My Plastic-free Life - Forum: Citizen Action

Beth Terry on Tijuana Flats Restaurant

Wed, 08 May 2013 07:41:38 -0700

Hi. Thanks for writing your letter! Will you please update us with any response you get?

Eve Stavros on Tijuana Flats Restaurant

Tue, 07 May 2013 06:43:10 -0700

Hi Renee!

Welcome to the discussion! Yes, it's frustrating to see how many restaurants unthinkingly promote such a wasteful dining style. Hope your letter gets at least a response. If they knew that more folks like us are choosing not to patronize such places, they might make some changes!

Dapeekas on Tijuana Flats Restaurant

Sat, 27 Apr 2013 14:07:39 -0700

Hello All!

This is my very first post and i'm excited about it.

I'm not sure if any of you have heard of the Mexican restaurant called Tijuana Flats. Its a smaller chain in Florida, Virginia, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Indiana. I went there for the first time recently and was appalled by their use of one time plastic. I emailed them this letter and hopefully hear back from them soon!

Dear Tijuana Flats,

I recently went to your restaurant for the very first time.. I had read very good reviews online about the friendly staff and yummy food. I was very excited to experience your store, which was described as 'Hip'.

My first impression was great, all of the staff was so friendly and accommodating. They made sure my party and I understood how to order our food and even made a few suggestions from the menu.

My excitement ended when our drinks arrived. They were in styrofoam cups, with a plastic lid and plastic straw. I was a bit distraught by the amount of non-degradable waste just in one drink. When our food arrived I was even more distraught. The food was served with plastic utensils and on a plastic plate. I must say the food was good and I did enjoy it.

I would like to ask that you consider discontinuing your use of one time use plastic beverage containers, utensils and dishes. Your company is creating a huge amount of waste that not only is non-degradable but also has toxins in it that can get into your food. I understand that you are trying to create an interesting fun 'hip' place to be but there is nothing 'hip' about polluting our environment.

Thank you for your time and I look forward to your response.

Renee

Unexpected Farm Girl on Superstore's (Loblaw) Policy on Spoiled Produce

Wed, 13 Mar 2013 10:50:22 -0700

To all people out there that are interested in the reduction of waste going to the landfill, I ask you to take a moment to consider my request for help. I know that this blog is specific to plastic, however as my journey that started in reducing my plastic consumption, has morphed into a general attempt to decrease waste.

It has come to my attention that Superstore (owned by Loblaw) has a policy for the disposal of spoiled produce to be wet compacted and sent directly to the dump. For those of you who have read our blog host's book, "Plastic Free" by Beth Terry, you will know that this creates methane gasses that are bad for our environment.

I am currently trying to start a campaign for the review of this policy, so that spoiled food waste can be used by farmers to fed their animals; with the ever so important benefit of closing of the nitrogen cycle. Please visit my humble blog for further details: The Diary of a City Girl Turned Farmer, at http://funnyfarmsaskatchewan.blogspot.ca. You will find a template letter addressed to Loblaw for interested parties to e-mail to Loblaw's Social Responsibility Department.

Thank you for listening.

Beth Terry on speaker

Fri, 07 Sep 2012 11:16:46 -0700

Hi. Email me at beth [at] myplasticfreelife [dot] com to discuss possibilities. Would love to discuss.

hastingsv on speaker

Mon, 03 Sep 2012 03:33:22 -0700

We are looking for a Plastic Free Speaker in Central Massachusetts for November. We have some funds! Thanks

Beth Terry on Food Network or Plastic Network?

Wed, 01 Aug 2012 16:23:17 -0700

Thanks for sending that letter, Eve! You never know what impact you might have. One of the stories in my book is of a woman who got one of the Disney TV shows to stop showing people drinking bottled water, so it can be done! (I wish Nancy Botwin on Weeds didn't always have an iced coffee in a plastic cup with a plastic straw sticking out of her mouth.)

Eve Stavros on Food Network or Plastic Network?

Tue, 31 Jul 2012 04:16:42 -0700

So, I'm watching my favorite cooking show and the chef whips out yet another plastic bag to pipe devilled egg filling and I thought, "AHA!!! Part of the problem is the thoughtless promotion of single-use plastic in the media that is so subliminally I didn't even see it until today"!!! And then another show featured pouring warm marinade into a bag full of meat to sit for a couple of hours. And then another, and another - dozens of bags being used all over the channel. We, as cooks & consumers, are being shown that it's not only OK to use plastic for food prep & storage, but hey, look, the experts prefer it! So, I decided to address the problem by sending the following comment via email on their website. And yeah, I know I'm asking them to not feature their sponsor's products in such a big way, but maybe if more viewers would join in voicing their concerns, something could change. After all, if these experts could show the millions of viewers alternative ways to do things, it might catch on.

