Do you have any REAL coffee mugs?

I was at a colleague's office the other morning for a meeting, and she graciously offered the group coffee. Back in the company kitchen, there were several sizes of styrofoam cups, which I hate. It wouldn't be quite so bad if Raleigh recycled styrofoam, but they don't. But that's another story...

I've been trying recently to eat 'right-size' portions, so I reached for the smallest cup I could find. I inadvertently made a comment about styrofoam and our hostess quickly offered a real coffee mug.Well, as it turns out my somewhat snooty remark about the styrofoam has been a topic of discussion with the firm's 'green committee'. They're still working through logistics, but recognize that washing the mugs is a better alternative to the styrofoam. I happily took the coffee mug and made a mental note of the company's efforts.

Of course, there is some debate about whether using the dishwasher is really better, especially in a drought. I personally don't like to split hairs. Since a lot of the disposable cups, plates, etc. usually get thrown out vs. recycled, I think I'd prefer to have an item I can reuse and prevent a little trash from the landfill.

I guess the point here is, we all have to make choices. The best thing you can do is to be thoughtful about your decisions. No one is perfect, but trying is a lot better than just reaching for the disposable styrofoam without thinking.

Let's hope all the 'green committees' out there do more to promote the real coffee mugs...