Republicans scrap ‘compostable’ utensils in House cafeterias
Republicans scrap ‘compostable’ utensils in House cafeterias
By Richard Simon, Los Angeles Times
Republicans say ‘compostable’ utensils were not cost- or energy-efficient, so they bring back the foam and plastic. Green-minded Democrats protest.
Reporting from Washington - First the Republicans took over the House. Now it’s the cafeterias.
Rep. Dan Lungren (R-CA)
Republicans say the use of “compostable” cups and utensils, a key part of former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s Green the Capitol initiative, was “neither cost-effective nor energy-efficient.” So they brought back plastic utensils and foam cups, ditching the eco-friendly dining wares of the Democratic era.
The replacement spoons, knives, forks and cups are creating quite a stir, dividing lawmakers largely along party lines.
Democratic staffers are talking about boycotting the cafeterias, which serve about 230,000 meals a month, mostly to staff members but also to the public. The issue sprouted a Facebook page, “Stop the Styrofoam Invasion: Bring cardboard back to the House Cafeteria.” Some staffers are bringing in their own mugs. Others are bec