Most offices supply paper or plastic cutlery and other kitchenware items. Or, employees go out for coffees and lunches, and bring back takeaway kitchenware items. These paper and plastic items, although convenient, are very wasteful. So, bringing items into the office that you can wash and reuse is a great way to reduce your waste.
My set at work includes:
Reusable water bottle
Washable straw
Reusable coffee mug
Ceramic Plate
Ceramic Bowl
A fork, knife, and spoon set
And I've found there are some pro's and con's to this system...
PRO 1: These were not that expensive to purchase, and some items were free. The coffee mug I brought to work was a birthday present, and I just grabbed a water bottle from home that I had received as part of a biking race. The items I did buy were pretty cheap from Target and Amazon.
PRO 2: The impact of having washable and reusable kitchenware is not only immediately impactful but also personally rewarding. I use most, if not all, of these items everyday, more than once a day. On average, in one day, I am saving 2 plastic cups for water, 1 plastic straw (sometimes two), 2 paper cups with plastic lining for coffee in the morning and in the afternoon, 1 paper plate (and sometimes 1 paper bowl), and 2-4 pieces of plastic cutlery depending on what I’m eating, and how often I’m eating.
That would add up to about 20 paper/plastic cups, 5 plastic straws, 5-10 paper plates/bowls, and 10-20 pieces of plastic cutler in a week. Now imagine a month…and a year…
With that said, the system isn’t perfect. There are challenges to this new routine and some wasteful aspects as well.
CON 1: There is a lot of water required for washing all of these items, and inevitably paper towels are needed to dry them. I tried to solve this by only washing the items when necessary. Before getting grossed out, I do this for dry foods or foods that do not leave a residue, such as chips. If I fill the bowl with chips, I’ll just brush the crumbs into the trashcan. Another example is my water bottle, which I do not wash in the afternoon before refilling it. I also try to reduce how many paper towels I use by making the most of them.
I also try to bring my items home to put them in the dishwasher with other kitchenware my roommates are washing anyway. Dishwashers use a considerable amount of water, and chemicals in the dishwasher soap, so I only do this at the end of the week when our dishwasher is almost full.
CON 2: These items take up space on my desk, and if they are wet, they can’t be anywhere near my computer. I am fortunate in that I have a set of drawers where I can stow all of these items when I don’t need them. I also have cloth coasters that can help dry the items, so they become more decorative than take up space.
In summary, this is a cheap adjustment to your routine if you are willing and have the ability to clean the items efficiently.
The best case scenario would be to push for your office to invest in a composting system, and compostable cutlery. You will need to educate your fellow employees about composting -- but this way, your office is not wasteful nor worried about cleanliness.
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