National Fast Food Day
Yesterday was America Recycles Day, today is National Fast Food Day. I don't have to point out the incongruity between the days - the fast food industry creates tons of paper, plastic (and straw) waste which unfortunately, is often NOT recycled. Many restaurants remind you to recycle your coffee cup, but don't offer a recycling bin on the premises to make it easy for you to do so (Starbucks appears to be the exception). Straws are handed out with every beverage, whether or not it was requested. Sandwiches are either put into styrofoam containers or waxed paper, and everything is put in a paper sack. These items sometimes make it into recycling bins, but mostly they don't, and even worse, many of these items cannot be recycled.
According to an 2015 article written by Peter Lehner, former Executive Director of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the United States has one of the lowest recycling rates of any developed nation. He points out some of the reasons why in his article, which you can read here.
Many communities in the U.S. still don't have curbside recycling programs. Does your community? If not, please consider contacting your city council or township board members to let them know you want a recycling program. Your voice is important and can make a difference.
The next time you dine at a Fast Food Restaurant, whether it be today, or a future day, please do one or more of the following:
1) Ask them where there recycling bin is located. If the response is, "we don't have one", ask them why not and tell the manager you won't be patronizing their establishment again until they implement a recycling program.
2) If you are given a plastic straw, a one-use paper bags, or even too many napkins, please say "no thank you, I don't need those items". If you are feeling particularly brave, you could also let them know that plastic straws and packaging kills marine life. Raising awareness is always a good thing.
3) After you eat your meal, take your trash home to our own recycling bin. Just because the restaurant isn't environmentally aware doesn't mean you have to succumb to their errant practices.
Thank you for reading!
According to an 2015 article written by Peter Lehner, former Executive Director of the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC), the United States has one of the lowest recycling rates of any developed nation. He points out some of the reasons why in his article, which you can read here.
Many communities in the U.S. still don't have curbside recycling programs. Does your community? If not, please consider contacting your city council or township board members to let them know you want a recycling program. Your voice is important and can make a difference.
The next time you dine at a Fast Food Restaurant, whether it be today, or a future day, please do one or more of the following:
1) Ask them where there recycling bin is located. If the response is, "we don't have one", ask them why not and tell the manager you won't be patronizing their establishment again until they implement a recycling program.
2) If you are given a plastic straw, a one-use paper bags, or even too many napkins, please say "no thank you, I don't need those items". If you are feeling particularly brave, you could also let them know that plastic straws and packaging kills marine life. Raising awareness is always a good thing.
3) After you eat your meal, take your trash home to our own recycling bin. Just because the restaurant isn't environmentally aware doesn't mean you have to succumb to their errant practices.
Thank you for reading!
Comments
Post a Comment