Switzerland: Zurich Zoo Initiates Pilot Project with Large Organic Collection Point for Disposable Crockery

Zurich Zoo has been using biodegradable disposable crockery only at its food stands and kiosks for some time now (i.e. plates, cutlery, cups, napkins etc. made of corn starch, sugar cane, natural lactic acid, palm leaves, cellulose or wood). However, there was the problem that a large part of this tableware could not be recycled as desired due to contamination, but had to be disposed of as conventional rubbish. Therefore, the zoo has started a pilot project with specially designed collection stations where visitors can no longer only dispose of PET, returnable beer cups and rubbish separately, but can also put the disposable tableware in their own bio-collection containers. Other organic waste can also be disposed of there. This system allows the disposable crockery to actually be biodegraded afterwards and fermented into biogas and natural fertiliser. The zoo has had good experience with a small collection station so far, so the concept has now been expanded to include a large collection point at the highly frequented “Ubele Kiosk“ (with around 1,500 meals sold on busy days) and is to be further expanded in the future.

On 3^rd July this year, the new single-use plastic regulation will come into force throughout the European Union, banning numerous PET single-use products and comparable plastic products from the market (cf. EAP 2/2021). Due to the new regulation, operators of leisure facilities will also have to check their products, especially in the catering and shop areas, for the materials used and, if necessary, replace them with biodegradable alternatives. (eap)