Disposable Cup Lids

IMAGE: The Harpman/Specht lid collection, as featured in Cabinet. In: "The Evolution of Lids," Edible Geography http://www.ediblegeography.com/

When we were preparing to open our quick-service restaurant, Gordon and I spent a fair amount of time researching and discussing the pros and cons of disposable drinkwares. I hated the idea of using a petroleum product that's not quickly biodegradable. But we selected polystyrene foam because it's roughly 1/3 the price of the next cheapest product. Oh well, at least it's recyclable. Then we had to choose lids and straws to go with the cups. According to lid collector Phil Patton who apparently studies the subject, Americans use about a billion and a half plastic lids each year. For Frank and Simon's we chose a multifunctional straw/sip model which is a fairly recent innovation in the evolution of lids. Who knew?