@greensamaritan

Continuing on an earlier theme of acting on convenience versus if it’s the right thing to do, I pondered a recent fast food drive-through excursion. Although, it’s not a daily or weekly habit, it can be convenient to wheel through when in a rush, but it seems I only end up with a car full of trash, most of which is non-recyclable. There’s got to be a better way.

Then I came across film producer, Hal Brindley andhis entertaining video series, The Environmentals. In this lighthearted video – “How to Reduce Your Fast Food Trash”, there is a weekend competition to see who can generate the least amount of waste.

After weighing the results (literally), the suggestions offered may take a little extra effort and change in behavior, but just like using reusable totes, it’s worth it.

To sum up, here are the 7 tips shared with my own additional comments in ():

1. Skip the lid and straw on the drink – (unless you have kids, you really don’t need this)
2. Bring your own water bottle in place of a cup (and save a little extra by not buying a drink)
3. Instead of the paper napkins, carry your own kind of like a hankie
4. Plastic ware – bring your own utensils
5. Condiments – if there are dispensers as opposed to the pre-packaged kind, pump directly onto the food or tray and forgo that little paper cup. (if you need the packaged kind, take only what you need)
6. Tray liners – support those establishments that do not use liners and combine trays when you can.
7. Choose your menu item wisely. Think about what will be presented with the least amount of packaging. I struggle with this one as they illustrate that a salad results in the most waste (bowl, lid, package of toppings, plastic ware). (Perhaps I can ask for the salad only, hold the lid and toppings or bring home the bowl/lid and reuse for something else)

In conclusion, one out of four people eat fast food daily – 75 million Americans. Based on their unofficial “study”, that could mean as much as 5.7 million pounds of trash a day of which zero is recycled. Wow – something to think about…like the trees and barrels of oil required to produce these items and the carbon emissions released during transportation for ten minutes and a few feet from table to trash of actual use. Not a good ratio by any means.

With that I have been inspired to create my own fast food/restaurant carryall to keep in the car or my bag to help slow down this excess waste. I’ll share that next time so until then…watch the video!

The Enviromentals (Episode 2) How to Reduce Your Fast Food Trash from Hal Brindley on Vimeo.

Jeanne Blaisdell also publishes TheGreenSamaritan, her personal blog encouraging kindness to the environment through refined, renewed and resourceful living. Find her here on Twitter and Facebook.