Let's skip the disposables
Dec. 10/18
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
Dec. 10/18
Change for Climate is a climate change initiative from the City of Edmonton.
Takeout is so convenient and often very tasty. But it is also super wasteful, necessitating single-use take-out containers, utensils and bags. It presents a conundrum for those who love good food on the go but also the environment. What is an eco-conscious foodie to do?
If you don’t have the time to dine-in or cook at home, there is a way to enjoy the convenience of takeout without the environmental guilt – bring your own containers (“BYOC”)!
I have to admit that when I tell people that in our household we bring our own containers to restaurants, the reaction is often one of surprise - “you can actually do that?” The answer is “yes” and it’s not as hard as it sounds.
When we place a takeout order, we let the restaurant know that we will be bringing our own containers to put the food directly in to and that we be bringing our own bag. We also keep an “emergency” kit with us so that if we make a last-minute decision to grab a meal on the go while we are out and about, we are prepared with our reusable containers.
It often takes the person on the other end of the phone a minute to wrap their head around what we are asking for, but once they do, they are usually happy to comply. We have actually had some restaurants thank us for doing our part to help the environment.
The more people that start making the reusable request, the easier it will be for restaurants to get on board. So, Edmontonians, my challenge to you is this - the next time you order takeout, tell the restaurant to skip the disposables and bring your own. The Earth will thank you.
This post was submitted by Melissa Gorrie of Waste Free Edmonton. If you live in Edmonton and have a climate change story to tell, let us know! Your story could be shared here too.
