are styrofoam and/or plastic take out containers a deal breaker for chowhounders?
just like the title says, i was curious as to how many chowhounders consider this when they are eating take out food. does it even register when u are handed these frowned upon containers? i myself am guilty of not even registering any thoughts when i have bought take out.
i have been reading up a little bit and am now more aware of what places are actually using. just curious as to what others think on the subject especially what actions you have taken as far as places that blatantly use styrofoam containers if any.
-
-
Steve Green
Dec 16, 2012 11:58 AM
For me, it's not the ecological concern, but more of practicality. There's a place where I occasionally call in a meatball sandwich order (minus the bread, +extra sauce) and unless I specify, they put it in a styro clamshell in a paper bag -- a major mess waiting to happen. One time, I didn't even make it out of the store before the leakage started. Now, I specify that they put it in one of those black-and-clear plastic salad containers, which snaps closed securely. Sometimes they forget and try to hand it to me in the styro, and I make them repackage it. Don't want my car reeking of marinara for the next week.
-
It's a deal breaker for my husband. He stopped getting coffee at two places when they switched to styrofoam cups.
While I prefer my take out coffee in traditional paper cup if the place doesn't have them and I don't have my travel mug) it doesn't stop me from ordering.
None of our true take out places uses styrofoam. Most use chinese-style take out boxes or the heavy duty plastic ones that are dishwasher safe.
For "doggie bags" I don't think any of the places we eat at use styrofoam. Most have the white coated cardboard boxes or the same plastic ones noted above. But if they did I don't think it would make leave behind a good piece of steak or any other yummy leftovers.
I work with a woman who is working on creating zero waste. She brings mason jars, lidded pyrex etc to the grocery stores for her deli meats, cheeses, bulk cereals, grains etc. On the rare times we do go out to eat she bring her own container for leftovers. She even bring her own containers to the salad bar at the local speciality grocer. By now they know her so she rarely has weigh her containers anymore.
-
-
KaimukiMan
Dec 13, 2012 07:52 PM
I wish it made a difference to me, but since no one seems to have created a viable option I have to go with styrofoam or plastic, and most places here use styrofoam. One place tried using some sort of treated cardboard, it was fine for about 4 hours. Thats not long enough to keep leftovers. Im not even sure it was actually more recyclable unless we are looking at the 10,000 year cycle. But since virtually none of the trash here is recycled it really doesn't matter. It all ends up in the dump and will stay there untill the archeologists from a distant galaxy come along to study our culture.
-
Sal Vanilla
Dec 13, 2012 05:49 PM
It irks me that someone might frown on whatever I do. "Go frown in your own mirror" I say!
I am sincerely sick of the unbadged police running around trying to making life miserable.
I do what makes sense. If the place offers only styrofoam as take out I am not going to issue lecture number 27 to them about it. I will not picket them. I will not rail against them on Yelp.
I think my line of disgust is when I see Marlin on the menu.
Plastic bags at the grocery forever! I use them again and they don't have to be washed with soap and water after each use. AND I don't have to cop a smug look on my face like I am saving the planet one canvas bag at a time while having my groceries bagged. FAtooEY!
Now. Who swiped the steps I use to get down from my piss on PC soapbox?
-
-
DuchessNukem
Sep 27, 2012 11:35 AM
Not a deal-breaker; have to laugh sometimes because all I want is a square of foil for a bit of steak so I can stick it in my purse for later gnawing and waitstaff always want to give me the full box. Takes a bit of negotiation. :)
-
rockandroller1
Sep 27, 2012 11:26 AM
It doesn't stop me, but I notice and like it when I come across a place that is using recyclable/eco-friendly takeout packaging. Nowhere where I live is styro recyclable and very few plastics are as well.
-
-
-
-
-
-
Motosport
Sep 26, 2012 02:37 PM
I dislike styrofoam especially when they staple the container shut. Someday I may bite into a staple with my chow fun.
Reusable plastic is ok. "Bachelor Tupperware." We use it a lot when we take home made lunch to work. Recycle it when it wears out. -
I don't get actual restaurant take-out very often. However, at my cafeteria they provide Styrofoam containers for to-go requests. I quickly decided to ask if they'd mind me bringing my own re-useable containers to put thing in, rather than the Styrofoam and they were okay with this, thankfully. Had they said no I probably would have stopped taking food out, period, despite the inconvenience. For the amount of days per week I want to grab something and run those containers would add up fast.
It's not a 100% dealbreaker for me, but it is situational. I'd certainly prefer if places gave more recyclable container or ones that can be repurposed. I usually try to get around packaging like that by asking if I can carry the item out (w/o the package) or saying no to extra packing (ie plastic bags) when I can carry the item(s) well enough without.
-
mucho gordo
Sep 17, 2012 10:47 AM
The deal breaker for me is when they stack the containers one on top of another so that the combined weight crushes the one on the bottom causing it to leak all over.
