept. Larger than most 'coffee' mugs, doesn't burn your hands, and who cares if you drop it :D
 
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