WILLIAMSBURG, Va. — Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA have removed polystyrene foam dinnerware products, including bowls, plates, and trays, from all of their dining operations.
It's part of its commitment to protecting animals and habitats worldwide.
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment has replaced all polystyrene foam with products made from 100 percent recycled material in all 12 of its parks.
“This change allows us to save millions of pieces of polystyrene foam dinnerware which is resistant to decomposition and difficult to recycle, from entering the environment each year,” said Franz Kitenko, the culinary senior leader at Busch Gardens Williamsburg and Water Country USA. “At Busch Gardens, Water Country USA and all of our parks, reducing our environmental footprint is an important part of our mission, and this achievement is another step toward becoming greater stewards of our oceans, their animals and our planet.”
With millions of meals served in the parks each year, the removal of polystyrene foam products, which are not biodegradable, helps keep them out of local landfills, as well as in the ocean ecosystem.
The announcement comes less than a year after the company removed all single-use plastic straws and plastic coffee stirrers from its parks, following its removal of single-use plastic shopping bags starting in 2013.