zerowaste

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Discussing ways to reduce waste and build community!

Celebrate thrift as a virtue, talk about creative ways to make do, or show off how you reused something!

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Compostable dishes vs washing dishes (slrpnk.net)

submitted 6 days ago by RideAgainstTheLizard@slrpnk.net to c/zerowaste@slrpnk.net

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Many cafés and fast food places these days provide disposable dishes and cutlery when you're eating in. This used to infuriate me, but it seems to be improving slightly now as the trend has moved towards using compostable dishes instead of plastic ones.

However, it's still waste. It makes me wonder, what is more costly in the long run? Providing customers with compostable items or running hot dishwashers and using soap and water all day to reuse dishes?

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[–] paperBark@slrpnk.net 8 points 5 days ago (1 children)

The café my partner used to work at had all compostable takeout stuff. Despite having a city wide compostable pickup program they did not bother with a compost bin so it all went directly in the trash. So I wouldn't assume its going to be properly disposed of, even when proper options exist.

[–] RideAgainstTheLizard@slrpnk.net 5 points 5 days ago

Incredibly important point! We have to assume the local government takes composting seriously for composting to work, which we can't rely on.

The building I work in (downtown in Vancouver) doesn't even recycle (what the fuck?)

Reusable, washable ceramic wins