Simple Idea No. 17 - Less Fast Food Packaging

Eating out, especially at fast food joints, on a regular basis is neither good for you or the earth. As great as it may taste the food is awful for you and the packaging waste it generates quickly fills up the trash cans. We can work out the waste, but the earth does not have it so lucky.

To be sure, some places are getting on the recycling bandwagon and offering recycling bins but in most cases it is still the trash cans that are most conveniently located. One place we recently visited had one recycling bin by the exit while there were 3 or 4 trash bins located throughout the place. You may find this odd, why are there more trash cans than recycling bins when most of the packaging is recycling?

There are few ways to combat this. One is to mention it to the establishments in question. Ask them to consider less packaging. It does not make sense to order a sandwich and have it wrapped up only to take to a table 10 feet away, unwrap it and then throw out the package. Another is to start eating out at places who already use less packaging and offering more recycling options. Of course the easiest way is to eat out less. You can buy more food at the grocery store (and don't forget to use this simple idea) with the same amount of money you would use for eating out.