I went on a rant about preachy bloggers on Twitter last night. Naturally, I don’t think I am particularly preachy, but even though I actively try not to be commanding I bet it slips through.
The Segue
With that in mind I wanted to share how I dealt with all of the disposable waste from my Panera mishap on Tuesday. I should probably pretend I took care of this that day, but really I am just lazy and slovenly so that bag sat on my kitchen table for two days while I ignored it.
Here is everything that was crammed in my take-out bag: three paper napkins, a plastic knife and spoon, soup cup lid, panini box, pastry sleeve, single serve butter.
First I tackled the panini box. It’s paper, and I can’t recycle it since it is soiled, but I can compost it.
I just had to remove the plastic window. I found the recycling note on the bottom amusing in an obnoxious way.
Next, the soup container.
Plastic lid, probably recyclable, once washed off. But this container is the same type that hot drinks, sodas, ice cream, etc. come in.
Once upon a time, these paper cups were lined with wax to waterproof them. These days they are invariably plastic and not recyclable. See the way the water beads on the plastic coating? The plastic is also what comes into contact with hot drinks and food. Balls.
Next, my cookie’s pastry sleeve. These were once made entirely of recycled paper. It’s really sad they changed this. Who even cares about the window? It is relatively easy to remove, though.
& the tally
Recyclable:
Though realistically the utensils might not even be recyclable. And the likelihood that lid is going to be remade into a lid is very low/almost nil.
To the heap:
So, altogether, all of this can be composted, but not recycled since it’s all touched food (even the napkins).
Destined for the landfill:
Two plastic windows, soup cup and Land O’Lakes single serving spread. (I do not even know what is in that “butter” but if anyone wants it so it doesn’t go to waste, holla):
So there we go, accountability. It seems like a lot of waste just for one small meal, doesn’t it? If you found yourself thinking it seemed like an awful lot of trouble to go to all the time, rest easy. This was the first time in a long while I’ve had to do this, because I’ve gotten pretty good at avoiding being in the sitch. However, I am human and nobody’s perfect. I went to brunch this afternoon at Yellow Vase Cafe in Redondo Beach and they gave me my OJ in a plastic cup. Not cute, Yellow Vase.
& then I went to Starbucks.
Ok, self-flagellation over. I am pretty disappointed in myself lately about my personal footprint. It’s almost like I’m not trying. I think that in addition to that, the world I live in has just made it really difficult to live a less-impactful life.
But that doesn’t mean I should stop trying. I hope sharing this was inspiring, or at the very least, not totally a repellent. And not preachy. If I am going to give y’all sermons, I will need you to address me as The Reverend Erika, please. (today really was nice, despite all of my wasting :])
Edit: I got this text from Jenny today. It made me really happy, but I kind of feel responsible for the plight of every Panera worker out there. Ha! Oh well, thank you Jenny for making me feel like I have any influence whatsoever. :]
Happy Friday! Pura vida!
