“The abundance of recent announcements by cities and foodservice companies enacting bans on plastic drinking straws can make it seem like straws are the chief culprit when it comes to plastic waste. However, straws make up a small portion of plastic waste, and over-emphasizing efforts to get rid of straws could distract from a more comprehensive approach to foodservice sustainability that would have a much greater impact than focusing on straws alone. As off-premise sales continue to grow for restaurants, foodservice packaging will only proliferate, so it’s important that restaurants invest in packaging that’s more sustainable from the start and help consumers dispose of it responsibly.

To further cut down on the amount of foodservice packaging that ends up as waste, restaurants should make sure they’re purchasing recyclable materials and disposing of them properly. A high percentage of restaurant operators report that they recycle, according to the National Restaurant Association’s 2017 Restaurant Sustainability Survey, which found that 29% of restaurants recycle rigid plastics such as cups, some 22% recycle cling wrap and other flexible plastics, and 65% recycle paper and cardboard.”

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