By Karin Otsuka

Going out to eat? You might be thinking about which restaurant you’d want to go to, what kind of food you’d like to eat, or whether you’d want to take out or dine in. The occasion may be casual, formal, or celebratory. Regardless of the affair, let’s take a moment to take the next step in considering the amount of waste generated on a day of eating out.

As was discussed in a previous Currents article by Dave Berndtson, plastics are a rapidly growing menace in our environment. Taking a look at the Top 10 Items Collected  during the 2016 International Coastal Cleanup day, 7 out of the 10 are waste associated with eating out. Even if you don’t order takeout, restaurants may bring drinks with single-use plastic straws or pack leftovers in styrofoam containers and place them in plastic bags for ease of carrying.

Fortunately, public awareness and concern over plastic pollution is growing, a result of increasingly publicized quantitative studies on the amount of plastic waste generated. As Spencer Showalter discussed in her Currents article, every year at least 8 million tons of plastics enter into the ocean. Once out in the marine environment, they can cause harm to marine species through ingestion, entanglement, or bioaccumulation. Despite the growing trend to recycle and compost, these studies clearly demonstrate that we cannot rely on those methods as a solution to reducing plastic pollution. Rather, we need to focus on the first of the three R’s (reduce, reuse, and recycle) if we hope to work towards long-term mitigation and recovery. To this end, cities across the U.S. and countries worldwide are passing legislation to ban single-use plastics. Adidas has also partnered with non-profit organization Parley For the Oceans to design shoes made of ocean plastics, using PET bottles and nylon fishing nets. Other organizations are working to develop a New Plastics Economy to eliminate, innovate, and circulate plastic items. Such efforts to curb plastic production, upcycle existing plastics, and revolutionize how we use plastics can lead to lasting systemic changes.

If we are to strive for lasting adaptations, it is paramount to continue campaigning and petitioning for legislation that will ban single-use plastics and offer alternative solutions for businesses and consumers. Unfortunately, these processes take time. Meanwhile let’s reflect upon the way we interact with single-use plastics and live in an overly consumptive society. Returning to the notion of eco-friendly trends, many businesses and organizations are jumping on the bandwagon of designing and selling reusable utensils kits, usually including a fork, spoon, knife, straw, and straw cleaning brush. Many vendors are also designing stylish carrying bags or crafting bamboo utensils to achieve an environmentally-friendly aesthetic to appeal to younger generations.

While reusable utensils are rather inconspicuous and easy to carry around, what about the notion of lugging around reusable Tupperware in case of leftovers at a restaurant? You can pack a to-go kit including Tupperware of different sizes, a bottle to store drinks, and utensils, all in one tote bag. You can leave your kit by the front door or in your car so you don’t forget, because in all honesty, it’s easy to rush out the door with plastic pollution in the back of your mind.

Despite our endeavors to change our own behaviors, some social settings may make it awkward and inconvenient to lug around a to-go kit, such as a dining at a 5-star restaurant to celebrate an anniversary with a significant other or enjoying a night out at a carnival. Health codes are another constraint to keep in mind before you eagerly present your Tupperware at a food or beverage establishment. According to the 2017 FDA Food Code Recommendations (§3- 304.1), consumer-owned containers introduce the possibility of contamination and health risks if not properly sanitized and handled, so they must be limited to items that can be transferred safely from equipment to container. For these reasons, establishments may refuse your efforts to reduce single-use materials, leaving you feeling somewhat disappointed, frustrated, and at a loss. In those circumstances, you can call restaurants ahead of time to inquire about their reusable container policy and use your best judgement when purchasing packaged foods and beverages.

While the situation seems grim, don’t lose hope! If a bubble tea store refuses your own bottle, take a stainless steel straw to at least reduce the amount of plastic you use. You can even talk to restaurant owners about topics that have been discussed in our #NoPlasticNovember Currents articles and encourage them to use compostable or recyclable takeout items. Similarly, when you’re pressed for time and ultimately decide on calling in a food order, request the service to refuse including single-use utensils or plastic bags. Seattle can also follow the lead of Portland and San Francisco, where local communities are engaged in GO Box, a reusable takeout container program. Customers pay an annual membership fee of $18 for a box to order from participating vendors. These containers are created from BPA-free plastic and are serviceable for up to 500 times. Once customers are done eating, they return it to a drop off location where GO Box employees use carbon-neutral means of transportation to collect and be properly cleaned and sanitized. They are then redistributed for further use. It should be noted that customers should also be encouraged to return containers through carbon-neutral means to reduce the carbon footprint of this program. Durham, North Carolina is also following suit with their GreenToGo program.

Whatever the case may be, if you decide to set the example for your family, friends, and community, tote your reusable ware with pride! Moreover, don’t forget to inform those around you about plastic pollution and why we need to say NO to single-use materials. When others focus their gaze on you and your arsenal of reusables, take that opportunity to educate and challenge them to reflect on their relationship with plastic.