The returnable container revolution

When it comes to the "3 Rs" of waste management, recycling often hogs the spotlight.

But a new pilot project aims to change that by helping restaurants reduce mountains of plastic waste generated by single-use takeout containers by reusing sustainable ones.

Sure, you're doing your part with reusable totes and water bottles, but those disposable containers from takeout orders pile up. According to an Upstream report:

• 1T, as in trillion disposable containers are used annually by US restaurants and food services, weighing ~9m tons

• $24B/year is spent on disposables by restaurants and food services

• $6B is spent by businesses and governments on solid-waste costs from disposables

• 20B pieces of litter are from disposable food-service packaging

Check it out

Reuse Maine, a pilot program led by University of Maine student researchers, encourages diners to borrow reusable stainless-steel food and beverage containers from restaurants like a library book, per Island Institute.

• Customers sign up for the free Recirclable app

• Place an order at participating restaurants

• Select containers needed and receive order

• Rinse and return containers to participating businesses within two weeks to avoid a $15/container fee

The subscription lending model is being tested at 17 restaurants and over 100 customers have borrowed more than 500 containers so far. After the pilot, restaurants can purchase the containers.

The program hopes to show that reusable containers can help save businesses money and reduce plastic waste.

A UMaine survey found that restaurants spend an average of $2k/month each on disposable food packaging and ~$6k collectively on waste management services.

Who else?

• Recirclable, used by the pilot, has a reusable program operating at 27 restaurants.

• That program was inspired by efforts in Europe, like German startup Vytal, which leases reusable containers.

• DoorDash is experimenting with reusable containers in California in partnership with startup Dispatch Goods.

• French startup Pyxo aims to build the biggest network of reusable containers.

• Denmark's New Loop offers businesses a reusable container service with a refundable deposit.

• India's elaborate tiffin delivery service is a precursor to modern reusable container systems.

And while you might think, "Hey, what about those compostable food container programs we've heard about over the years?" proponents of reusables argue that compostables aren't a sustainable solution given the cost, resource demands, and difficulty in composting.

Guess it's time to give that third R a shot.