Fast food, quick waste
The other day I was out with a friend and picked up a Subway sandwich to share for dinner. Assuming we'd share the drink — I don't normally get one but expected to be wandering the art gallery for awhile — we got a straw. Unwrapping it, I realised the waste involved: a plastic straw and a thin plastic sheath covering it would be thrown out when I was finished. I didn't even need a straw. We came to the conclusion that bottles (this one was glass; I would have it no other way) should be made like sippy cups.
The sandwich came wrapped in what I can only assume was coated paper, and inside a plastic bag with a couple napkins. All of it ended up in the trash. (I took the juice bottle home and will recycle it when finished.)
So all this got me thinking, fast food sure generates tons of waste!
This is not a new concept, but I'll admit to a struggle in finding prior information on the topic.
The waste of food is one certain problem, but here I'm dealing with the litter and landfill fodder that results from fast food. I'm not much of an expert on it because I never eat fast food aside from the occasional Subway which I don't consider fast food for a few reasons. (I've walked out with sushi faster!) If we consider the amounts of paper and plastic that result from feeding consumerism, convenience, laziness and "cheap" consumers, we have a real problem. I wonder how much waste in landfills is from fast food packaging? (Vending machines included.)
While it would be unreasonable to remove all of the packaging, switching to biodegradable, non-toxic materials would essentially solve the issues. Making them recyclable helps only to the extent that people volunteer to recycle the waste — and even then, I don't recall ever seeing a paper recycling box on the streets of Vancouver. The best idea across the board is to simply avoid fast food restaurants altogether.
I see commercials for Wendy's triple beef burger thing. "Nothing wrong with that" they say. Environmentalists and animal rights activists would have quite the beef to take up with them, pardon the pun. And do people really need 3 wads of beef? I am positive, though I haven't researched it yet, that the exponential growth of meat consumption and food consumption in general is not in proportion with the population growth of this continent. Yet we somehow have the perception of unlimited bellies and unlimited landfills. It appears the first R of Reduce, Reuse, Recycle has been quite forgotten.
I am an Interactive Designer in Vancouver, BC, and a graduate of the Communication Design program at the Emily Carr Institute. I enjoy tea, chocolate and European desserts. My passions here and elsewhere include the local eating lifestyle, environment and sustainability issues, public transit, health and design. You see? They're all related.
Comments
Great article, Erika! I was surprised to note the link is about research by a Finnish woman! The only takeout "fast" food we occasionally buy is sushi, and I'm always upset that the nice little packages are never recyclable, ie. it's a different number from what's accepted in our blue boxes. Sometimes I clean and reuse but I never seem to need that size.
Oh, and what art gallery show did you see?
Posted by: marja-leena | July 29, 2007 8:49 AM
I'm with ya on too much packaging.
I live in Kits near some fast food places so I've been taking my own containers in. I have a perfectly sized one for sushi, its' so great not having to throw out those styrofoam thingies.
You know though I went to fifth avenue cinemas and brought my own mug which is the perfect size for regular coffee and even though I asked the guy to put it in my mug and he said "uh huh", he attempted to proceeded to use a paper one to make it (I stopped him). He was going to make it and then dump it in my mug! He said "oh, you want me to make it in there?" I'm like "yes, I didn't want to create more garbage by having a cup that gets throw out, isn't that the point of using one's own mug?" He said well we have to throw it out anyways. ???? I don't get it.....geez
Posted by: Patricia | July 29, 2007 12:24 PM
Thank you! Yeah it's kind of dumb that way; it simply shouldn't be legal or the City should accept those kinds since they're obviously common.
We didn't end up going to see Monet to Dali because the lineup on Tuesday evening was a mile long!
Posted by: erika | July 29, 2007 12:42 PM
That's a great idea, Patricia. I've only thought to bring in my own bags when grocery or clothes shopping...
They have to throw it out anyways? Ugh. I don't get it either.
Styrofoam, my friend tells me, perpetuates forever and gets in everything. Highly toxic! I don't see styrofoam cups too often anymore but I guess in Salmon Arm they haven't heard the buzz yet? Ick. My computer was packaged in styrofoam but perhaps there's no alternative?
I got a package delivered from Toys R Us at Christmas and it was just a game board box, in a huge box, with a snake of crumpled up paper on top to fill it up! I was so peeved. Not only was it a waste but I had to stuff the damn thing in my recycling bag.
Posted by: erika | July 29, 2007 12:48 PM
I don't know what the alternative to computer styrofoam would be, although I store mine in the box in my storage unit instead of throwing it out. It's quite handy if I need to take my computer to the repair shop, I reuse it to pack it in the box (the shop is near me and then I can put it on the dolly and wheel it over). I"m confident though that new solutions will be found and things will change though as it's (finally) started to become part of culture.
U in Salmon Arm now? That's a big move. I used to live near Chase growing up. Rural living is quite the thing. But I much prefer Vancouver.
Posted by: cocacola | July 29, 2007 2:02 PM
Yeah that's usually a good idea. The last one I got was a laptop so it's pretty minimal. It doesn't need a dolly ;)
No I went up there in June for a family event. My sister lives near Chase, actually! I prefer Vancouver, too, but it's nice to get away :)
Speaking of away, my boyfriend and I shared a lovely mug of hot chocolate in a cafe in Victoria once. A good idea: if they know you're staying in the shop, why not give them a mug? I think Blenz does it, too.
Posted by: erika | July 29, 2007 2:07 PM
Your sister lives near chase? Is she an artist too? Everyone seems to know everyone there so I'll bet she knows my Mom (who is an artist as well, she paints landscapes, flowers etc...). She just came back from the Shuswap Festival of the Arts, she also helps run it. They have quite the arts community there.
Posted by: cocacola | July 30, 2007 2:46 PM
lol yeah, she is. Well, she's a writer, but she's got the artist in her like all of us. So not that involved I don't think. That's cool though! I love small art communities. My sister moved up there just a few years ago.
Posted by: erika | July 30, 2007 7:24 PM