-
I abhor styrofoam in all forms, but sometimes it cannot be avoided. I hate takeout or doggie bags that use them and will transfer the food into another container when I get home.
I love plastic containers that can be reused. I have a ton of them and at Thanksgiving when I'm sending leftovers home with others they are great because I don't have to give them my good containers.
-
This is not an environmental consideration for me, at all.
I cannot stand styrofoam or plastic containers for takeout salad or sandwiches or anything else.
If I find them doing it I intervene and ask them to please either use a paper bag or cardboard or something else that doesn't partially wilt or steam the contents.
Recently I was ordering a takeout panini from LaBrea bakery and the fact that they placed it in an open cardboard box (with the lid kept open) will keep me coming back. They pay attention to the final product and how it should be transported. Smart. -
paulj
Sep 16, 2012 03:52 PM
Are any takeout containers recyclable? My company doesn't even want soiled paper.
If you really are concerned about recycling you should eat at home or in a restaurant that recycles all of its wash water ....
Or how about a restaurant that lets you provide your own containers? I believe that was the norm in some less-industrialized countries. Let's face it, takeout with disposable containers is only possible because those containers are cheap - the store can afford to give them to you, along with paper napkins.
›2 Replies-
re: paulj
I do not personally factor in the container as a deal breaker for food (to do so, I would have to give up eating at many places that serve fine food). But I admit I do like the plastic containers more. First they are a lot more tightly sealed (important when you have a tendency to pick up takeout as you walk, put it in a carrying bag and not eat it till later, or you need to bring lefovers home. Second those takeout containers, by being re-used have basically removed all need for my to buy storage containers of any sort. My re used containers serve all needs (plus, if you have extras, they make great little incubators for getting early spring garden seeds started) you just have to remember to keep a system going of numbering the tops and bottoms (so that you can re-match them when you need too).
About the closest I can think of to actually factoring in the container was as follows. There are/were two resturaunt in Chiantown I used to go to frequently and often got soup at. These two used a different modle of quart soup contatiner than the one used by most other places (they were wider and shorter). My mom made me promise that, whenever I got soup at either of them, I had to bring the container back, as she found it was the perfect size for storing hard boiled eggs. -
re: paulj
Depends on the type of container and the recycling company: some will take paper with food residue, some don't (mine is the latter). I've occasionally gotten plastic containers, which can be washed and reused or recycled.
Some cities in my area ban styrofoam for food containers, so places usually go with paper, which at least has a chance of decomposing in a landfill. I don't consider the type of container a deal breaker
-
-
al b. darned
Sep 16, 2012 03:32 PM
Not a problem to me. Whether it's a take out order or a doggie bag box, I am more concerned with it getting home without leaking all over seat/carpet of my truck. If it is take out, I want it to stay hot until I get home.
When I traveled for work I often took take out back to the motel room to eat. The only problem with Styrofoam was the fork going thru the bottom of it and leaking dinner contents (juices, salad dressing, etc.).
There's not much a place could use that is recyclable. And unless they start charging for take out/doggie boxes they are going with the most economical choice. Even those Chinese take out boxes are not recyclable as they are plastic coated, and that is not recyclable paper in my county.
The only reusable containers I have gotten are the soup containers from the Chinese take out. I've got a ton of them.
-
-
-
-
greygarious
Sep 16, 2012 11:48 AM
Are you concerned about recycling or about possible chemical hazards in your food? Around here, I see recycling logos on most plastic containers but styrofoam is not accepted by our recycling companies. So I prefer plastic, and that's what most places use. I only see waxed cardboard for Chinese take-out, and even that is in decline, being replaced by less-leakprone
plastic. I have started taking my own Rubbermaid containers when I go for takeout or to a restaurant in expectation of leftover food. In the former case, using one's own containers means you are not able to call the order in ahead of time.›1 Reply-
re: greygarious
i am more concern about the recycling. just trying to do my part since i do eat alot of take out. it did started bothering me a bit especially since i eat alot of chinese food. seeing all these stryofoam containers. not sure what i can do about it though since like i said almost 80% or more of my meals are eating out. of those more than half is take out.
-
-
-
I ordered a salad the other day at a new-to-me place. Mixed greens with a simple balsamic vinaigrette. It came to my table --just out side of the establishment's doors on a nice patio with an umbrella-table.--in a styrofoam clamshell. I won't be going back. I may be bothered by the "un-ecofriendliness" (is that even a word?) but what really got to me is the aesthetics. The plastic fork digging into the plastic styro-i-ness is just icky icky icky. Bummer that they ruined what ~could~ have been a nice salad.
-
-
I very rarely get takeout, but there is a bakery that makes wonderful pastries. Last time I bought two they started to put them in a big styrofoam clamshell. I stopped them and said a paper bag would be fine. However, we can now recycle styrofoam along with glass, plastic etc so not as big a concern as it used to be.
