By Katie Koenig
Hey Emersonians! Boston has been receiving a lot of snow recently, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who’s grabbed a nice cup of coffee to warm up during this winter weather. However, it’s important to consider how to reduce your waste and impact on the environment.
First off, you can avoid getting single-use containers! If you’re getting food to-go, you don’t have to grab single-use utensils. You can bring it back with you to a place where you have your own reusable utensils, like your dorm or apartment. If you don’t have reusable utensils or you can’t bring your food to a place that has them, get a travel pack! Foldable chopsticks or a small fork and spoon pack can be a cheap way to avoid single-use utensils that are great for on the go. They often come in their own containers, too, so you can pack them up while they’re dirty.
You can also eat where you got your food or drink! Just mention when ordering that you’ll be eating there, and you’ll be served in ceramic dishes. Not all places offer eat-in dining wares, like most Starbucks branches, so prioritize eating at places that do, like Tatte.
You can also recycle some of your waste. Some cafes offer to-go cups that don’t need to be thrown in the trash. Check to see if the container is labeled recyclable or compostable, and make a point to put it in the appropriate waste bin when you’re done with it. It’s not that much effort to carry your cup until you see a recycling bin, since they’re common on the streets of downtown Boston. Even if the eatery doesn’t have a recycling bin, wait a little bit until you come across one to properly dispose of your waste!
On campus, places like PCaf and the Max often serve your food in paper containers, which are fully compostable. Just remember that the common rooms in the dorms don’t have compost bins, aside from the Little Building, so make sure to dispose of them before you get back to your dorm!
Here’s a note: paper coffee cups are often laminated with wax to keep liquids from soaking through. Unless they’re specifically labeled recyclable or compostable, like the paper cups in the dining hall, they have to be thrown out. Also, their lids are often made of a different material, typically plastic. Check to see if it’s labeled with a recycling sign with the numbers one, two, or five on it before recycling it. Both Cafe Nero and the dining hall have cup lids that go in the trash.
Speaking of recycling numbers, did you know that not all recycling symbols—the three arrows in a triangle—mean you can recycle the item in our region? Actually, the number within the symbol, between one and seven, indicates what type of plastic it is, and only certain types can be recycled in Massachusetts. Of course, if there’s no symbol at all, it needs to be thrown out.
Although all counties are different and local recycling plants have different abilities to recycle different types of plastic, a good rule of thumb for urban living is to recycle types one, two, and five. Another way of thinking about it is by identifying if the object is hard plastic that doesn’t crumple when you squeeze it.
Some eateries nowadays are also switching to compostable utensils, which won’t have a recycling sign on them. Instead, it will be labeled biodegradable or compostable, like the ice cream spoons in the dining hall!
Overall, when recycling, the waste has to be clean and relatively dry, or it counts as contamination in the recycling bin. You know those clothing companies that make clothing out of repurposed plastic, or certain structures—like Emerson’s very own waste bins!—that say they’re made out of repurposed plastic? It would be pretty gross if there was food detritus in those. Do your best to rinse out what you’ve used, because if it’s contaminated with food, it’s not recyclable!
If you’re interested in what the numbers actually mean, or more information about what you can and can’t recycle in Boston, check out Emerson Sustainability’s article on eco-dining for more info on single-use plastics and alternatives. You can also use Waste Management’s Recycle Right search to learn what specific items can be recycled, and how. All neighborhoods publish a specific list of items that are accepted at your local recycling center, so if you have the time, it’s best to research what your recycling service allows in their recycling bins!