Waste Not
I am an ugly American.This is the packaging that came from my $6.99 lunch special from the Asian place across the street from the office job.
Yes, I hate me too.
Check this out:
1 plastic container with lid for the mock chicken and vegetables and brown rice
1 plastic container for the green salad
1 small plastic container for the carrot dressing
1 wax paper bag for the veggie spring roll
1 wax paper bag for the soy and duck sauce
1 wax paper bag for the napkin and fork
1 paper sleeve for the chop sticks
1 brown paper bag for the food
1 large bag with handles for everything
1 styrofoam plate
1 fork, 1 knife
chopsticks
4 napkins
Seriously, it's disgusting, I know.
I have a weakness for the mock chicken at this place, it tastes and feels nothing like chicken, which is why I like it. I never understood the kinds of fake meats that do a good job replicating the texture of their authentic versions. I don't eat meat because I don't like it. Why would I want a decent approximation of the stuff?
But they are really awful about the amount of paper they generate. I'm not sure what I could do to avoid it, since I only get take out. I think my best bet is just to stop going there. It's indulgent in every way anyway--too much paper, too much food.
It makes this not-at-all shocking. And it should be shocking. It really should.
Tupperware anyone?
Check this out:
1 plastic container with lid for the mock chicken and vegetables and brown rice
1 plastic container for the green salad
1 small plastic container for the carrot dressing
1 wax paper bag for the veggie spring roll
1 wax paper bag for the soy and duck sauce
1 wax paper bag for the napkin and fork
1 paper sleeve for the chop sticks
1 brown paper bag for the food
1 large bag with handles for everything
1 styrofoam plate
1 fork, 1 knife
chopsticks
4 napkins
Seriously, it's disgusting, I know.
I have a weakness for the mock chicken at this place, it tastes and feels nothing like chicken, which is why I like it. I never understood the kinds of fake meats that do a good job replicating the texture of their authentic versions. I don't eat meat because I don't like it. Why would I want a decent approximation of the stuff?
But they are really awful about the amount of paper they generate. I'm not sure what I could do to avoid it, since I only get take out. I think my best bet is just to stop going there. It's indulgent in every way anyway--too much paper, too much food.
It makes this not-at-all shocking. And it should be shocking. It really should.
Tupperware anyone?
posted by SAS @ 5:21 PM
4 comments
4 Comments:
Save your chop sticks - and ask then not to put any utensils in the bag. Its what I have to do at the Asian place near my work, and yes they will look at you like you are crazy.
Tupperware, I almost went broke on it in 2004. Plus, you have to wash it. Otherwise you will be wastefully tossing out more expensive stuff.
I really like the vicodin.
It is amazing what you find yourself using on a daily basis and then tossing. I don't know how you would get around it at a restaurant, but at places like the drycleaner, I always tell them to just use one bag.
You're right, I don't know what you could do to get the restaurant to change their habits. But if you're going to stop going because they're so wasteful, please tell them. Maybe if they lose enough business, they'll consolidate some of those containers.
I just try to be conscious of what they're pushing on me, and to only take what I need. For example, at Breadline they wrap your sandwich in paper and put it on a styrofoam plate, then after they hand all that to you, the cashier puts it in a big paper bag. I hand the styrofoam plate back to the sandwich maker, and say no thanks to the paper bag.
It's the same way at CVS - they try to give you a plastic bag for everything, even if you're just buying a pack of gum or a greeting card. Again, I tell them no thanks. When did humans stop being able to carry anything that's not contained in its own paper/plastic bag?
If you kinda have to have all the little plastic cups for sauces and stuff, try to cut down on waste by bringing your own bag there... perhaps re-use a plastic one from the grocery store, or better yet, use your own washable re-usable bag (I know Asian food can get messy at times!)
Be sure to tell them, "I don't need a bag," or "I don't need all that," so they realize that they really are creating a lot of waste. All that packaging costs them money and I'm sure they'd be happy if you saved them some $ on packing, too.
Thanks for this post. I feel the same way sometimes--if I get a lunch with a ton of waste packaging (i.e. at a place I'm not familiar with), I'm so embarrassed.
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