Why?! Why?! I ask! Why do fast food/take-out food places miss recycling? From actually having recycling bins in the restaurants to separate paper/glass/organic to using containers which don't go in the bins at all -- I don't get - how they don't "get" - common-sense-recycling. Should I name the companies?...
Well, out of respect to BlogHers ACT Canada and policies on defamation (I don't know if they do, in fact, have a policy - but we all must - cover our behinds - correct? - this is CANADA after-all!). Therefore, I won't name them in this post (however you are welcome to name them in the comment field - everyone's allowed a personal opinion right? - this is CANADA after-all!).
Food places and non-recycling is so not-cool. A big chain-store-chicken place in my town delivers take-out in non-recyclable containers. I'm not buying there because of it (and dag-nab-it I liked their chicken!). Our chinese food place delivers their take out in sturdy aluminum-like containers with - gulp - styrofoam lids (and yes, I order chinese food every six months or so...despite the environmentally unfriendly packaging because their special fried rice is just so darn good - oh - the guilt!).
I don't "get" that these businesses - who want and desperately need - our consumer dollars are not getting jiggy with recycling. We do it at home. Kids do it at school. Offices do it in the workplace. The food industry looks like the final frontier in environmentally friendly action.
I wonder if not buying the products actually is the right course of action. My little one household message doesn't seem to be making any impact.
Would letter writing work better? - I wonder. "Dear Chinese-food place, Do you know your yummy-goodness is delivered in land-fill waste? Could you please switch to more environmentally friendly packaging? If cost is a concern, you could keep the fortune cookies - I don't mind going without - for the good of the planet. Thank you."
Even if one tries to re-purpose the take-out chicken container...wash it out...fill it with crayons for a homemade art kit...many more are going into landfill. And this bothers me. Because even if I try to make a difference - the business which I'm supporting is not...
So I invite you to leave a comment - right there - down below - send a message to the food industry who just might google their keywords from time to time...they need to "get" environmentally friendly to be family friendly!
This is an original post for BlogHers Act Canada. Caroline also blogs at www.parentclub.ca
Tim Hortons has a great recycling program. Otherwise, our kids haven't gotten to the age of eating too much take out. I'm sure I'll have a long list soon.
Posted by: mandy | May 19, 2009 at 06:03 PM