In order to minimize the amounts of styrofoam used and disposed of within town limits, and thus reduce the overall amount of non-recyclable waste produced, a group of environmental advocates local to the area has proposed a ban on the use of styrofoam containers by restaurants and cafés within town limits. The advocates argue that because these businesses are the town’s heaviest users of styrofoam, the ban will have substantial environmental benefits.
Which of the following, if true, indicates that the plan to ban the use of styrofoam containers by restaurants and cafés is ill suited to the environmental goals of the advocates?