BALTIMORE – As three-time winners, The Maryland Zoo community is once again participating in the Plastic Free Ecochallenge this month. In the spirit of this global sustainability movement, we are excited to announce that The Zoo no longer sells drinks in plastic bottles! All bottled drinks, including water, are now sold in recyclable aluminum.
“This is just one more way to show how we are committed to sustainability and protecting wildlife and wild places,” stated Kirby Fowler, president/CEO of The Maryland Zoo. “Working together with our retail, food and beverage partner, Service Systems Associates (SSA), we are able to make these changes which help keep these plastics from entering the environment in harmful ways.”
Other changes that have been made to remove single-use plastics from Zoo concessions are:
- Dippin’ Dots and ice cream cups are paper;
- All spoons are made from wood;
- Condiment portion cups are paper;
- All food containers are paper products. In the near future, the Zoo will use washable plates, bowls and utensils at concession stands;
- We now have three refillable water bottle stations within the Zoo and encourage guests to bring their own reusable water bottles when they visit.
“Removing single-use plastic items from the Zoo is a direct action to protect wildlife,” continued Fowler. “Many of our staff are also committed to sustainability in their own homes and we encourage our members and guests to join us in reducing, or better yet eliminating, single-use plastics in our lives. Everyone who chooses to reduce their use of plastic is helping to protect wildlife.”
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