Going out to eat

Going out can be a nice experience, especially if you're a lil' lazy. No cooking or washing is required. Be it a restaurant or a fast food place, going out for a snack generates a lot of bad waste. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from going out, but there are certain things I want to shed some light on. Going out can be green but it depends on where you go. Takeaway food with it's disposable containers is the enemy. Plastic/paper cups, plastic cutlery, paper plates and takeaway containers are all single-use items that end up in the trash. Most of the time these are non-recyclable and even if they are, why make trash when it can be avoided?

Here's how you can do this the right way... be prepared, bring your own stuff.

• Takeaway containers. Bring your own box. Trust me, it's not that weird to ask for your food to be put in it. You're basically saving the company money by not using their containers.
• Paper cups. If you're a coffee or tea drinker, bring your own reusable coffee cup. There are many great alternatives out there (e.g., Joco, KeepCup, Onya, Ecoffee).
• Other drinks and liquids. Bring a bottle or thermos.
• Plastic straws. You can get reusable straws that are made out of steel, bamboo or glass. A brush is normally included too so you can clean the straw properly.
• Paper napkins. Bring a cotton napkin that is washable.
• Plastic cutlery. Bring reusable cutlery.
• Paper plates. You can use a lunch box.
• Bonus tip. Use a lunch box for your leftovers. Throwing food is completely unnecessary, plus you've already paid for it.