Disposable ware

Many quick service establishments use disposable products due to its convenience and low cost. Products like these save the labor and equipment used for washing reusable products, and they are perfect for takeout orders. However, these disposables are used just once and then thrown away creating a tremendous amount of harmful waste. Literally tons of paper, plastic and Styrofoam products end up in landfills every year. Unfortunately, products like these do not break down until hundreds of years later, and even then sometimes deposit toxins into the earth. Due to diminishing natural resources and rising energy costs, it is becoming increasingly important to commit to environmentally friendly products and habits [51 - 55]. 

As the great debate over plastic containers and bulging landfills rages on, a new product has slipped into the marketplace bioplastics. Made from renewable raw materials, including com, wheat, potatoes, beets and a variety of other plants, bioplastics have been on the drawing board since the mid-1980s. They are often referred to as PLAs, or polylactic acid, because this is what the plant matter is ultimately converted into. They are available in the form of containers, dishes, utensils and plastic bags. 

I Most recycling centers are not set up to handle large amounts of PLA. Presently, PLA products carmot be recycled in conjimction with petroleum-based products, which means sorting is critical. 

I Bioplastics are compostable , but only rmder specific conditions. To biodegrade within 90 days, as described, the products have to reach 140° F for 10 consecutive days. This requires a special faciUty, which few consumers have access to. If your PLA products end up at the landfill, they will not degrade any faster than a petroleum-based product. 

Compostable plastics mean that the products must be able to break down into 

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Polystyrene is as transparent as glass. It can be soluble to some solvents and because it is inexpensive, it is often used for disposable ware. It can crack or break if dropped from a desk. 

Type II volumetric ware cannot be repaired if cracked or chipped, nor can it be fused onto other laboratory ware. On the other hand, it is inexpensive and therefore commonly used for disposable ware and lower standard calibration ware. 

Abstract Because of numerous advantages such as excellent properties, varied modification and processing, PLA has wide applications as packaging, fibre, engineering plastic, disposable ware and adhesive. In this chapter, the applications of PLA in die five fields of commodity and industry as mentioned above are discussed. In addition, the modification and processing methods of PLA as well as prospects of its application are analyzed. 

Keywords low carbon environmental protection, packaging, fibre, monofilaments, multiple filaments, nonwoven, engineering plastic, disposable ware, hot-melt adhesive... 

Based on the fully compostability and processability, PLA has been produced into series of commercial disposable ware such as dinnerware, cups and carryout containers [60,61]. Although these products are made fix)m com, these plates are not edible and com allergies are not an issue because no trace allergens remain in the finished product. PLA conserves energy by using only about half the resources that go into traditional plastics. PLA uses mainly renewable resources in their production unlike traditional plastics, which rely on peholeiun products. Commercial PLA disposable ware is becoming more and more popular. 

Medical, laboratory and care applications transparent pre-filled syringes, pharmaceutical containers and packages, primary packaging of pharmaceuticals, medical devices, diagnostic disposables, laboratory ware. .. 

Biohazard disposal containers and bags Blender (e.g., Waring Blendor)... 

The degree of automations has literally revolutionized nucleic acid purification. The core of these systems are the automated liquid-handling workstations that involve the movement of multiple probes in Cartesian axes (x, y, z) over a deck configured with lab ware, such as microplates, tube racks, solvent reservoirs, washbowls, and disposable tips. They have the ability of aspirating and dispensing solvents from a source to a destination. Devices such as vacuum manifolds, heating blocks, and shakers have also been modified to handle 96-well (or more) plates. The multiprobe liquid handlers have a variable tip spacing that allows them to expand their tip-to-... 

Cells may be grown in dishes or flasks where the initial inoculum varies from 0.2 X 106 up to 2 X 106. The containers may be glass or plastic. The plastic ware is obtained in sterile wraps from commercial suppliers and is specially prepared for use in cell culture (Fig. 3.2a) (see Appendix 3). The glass bottles are usually medical flat bottles but any bottle with a flat side will do provided it is washed correctly and sterilised before use (see Chapter 8). To a large extent the disposable plastic flask has now replaced the glass bottle. 

