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When ordering takeout, skip the disposables

Why This is Green

Takeout food may be the ultimate in delicious convenience, but the trash it makes gives the environment heartburn. You can see why as soon as you open the bag: chances are it’s filled with disposable utensils, paper napkins, condiments packets, salt and pepper packets, and other unnecessary extras, to say nothing of the containers keeping your meal from spilling all over the place.

All this stuff turns into waste as soon as we finish eating. While some of it may be recyclable, most of it isn’t. And much what gets sent to the landfill never makes it there. Studies in places like New Jersey and Texas have found that takeout food packaging comprises 20 to 30 percent of all litter!

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How To

We don’t have to give in to the perils of takeout food. These strategies will leave waste off the menu:

1. When you order, tell them you don’t need napkins, tableware, condiments, menus or anything else but the food itself. Why? Because you keep a supply of sustainable cloth napkins, and reusable utensils at your home or office!

2. BYOB…of condiments, that is! Whether it’s ketchup, mayo, or soy sauce, serve up your preferred condiments from your own bottles and jars.

3. If you’re picking up your takeout, use your own bag—just like at the grocery store.

4. Order from restaurants that offer sustainable packaging. For example, if it’s a choice between food in a styrofoam container or a recyclable tin, order from the place offering the latter.