North Shore NewsYou’ve seen the overflowing garbage cans; litter polluting shorelines, trash floating by when you paddle out. It’s heartbreaking, but we can do something about it. It’s a new year; let’s make one of our resolutions supporting zero waste takeout!
30% of that debris on the shorelines comes from disposable takeout packaging, but realistically to-go orders aren’t going anywhere. Takeout orders have increased 300% since 2015, and so has all of that packaging waste and increased costs for businesses. We need new models for the takeout that move Hawai’i toward zero waste, while supporting businesses and customers’ needs. That’s where Full Cycle Takeout comes in.
Full Cycle Takeout is Hawai’i’s first full-service reusable container program, and it’s FREE! Choose a reusable container for your meal, check-out on the Full Cycle Takeout web app, and return to one of our 3 return stations within a week. Containers are collected, sanitized, and restocked by Full Cycle for a truly circular, waste-free system. This grant-funded pilot program is running in Hale’iwa and Waialua with 6 diverse restaurant partners: Hale’iwa Joe’s, Rajanee Thai, The Cosmic Kitchen, Cholo’s, Wicked HI Cafe, and Gordo’s.
Our goal for this pilot program is to work out all of the kinks so choosing reusable is convenient easy, and impactful! From there, Full Cycle Takeout can expand beyond the North Shore to all of O’ahu . Imagine hundreds of thousands of customers every day choosing takeout in reusables; those overflowing trash cans and polluting litter, all becoming a thing of the past. We can make this a reality!
Sign-up on the Full Cycle Takeout web app to save time at the register. Tag us when you use the program @fullcycletakeout, and send us all your feedback at info@fullcycletakeouthawaii.org. Mahalo North Shore for helping us make zero waste takeout a reality!