If you are going through a salad bar, you could weigh the container ahead of time, and mark your container with the weight. There might be a bit of math, so if you don’t like doing numbers in your head, you may want to be prepared with your cell phone’s calculator.

I hope these suggestions are helpful.

If you take-out from a place on a regular basis, like a favorite lunch spot, just drop the container off the day before or earlier in the day. You may want to label it so that it doesn’t end up mixed up with another customer, who has also taken to the idea. I don’t see most places complaining, especially if they are getting regular patronage.

reusable containers help preserve the environment but also our health. a couple years ago i spoke with some local restaurants about the hazards of styrofoam containers and even sent letters signed by fellow diners. several months after receiving a letter (i did not get a response), cottage inn switched from styrofoam. according to a waiter, this was because they melted under the heat lamps.

styrene is transferred to food from polystyrene (styrofoam) food containers (1,2). this is especially true when the containers are holding food that is warm or high in fat. according to a hazardous substances fact sheet (2) styrene is a possible human carcinogen.

styrofoam does not biodegrade well and can leak toxins into the groundwater when they are dumped into landfills. according to an EPA report (3), 910,000 tons of polystyrene were thrown away in 2005, essentially none of it recycled.

of course personal reusable containers are better even compared to disposable “green” containers. i am on board for the — “contain yourself” ?? week!! keep us posted.

Sources:
1 Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Report

2 The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry Report ToxFAQs™ for Styrene

3 Environmental Protection Agency Report

It’s a bit more complex than putting packaged goods into a shopping bag, but I’ve been doing this for a year and imagine we’re smart enough to create a system that works. The more people do it and discuss, the sooner we’ll figure it out. And for places like Sava or Totoro, I tell them I’m bringing my own container when I order – they know about it. I also have a sticker with the container weight on the lid for places that weigh.

Ask to take the food, coffee, whatever away with you in their own dishes. If you frequent a place enough they’ll know you and know that you’re good for bringing it back. I find this works very well for my numerous coffee and tea trips throughout my day. I just (carefully) carry their ceramic cup and saucer back to my office with me. Then I bring it back the next time I head over and drop it dirty in the bus tub. I still get the quarter discount and save the paper, I don’t have to worry about remembering to bring my own, they don’t have to worry about the cleanliness of my container, they handle the clean up, and best of all, it reminds me how great it is to live in a city where their is that kind of trust and mutual respect with one another.