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In recent months, Alberta has been taking significant strides in its efforts to save the environment, with a special focus on reducing single-use takeout container waste. While you may have been busy, we're here to catch you up on the latest news about refundable takeout containers.
Imagine it's Friday night, and after a long week, you're ready for some comfort food from your favorite local eatery. As you eagerly await your meal, you might find yourself contemplating those pesky single- use containers that seem to accumulate week after week. But there's a new solution to this age-old problem: refundable takeout containers.
Did you know Alberta's landfills accumulate approximately 450 million single-use takeout containers annually? This staggering figure is concerning, not only for dedicated environmentalists but for anyone who recognizes the urgent need to address landfill waste. Landfills pose significant environmental threats, from releasing harmful greenhouse gases like methane to soil and water pollution caused by leachate. The impact on ecosystems and human health is substantial, making the transition to reusable containers essential.
A Calgary-based company, Earthware Reusables Inc., has stepped up to tackle the issue head-on. This innovative company works with restaurants to introduce reusable takeout containers, creating a more sustainable cycle. Here's how it works: Restaurants purchase reusable containers from Earthware and pass the deposit cost to you, the consumer. When you order takeout, you pay a $0.30 deposit per container. After enjoying your meal, simply rinse the container and keep it for your next visit to a participating bottle depot—like ours!
Once you've collected your empties and ensured they’re undamaged and free of food remnants, bring them to the depot for a cash-in-hand refund. Earthware then washes and sanitizes them according to Alberta Health Services regulations, before distributing them back to restaurants, hotels, grocers, and more. This creates a seamless cycle of sustainability that benefits the planet and our community.
By making the switch to reusable containers, we can dramatically reduce the staggering number of single-use containers ending up in landfills each year. Earthware's partnership with the Alberta Bottle Depot Association and alignment with the government-regulated beverage container deposit return system makes them the first company in the world to implement such a system for takeout containers. It's a win-win-win for everyone involved!
Now that you're in the loop, why not take part in this movement the next time you're craving takeout? It's as simple as ordering your meal, paying the small deposit, and returning the containers to the depot for a refund. Every container returned is a small but meaningful victory for our shared environment. As the saying goes, one person's trash is another person's treasure, and in this case, that treasure is a cleaner, greener planet for us all to enjoy!