The amount of plastic waste generated is still considerably less than that of plastics produced in numerous applications (building, furniture, appliances) plastics meet longterm requirements before their disposal and therefore do not yet occur in the waste stream in big quantities. The majority of plastic wastes are found in municipal solid waste (MSW), as well as in waste streams arising in distribution, agriculture, construction and demolition, furniture and household ware, automotive, electronic and electrical, or medical applications. For a number of years the APME has ordered studies to be made that compile inventories of on the one hand production figures, on the other waste arising, by resin, country, and application and activity. 

All reagents used for the PERT assay must be free of any contaminating MS 2-DNA. To avoid carryover contamination, set up at least two different rooms for work with materials before and after PCR. Use different sets of equipment, chemicals, and disposables. If possible, avoid the use of pH probes and spatula. If glass ware is used, do not have them washed in a central facility (where it can get contaminated), wash and bake it personally (at 240°C for 5 h). It may be a good idea to have a friend at a different location (where no work with MS2 is carried out) who can prepare solutions. Use only positive displacement pipetes or pipet tips with filters especially for PCR. The published recommendations in ref. 17 are useful. 

PS /V Polystyrene (PS), often foamed disposable picnic ware, fast food clamshells, egg cartons, meat trays 1.05 ca. 100... 

Waste Disposal In laboratories two types of wastes (i.e. liquid and solid) are often encountered. Arrangements have to be made for disposal of these wastes. For disposal of liquid wastes use of lead pipes or earthen ware pipes is considered most suitable. However care be taken to avoid the flow of solids like pieces of filter paper, cork, broken glass pieces etc. through these pipes, otherwise these pipes get chocked. For disposal of such solid wastes metal boxes or wooden boxes be provided. Such boxes be placed in the comers of the laboratory and students be asked to put all solid wastes in these boxes. Such waste boxes can even be placed under the sinks as shown in Fig. 

Sterile, disposable polypropylene tubes are recommended for working with RNA. These tubes are generally RNase-free and do not require pretreatment to inactivate RNases. In ordertodestroy RNases, non-disposableplastic-warecan be rinsed withO.l M NaOH, 1 mM EDTA, followed by RNase-free water. Alternatively, chloroform-resistant plastic-ware can be rinsed with chloroform, which is sufficient to inactivate RNases. 

Integrated Waste Management Board. Performance evaluation of environmentally degradable plastic packaging and disposable food service ware—Final report. Integrated Waste Management BoardSacramento2007. Downloaded from http //www.calrecycle.ca.gov/ Publications/Documents/Plastics/43208001.pdf. Accessed Oct 8, 2014. 

The styrene family is well suited for applications where rigid, dimensionally stable molded parts are required. PS is a transparent, brittle, high-modulus material with a multitude of applications, primarily in packaging, disposable cups, and medical ware. When the mechanical properties of the PS homopolymer are modified to produce a tougher, more... 

Use engineering and work practice controls to limit exposnre. Educate and train all exposed employees to safely enter and exit isolation rooms and to safely handle food trays coming from isolation rooms. Encourage staff to nse a special bag for contaminated trays coming from isolation rooms and label the bag with necessary precantions to take. Use only disposable trays and plastic ware when delivery to patient isolation rooms. 

Acrylonitrile (H2C=CH-CN) is used as a co-polymer in approximately 25% of all synthetic fibers. It is further used for synthetic rubbers and for the production of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene plastics and styrene-acrylonitrile plastics. These ter- and co-polymers are used in the automobile industry and in the production of house wares, electrical appliances, suitcases, food packaging and disposable dishes. Acrylonitrile can also be a constituent in fabrics and paints (Bjorkner 1995). 

Fig. 6. Earthshell Packaging disposable food service ware. Courtesy of Earthshell Corp.

A number of important products for which benzene is currently used may be manufactured using inherently safer green chemistry. An example of this is styrene. Styrene is widely used as a monomer for the production of polystyrene and ABS (Acrylonitrile-Butadiene-Styrene) resin. Polystyrene is commonly used in packaging and disposable service-ware materials, such as food/fast food packaging, furniture, appliances, electrical and electronic equipment, house-wares, and various related consumer products. The main uses of ABS... 

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