Corn Fork

Oregon Zoo is using bioplastic disposables to aid our environment. (Link)

"The bioplastics, made from corn and potato starch, biodegrade in 50 days rather than 1 million years, like petroleum-based plastics. They are reportedly comparable to regular items in price and quality." (KOIN News6)

"In today's world of tight oil supplies, renewable options offer many levels of benefits," Zoo Director Tony Vecchio said. "I believe the public is hungry for options that are more environmentally friendly and sustainable."

Vecchio is the same zoo director who called the Visayan warty pig "the coolest pig in the world" as he recently introduced a new exhibit to the Oregon Zoo.

Many years ago, as director of the Roger Williams Zoo, Providence, R.I., he introduced a program of offering small grants which would have big environmental impact in far-flung, environmentally important parts of the world.

I suggested that our NC Zoo Society Board offer a similar program. The Board then was of the opinion that such work was better left to the international wildlife funding organizations.

The North Carolina Zoo has since become quite environmentally active in places like Cameroon and Uganda, as well as Alligator River and Scotland Neck, in North Carolina.