Dixie is one brand that is not. Anything that is coated in wax or contain wax are not going to break down easily, nor can they be recycled.
No, I don't believe you can because there is a wax coating on the inside of the cup that makes it so the cup won't leak.
Wax (or plastic).
Pine trees have needle shaped leaves but Holly leaves are naturally coated with wax.
A
Yes. You are correct... the cup is made out of wax.
Forever. Wax is non-biodegradable.
Carnauba or water wax I think
Polystyrene is not biodegradable
Wax paper does not absorb heat. Wax paper is coated with paraffin, which does not allow heat to be absorbed. This allows wax paper to be used when cooking.
For a brief discussion on this topic, check out the link below. In short, the answer seems to be a positive yes. http://www.igiwax.com/resource/Environmental
Leaves depend on the sun to make food using a chemical called chlorella and if a leaf is coated with wax, sunlight cannot penetrate through the thick and opaque layer of wax and thus the leaf will not be able to make its food.