"I am a serious foodie & Food Network fan who has also become more health conscious and aware of the impact of plastics on our health and the environment. And the number of people jumping on the anti-plastic bandwagon, especially when it comes in contact with our food, is growing, to judge by the discussions on several blogs I follow.

My comment is this: many of my favorite shows (Good Eats, Secrets of a Restaurant Chef, Giada at Home, Ten Dollar Dinners, 30-minute meals) show a heavy use of plastic bags & tubs for marinating, storing, prepping food. Many people like myself don't buy those bags or containers any more due to health and waste concerns. I would like to see a more responsible approach taken to show us not only less wasteful ways to prep & store food, but also more healthy. After all, it's all about the food, not keeping Glad and SC Johnson in business! And yes, I realize convenience is a large part of this, but it's more a part of the problem, rather than the solution.

Thank you for taking the time to hear my concern. I look forward to a response from you."

Dana on Trader Joe's Produce, letters and suggestions?

Wed, 25 Jul 2012 15:20:25 -0700

I have contacted Trader Joes to say that I don't buy poultry there because it's always packaged in styrofoam, and also that I like their free trade coffee but would like an alternative to the plastic cover, as well as plastic laden produce.

I think it'd be better to actually find alternatives to plastic that we could suggest. I don't know what other greener grocery stores do, other than offer a less bulk items. Mushroom or soy or cardboard? I have bought cardboard containers at TJ's for their tomatoes.

BTW, my local TJ's just trashes their old produce and doesn't give it a food kitchen. Seems like a huge waste. Once again, I suggested this to the branch. The guy throwing out lots of bananas said that even the employees aren't allowed to take it home! Oh well, another issue beyond plastic.

Beth Terry on Save Salgados from a plastic pollution nightmare!

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 20:34:34 -0700

I did get it to work for me later on a different computer. No idea. Posted to Facebook too.

Giving it a go on Save Salgados from a plastic pollution nightmare!

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 11:00:25 -0700

Oh, that´s not good! I just did it again, with another email address (never thought of that!) it worked for me fine, took a few minutes but then it was there... I don´t know how it works... thanks for trying! I´ve copied the link again in case it was that.

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petiti.....&pv=5

Beth Terry on Save Salgados from a plastic pollution nightmare!

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 10:02:04 -0700

Hi. Thanks for posting this. I am trying to sign the petition, but nothing happens after I put in my name and information and click "Sign". It just stays on the same page not doing anything.

Giving it a go on Save Salgados from a plastic pollution nightmare!

Thu, 05 Jul 2012 01:28:32 -0700

In the last couple of days I have learnt about Salgados in the Algarve in Portugal. A huge migration stop of for 1000s of birds.

I think it´s something your members would like to hear about so they can help to save it.

Right now the Portuguese Government has just given the go-ahead for the majority of the area, 359 hectares, (887 acres), to be “developed”. By developed they mean “to be concreted over” and thus lost to the wildlife that finds it vital now and also lost for the enjoyment of future generations.

Of course there are these birds that are directly effected. But if these hotels & complex go ahead there could be many many more birds effected for years to come by the plastic pollution created by them. In fact, I was on an island on a boat trip for my friends Birthday on the South Coast of the Algarve & it was literally littered with dead seagulls. When I rang a local association on my return home, I was told this is normal, & yes probably caused by plastic ingestion. But seagulls are classed as vermin here so they are not important or registered....

Thankfully, someone has started a petition! & a Portuguese Lawyer I know, who brought it to my attention, plans to take it to court. So if the Portuguese government see foreign names on there - potential tourists - this could really help the case.

I hope you can add this to your site so your members see & can play a ritual in saving Salgados!

With thanks & hope,

Michelle

http://www.avaaz.org/en/petiti.....&pv=5

Giving it a go on If you had just one chance....

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 08:52:59 -0700

I have a warm feeling after being there today. Glass bottles of free tap water on the tables & no straws being given out unless people ask. He´s also ordered paper bags for takeaways. They alone cost him 2,500€ 60cents each...

We are going to put a logo I´ve designed up & he even said about getting it done huge & putting it on the road at the top & bottom down to the beach....

Woooooooo!!

Beth Terry on Trader Joe's Produce, letters and suggestions?

Fri, 13 Apr 2012 17:49:22 -0700

Thanks. You can email them to beth [at] myplasticfreelife [dot] com.