5 ms·

I don't get it. There are excellent leakproof cardboard takeout containers available. They may cost a little more. Is this another example of leave a mess behi

I don't get it. There are excellent leakproof cardboard takeout containers available. They may cost a little more. Is this another example of leave a mess behind for the future to pay for?

smt88 7y ago
> They may cost a little more So you do get it.
Tempest1981 7y ago
Unfortunately, the pricing doesn't capture the true cost of the negative externalities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality#Negative https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality#Negative
sushid 7y ago
I'm pretty sure the cardboard boxes you are thinking of have a layer of plastic on them. The only cardboard boxes I've seen from to go places without any plastic turn soggy within 30 minutes or so even without anything liquid in them (just a poke bowl).
- deleted 7y ago
  [deleted]
- culturestate 7y ago
  This is still a pretty good solution. The amount of plastic used is cut dramatically, obviously, and as long as the containers are made correctly they can still be recycled in a normal paper process.
  - dwaltrip 7y ago
    Is cardboard that is dirtied with food oils actually recyclable? I thought this is not the case.
    - culturestate 7y ago
      If it's made correctly, yes. Pizza boxes aren't (because they aren't coated, so the oil soaks in), but e.g. orange juice cartons are.
      - ubercow13 7y ago
        Orange juice cartons are surely plastic-lined or foil-lined too though
        culturestate 7y ago
        Right, which is why recyclability depends on the way they're made. The PE formulation used for things like juice cartons in the US can be broken down when the cartons are pulped.
- rhacker 7y ago
  Someone will come up with something. I'm starting to see Bamboo straws in AZ because CA outlawed plastic straws. The companies that are making these alternative products are having a boon because of the new laws. If we required take out packaging to not include styrofoam or plastic in a couple years I bet there would be some incredible innovations.
bencollier49 7y ago
In the UK, takeaways used to pretty much universally deliver in soft, perhaps tin or aluminium, containers with cardboard lids. Around 10-15 years ago, restaurants started switching to plastic. Some still use the old-style containers. If those are more ecologically sound, perhaps the government here should ban the plastic ones.
ramraj07 7y ago
Perhaps you should read the article? It's not about the cost, the restaurants don't want to risk a bad review and would rather wrap everything in one more layer of plastic. And not sure if you're aware but people from developing countries generally care less about being environmentally friendly than in devekoped countries.

I don't get it. There are excellent leakproof cardboard takeout containers available. They may cost a little more. Is this another example of leave a mess behind for the future to pay for?

smt88 7y ago

> They may cost a little more So you do get it.

Tempest1981 7y ago

Unfortunately, the pricing doesn't capture the true cost of the negative externalities. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality#Negative https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Externality#Negative

sushid 7y ago

I'm pretty sure the cardboard boxes you are thinking of have a layer of plastic on them. The only cardboard boxes I've seen from to go places without any plastic turn soggy within 30 minutes or so even without anything liquid in them (just a poke bowl).

deleted 7y ago
[deleted]
culturestate 7y ago
This is still a pretty good solution. The amount of plastic used is cut dramatically, obviously, and as long as the containers are made correctly they can still be recycled in a normal paper process.
- dwaltrip 7y ago
  Is cardboard that is dirtied with food oils actually recyclable? I thought this is not the case.
  - culturestate 7y ago
    If it's made correctly, yes. Pizza boxes aren't (because they aren't coated, so the oil soaks in), but e.g. orange juice cartons are.
    - ubercow13 7y ago
      Orange juice cartons are surely plastic-lined or foil-lined too though
      - culturestate 7y ago
        Right, which is why recyclability depends on the way they're made. The PE formulation used for things like juice cartons in the US can be broken down when the cartons are pulped.
rhacker 7y ago
Someone will come up with something. I'm starting to see Bamboo straws in AZ because CA outlawed plastic straws. The companies that are making these alternative products are having a boon because of the new laws. If we required take out packaging to not include styrofoam or plastic in a couple years I bet there would be some incredible innovations.

bencollier49 7y ago

In the UK, takeaways used to pretty much universally deliver in soft, perhaps tin or aluminium, containers with cardboard lids. Around 10-15 years ago, restaurants started switching to plastic. Some still use the old-style containers. If those are more ecologically sound, perhaps the government here should ban the plastic ones.

ramraj07 7y ago

Perhaps you should read the article? It's not about the cost, the restaurants don't want to risk a bad review and would rather wrap everything in one more layer of plastic. And not sure if you're aware but people from developing countries generally care less about being environmentally friendly than in devekoped countries.