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Reusable Takeout Containers

Some years ago, I attended an outdoor music festival in Oregon. It was held on private property with meadows, and an adjoining forest. It was zero waste. I had never heard that phrase before, but as I moved throughout the festival it all became very clear.


All reusable and branded plates, metal cups and 'sporks' (a spoon on one end, a fork on the other, made of bamboo) were 'rented'. You paid for them in full, and if you chose to return them, you received a return of most of their cost, with some being retained (presumably as a rental and cleaning fee)

When you were moving between alcohol/alcohol free zones, you simply held your metal cup upside down to show it was empty.

After having attended dozens of large scale festivals with garbage cans BURSTING at the seams with cups, plates, plastic cutlery, etc, I was AMAZED. No garbage cans were even needed - just one or two by food concession, a couple near music stages, and most of them were empty.

Many cities are doing take out container programs now, and I LOVE this idea. I think it's worth exploring - Vancouver is working on it right now.

Also, there are many compostable options for takeout containers. A bulk buy from the City of all of the necessary items (paper straws, bags, etc) so that businesses can buy at cost and take advantage of huge buys all at once would be appreciated. I tried to make the switch to paper bags, and while it was working pre-Covid, it's fairly unsustainable now, where you must bag items for people at curbside, etc.

Thanks for reading.

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Admin Commented Environmental Services about 3 years ago
Hi Amber, 

Thank you for sharing your experience. We are watching the City of Vancouver’s investigation into a cup/mug share program to see how a municipality might implement something like this. Similarly, we’re also keeping an eye open for any local governments that decide to engage in bulk buys/wholesale supply to businesses.

Thanks, 
Marc
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Share Hi Amber, Thank you for sharing your experience. We are watching the City of Vancouver’s investigation into a cup/mug share program to see how a municipality might implement something like this. Similarly, we’re also keeping an eye open for any local governments that decide to engage in bulk buys/wholesale supply to businesses. Thanks,  Marc on Facebook Share Hi Amber, Thank you for sharing your experience. We are watching the City of Vancouver’s investigation into a cup/mug share program to see how a municipality might implement something like this. Similarly, we’re also keeping an eye open for any local governments that decide to engage in bulk buys/wholesale supply to businesses. Thanks,  Marc on Twitter Share Hi Amber, Thank you for sharing your experience. We are watching the City of Vancouver’s investigation into a cup/mug share program to see how a municipality might implement something like this. Similarly, we’re also keeping an eye open for any local governments that decide to engage in bulk buys/wholesale supply to businesses. Thanks,  Marc on Linkedin Email Hi Amber, Thank you for sharing your experience. We are watching the City of Vancouver’s investigation into a cup/mug share program to see how a municipality might implement something like this. Similarly, we’re also keeping an eye open for any local governments that decide to engage in bulk buys/wholesale supply to businesses. Thanks,  Marc link