Foil beats plastic, but container is best

Q Which is better environmentally, packing sandwiches in plastic bags or aluminum foil?

A Let's do a quick comparison.

Plastic bags:

• Typically one-time use.

• Aren't easily recycled. An estimated 20 million sandwich bags are discarded daily. They do not degrade or decompose in landfills; when loose in the environment, they are a deadly hazard to wildlife.

• Made from nonrenewable petroleum sources.

Aluminum foil:

• Easy to recycle, just toss in with the aluminum cans. Aluminum can be recycled endlessly and each time, it saves natural resources and the environmental cost of mining.

• Mining of aluminum or bauxite destroys the landscape and creates lots of greenhouse gases.

The edge goes to aluminum foil, mainly because recycling keeps it out of the environment and reduces use of natural resources.

If you're wondering if wax paper bags would be better, surprisingly, they aren't. They'd come in third, or maybe tied for second. It takes more energy to create wax paper bags than plastic, according to National Geographic's Green Guide.

The best choice for packing a sandwich is one you didn't mention -- a reusable container.

A Use a soft toothbrush, brushing gently so as not to scratch the metal surface. Sometimes a cotton swab will fit nicely into the crevices to remove any dried product. Also, a very mild soapy detergent can be used to soften the residue. Follow by brushing gently with a toothbrush. Wipe dry with a soft, clean cloth.

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