Hey Mr. Green!

Our church uses washable dishware most times, but we keep a supply of disposable cups and plates. It's time to order more, and there are many to choose from. Is the best choice paper with no wax? Paper with wax? Styrofoam?

—Dorinda in East Lansing, Michigan

Your question seems simple enough, but it points to a staggering problem: Some 60 billion paper cups are thrown away every year in the United States. Stacked end to end, that number would total about seven or eight round-trips to the moon. The problem is that single-use dishware is often coated with polyethylene, a plastic that cannot be recycled or composted. Most coffee cups and about 10 percent of paper plates are coated with the stuff.

If you really need disposable dishes, order those treated with polylactic acid, which can be composted. Eco-Products sells them (go to bit.ly/polylactic for more info). Avoid Styrofoam at all costs—it is difficult to find a recycler that will take it.

The best thing for Mother Earth is to avoid paper cups and plates altogether, but you can also try those made from alternative materials. Greenwave, Bambu Veneerware, and Green Paper Products offer bamboo options. Visit bit.ly/cup-reuse for ideas on what to do with cups instead of just dumping them.