NONPLASTIC SUBSTITUTE FOR THE PLASTIC MILK BLADDER

LINEAR LOW DENSITY POLYETHYLENE (LLDPE) AND OTHER PLASTIC WASTES USED FOR FOOD-CONTACT PACKAGING APPLICATIONS SUCH AS MILK BLADDERS ARE CURRENTLY JETTISONED INTO THE SEA FROM OUR NAVY'S 600 VESSEL FIGHTING FLEET BY THE ORDER OF THOUSANDS OF POUNDS EVERY MONTH. THIS IS AN ENVIRONMENTALLY UNACCEPTABLE PRACTICE. CURRENT STORAGE, OF THESE FOOD-CONTACT TYPE PLASTIC PACKAGING WASTES, ON BOARD FOR MORE THAN THREE DAYS CAN PRESENT SIGNIFICANT ODOR AND HEALTH PROBLEMS. WE PROPOSE TO EVALUATE AND SELECT FROM SEVERAL NEW, BARRIER COATED NONPLASTIC BIOPOLYMER FILM CANDIDATES A SUITABLE MILK BLADDER MATERIAL THAT HAS BARRIER PROPERTIES THAT EXCEED THE CURRENT LLDPE MILK BLADDER TO MAINTAIN LONG-TERM ASEPTIC STORAGE FRESHNESS FOR LONGER TIME PERIODS. THE NEW PROPOSED BARRIER COATED FILM MATERIAL WILL PERFORM OPERATIONALLY BETTER THAN THE CURRENT MILK BLADDER AND BE 100% BIODEGRADABLE IN SEA WATER, PRACTICAL AND ECONOMICAL TO PRODUCE, SEALABLE, EDIBLE BY MARINE LIFE AND DENSER THAN SEA WATER. THIS NOVEL MATERIAL,IN LESS THAN ONE MESH GROUND OR CHOPPED FORM, MEETS THE OBJECTIVES OF THE FEDERALLY APPROVED MARPOL 73/78 AGREEMENT AND SUBSEQUENT PUBLIC LAW 100-220 BARRING SHIPS FROM DISCHARGING "SPECIFIC PLASTIC ARTICLES ... WHICH CAUSE DEATH OR INJURY TO FISH OR WILDLIFE."