AP Photo/Paul Sakuma
DCL
I could dig up the actual numbers for the amount of waste generated by fast food/restaurant/coffee shops every year. But I won't. I think we can instead simply picture the sheer number of those establishments on every city block, suburban shopping mall, and roadside strip across the nation. And then we can picture them dumping out trash can after trash can crammed with burger wrappers, plastic wrappers, and of course, paper cups of every shape and size.
It's high time we started working towards a scenario where those trash cans aren't so crammed—and not only because our landfills are topping off, but because once, I accidentally dropped my keys into one of those fast food trash cans, and getting it out was one of the filthiest moments of my life.
So let's start with cups. We've been conditioned by a culture of convenience to expect every instrument necessary to be provided for us for every meal we eat. Which is kind of odd when you think about it, especially when we're talking disposable fast food utensils and glasses. We expect them to set the table for us every time we eat, and then we throw everything that just helped us feed ourselves away. It's weird, and wasteful.
So start bringing your own stuff—it's time we signaled a desire to change this behavior, en masse. Starting with cups: bring your thermos, water bottle, or mug to the restaurant/coffee shop/deli next time you go. And here's what you do when you go to:
1.Coffee Shops: These are the easiest—many already encourage their patrons to bring their own thermoses to take on the go. Make an arrangement with the barista or manager so they know how many ounces your cup carries, and work out a price you both agree on. Then bid disposable cups adieu.
2. Delis: Many neighborhood delis have soda fountains, so try bringing your own water bottle or reusable cup. Ask the owner/manager/sandwich dude if it's cool if you fill up with your bottle. If your deli guy is anything like the bodega owners in my neighborhood, they could care less one way or the other. If you're a regular, make it a habit.
3. Fast Food Restaurants: Okay, so fast food restaurants are among the least green places you can get a bite. But you still eat there sometimes. Admit it. They're also probably the place where managing a successful reusable cup fill up is trickiest. Some have strict policies, and the workers taking your order don't want to risk losing their jobs. So try a water bottle or cup with the number of ounces obviously marked on the exterior, so you can match it up and just pay the amount correlating to whatever size drink is on the menu. Ask politely, of course.
A lot of effort for little gain?
Maybe. But it's got to start somewhere—seriously. I know that cliche gets tossed around a lot, but minimizing this kind of waste is essential to moving our society to a more sustainable model. And it's good for everybody (except paper cup manufacturing firms, that is): restaurant and coffee shop chains cut back on supply costs, landfills get spared some space, carbon emitted during the manufacturing process is curbed, and you get to buy a (slightly) cheaper drink.
Sure, companies lose out on a branding opportunity, but those will reemerge soon enough in the reusable cups.
Weaning our culture off its over-consumptive tendencies will be, to understate the matter, a long, long, pain in the ass. But we can start by demonstrating that there are those out there who are will to be vocal about change. By asking politely.
