UPFRONT/live
Food-Delivery Frustrations
What to do with all the waste that comes with convenience
PILING UP IN my kitchen is an unsightly stack of reusable grocery bags. Why so many? Because I subscribe to a delivery service, I don’t go to the store. But I don’t want to pitch the bags and other food packaging, so I talked to experts about what to do. This is their advice.
UTENSILS
The Association of Plastic Recyclers says not to put tough-to-sort plastic forks, knives and spoons into curbside recycling. Your best bet is to tell the restaurant you don’t need them.
SINGLE-USE BAGS
Don’t put thin plastic bags—including those from bread and produce, plus resealable storage bags and shipping pillows—into curbside recycling. They can harm recycling sorting equipment. Instead, find a retailer that has bins specifically for plastic-bag recycling. Search for such a location in your zip code at earth911.com.
COLD PACKS
Most frozen cold packs contain gel that should be placed in the regular trash. A small number of cold packs contain nontoxic “drain safe” gel, which you can pour down the sink.
PLASTIC CONTAINERS
Clean and place plastic containers with other curbside recycling, alongside bottles, cans and paper.
REUSABLE BAGS
These thick plastic bags (similar to cloth) can’t be recycled. Your best alternative: Donate them to a local food bank. —Stewart Wolpin