Comments on: Carrying Our Own Containers: Powerful Action or Pointless Inconvenience?

By: Chicken in a jar « liberated spaces

Chicken in a jar « liberated spaces — Tue, 01 May 2012 02:02:14 +0000

[...] in 2010. At the time, Beth interviewed me for an awesome piece she wrote about bringing our own reusable containers out into the [...]

By: Kandi

Kandi — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 03:27:24 +0000

I’m sorry if this was answered before, I only skimmed the comments, What do you do at restaurants that have the silverware wrapped in a paper napkin?

By: Jamie

Jamie — Wed, 02 Mar 2011 01:38:27 +0000

This is a great post. I just wanted to mention that in some places in this world carrying your own take out containers is completely normal (and in some the only way you would get your food home, i.e. villages in the Czech Republic.) Any no one seems to mind because it is just how they do things. If more people here carried their own “take out” containers it would probably catch on just like canvas bags have. Thanks again for the great post and blog, it is really encouraging and reminds me that I can do something as one person.

By: Melissa Holliday

Melissa Holliday — Fri, 20 Aug 2010 07:48:50 +0000

Hooray!! With other people getting on board with using their own containers for restaurant leftovers, maybe I’ll get less weird looks. I was trying to lose weight and would split my restaurant meal in half before eating and take the rest home for another meal. I would ask the waitress/waiter for a small box at the time I ordered but the majority of the time I’d have to ask at least twice. Then they would bring me a HUGE styrofoam container that would take up half of my refrigerator. Frustrated with that, I started bringing my own container when I went out to eat. Now I’m keeping junk out of the landfill and reducing my eating at the same time!

I’m excited to hear about all the ways you are reducing waste and will be thrilled to do it myself. It always has bothered me when I get a small sandwich at a drive thru, I would be given a paper bag, a straw (I don’t use them), and enough napkins for a family of six. Just hand me the little wrapped sandwich and let me be on my way.

I think a little info card is a good idea to get the idea across quickly. I guess the challenge left before us is to get our teenage servers to make eye contact so we can convey this great idea. (pet peeve)

By: Shannon

Shannon — Mon, 02 Aug 2010 18:53:43 +0000

I carry around my own non-BPA lined stainless steel coffee mug, and I’ve been bringing my own grocery and produce bags for years, as well as jars for bulk food items at the grocery store. Although I occasionally see other people with grocery bags, I have never, ever seen anyone with their own produce bags, and the cashier invariably exclaims over them. I had not thought of bringing my own takeout containers to restaurants, though. Of course, we go out to eat so rarely, and even when we do we usually get appetizers/tapas, or split an entree so there are no leftovers anyways, so I doubt I would ever do this. Great idea, though! :) The closest thing I have seen to places encouraging this type of thing is Quiznos – if you buy their reusable bag for $.99 and bring it back each time you buy a sandwich, you get a free drink. Don’t forget your mug. ;)

By: Beth Terry

Beth Terry — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 00:31:54 +0000

Dawn, I would never suggest you get rid of your pets. Creativity and persistence are key. Just brainstorm what resources exist and continue to ask stores for what you want. I wish I could give you specific answers, but I’ve never had pets more exotic than dogs and cats.

By: Dawn

Dawn — Wed, 21 Jul 2010 05:48:44 +0000

Hi!
I don’t know if anyone has asked this or given you this idea but I just wanted to say it in case it hasn’t been mentioned.

Two things on yoru own containers:
1) repurpose medicine jars (the plastic yellow ones the pharmacy gives you or someone in your family) as spice containers. Just take the label off and reuse. They are small and perfect for the bulk bin section on spices!

2) Any ideas on how to get away from plastic when it comes to getting your bird’s food, betta food, and snake food? I see you make your own cat food which can be translated to making your own dog food and vegetarian animal food (for bunnies and the like) but what about the others? Oh, and I actually see our local pet shop making their own “salads” for their veggie critters. I’m just wondering about the others. So far all of the bird seed is prepackaged (even the bulk stuff you can buy at the pet shop is) but I wonder if the millet in the bulk foods section at the grocery store would work for them. Betta food is either prepakcaged pellets, week pellets, or prepackaged mealworms in plastic bags. And even snake food either gets put live into paper bags or frozen into plastic AND paper bags. I have asked about putting the forzen stuff (I can’t deal with the squeals no matter how carnivorous snakes are naturally) in different bags and they say that they aren’t allowed to so that “other people don’t have to see it”. Any thoughts that don’t suggest I get rid of my pets?

By: The Ultimate Simple Living Guide: 95 Rockin’ Posts

The Ultimate Simple Living Guide: 95 Rockin’ Posts — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 14:03:06 +0000

[...] 23. 50 Simple Ways to Get Off 24. Beyond Hope25. The Story of Stuff 26. 20 Simple Ways to Save Lots of Water27. Tiny Gardens and Permaculture Farms28. Carrying Our Own Containers: Powerful Action or Pointless Inconvenience? [...]

By: Mary K

Mary K — Thu, 22 Apr 2010 20:21:46 +0000

Reusable bags at stores is easy now, especially since its almost the cool thing to do with all the stores selling their own bags now. I have glass straws, and I have no problem using it when my husband and I go out, but when we are with other friends, I always cringe. Others tend to act weird about it, but I keep doing it. I haven’t progressed to my own take-out containers yet, but hopefully I can do that soon.

By: Friday Green Links – 3/19 « Pragmatic Environmentalism

Friday Green Links – 3/19 « Pragmatic Environmentalism — Sat, 20 Mar 2010 02:52:47 +0000

[...] Carrying Our Own Containers – Fake Plastic Fish. Beth addresses lots of questions she gets about bringing her containers everywhere. [...]