This and other factors sharply curtail the number of expected packaging reuses. The geographic location of the foodservice facility is also an important factor in assessing reusables versus disposables. In some countries, such as the Netherlands, water pollution is of great concern due to the high water table. A similar example in the United States is Florida. Elsewhere, the availability of water supply is of major importance.
Examples are Southern Europe, the Middle East and the southwestern United States.
On the other hand, there are some areas where air pollution, energy usage and solid waste disposal are significant factors. A final important consideration in the reusable versus disposable equation is the role of recycling of disposable packaging. Few of the studies to date have considered such recycling, but it is an important factor when making overall environmental comparisons. This investigation was sponsored by the Waste Policy Center , an independent research organization devoted to the objective analysis of environment issues. Want to learn more about the advantages of single-use foodservice products, click here .