Next week, foam containers for carryout food will be banned throughout Maryland. Not everyone is

[TexasTowelie]

Next week, foam containers for carryout food will be banned throughout Maryland. Not everyone is happy.


As the coronavirus pandemic continues to shift much restaurant dining from eat-in to takeout, Maryland next week becomes the first state in the nation to ban the familiar foam containers used to carry home everything from crab cakes to curries.

A state law that goes into effect Oct. 1 prohibits restaurants, schools and other food service outlets from using polystyrene containers, more commonly and erroneously known as Styrofoam. The law originally was scheduled to take effect July 1, but because of pandemic-related shutdowns, state officials allowed more time for affected businesses to use remaining stock.

The new law comes at a time when restaurants are using veritable mountains of disposables — for takeout, but also to follow federal health recommendations that they give even dine-in customers single-use plates and utensils.

As a result, trash collection has swelled across America, rising 22% in Baltimore at the height of the pandemic.

Read more: https://www.baltimoresun.com/news/environment/bs-md-stryrofoam-ban-takes-effect-20200925-dc57ytrblbdqrmbvsk4lddyw5a-story.html

[hlthe2b]

1. Even before Chick Filet showed their homophobic stripes, I avoided them because of styrofoam cups

I knew they were environmentally toxic, but I also just plain HATED them for drinks.

There are a lot of alternatives including some that can actually be microwaved to lightly heat up the delivered food. So, I say to Maryland, GOOD.

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

2. Didn't McDonald's switch to ordinary cardboard containers

years ago?

[bearsfootball516]

3. Have been for a long time.

I think they switched to cardboard in the late 90s.

[Shermann]

4. Cardboard and paper are more easily recycled

Why not ditch the plastic grocery bags and go with paper bags as well?

[Jillgirl]

5. Whole Foods and Trader Joes do use paper bags.

[Shermann]

6. I'm impressed with Amazon/Whole Foods on environmental issues nt

[The Genealogist]

7. I can't think of a grocery market I've been in that doesn't offer paper bags

A lot of other retailers also use paper. I think people just ask for the plastic ones because they are easier to handle.

[TexasTowelie]

9. I admit that I prefer to use plastic bags,

but that was because I could hang them from the handlebars of my bicycle while riding home. My record is eight bags. It's also easier to handle a larger number of plastic bags when unloading from a vehicle compared to paper bags.

I don't know how things will change since I had my foot amputated or if I'll even ride a bike again. It's been over two months since I've even gone to a convenience or grocery store.

[Midnight Writer]

8. I ran into a fellow yesterday who owns several fast food franchises around here.

He says he is making a killing from the pandemic.

Since the indoor dining is closed, he is just manning the drive through and has cut his workforce down to a skeleton crew.

He says his profits last quarter were up 44%.

He is a big Trump fan.

[TexasTowelie]

10. Yeah, his labor costs should be lower since there is no need to bus tables, clean the restrooms,

or empty waste containers. He probably is seeing more customers since the dine-in crowds are now in the drive-thru lines. Most likely he can only have three people working (one at the drive-thru and two preparing food).

Inevitably, there were going to be winners and losers in the pandemic. The dine-in restaurants had to make sweeping changes to deliver their food such as carry-out and curbside service, along with revamping their menus to serve more comfort food over elaborate meals with elegant presentations.

It is disturbing that this man probably thinks that the pandemic is a good thing, but I expect no less from a Trump humper.