Does anyone else find this picture the least bit ironic? The placement of the "Choose to Reduce" sign couldn't have been a more stark contrast to the trash can filled to the brim with the foam bowls, plates, and containers which cannot be recycled... despite the misleading, feel-good "recyclable" icon. (A couple years ago I tracked down one of people on site who deals with this, who informed me that after they have been contaminated, there's no choice but to toss them straight into the landfill. They can only recycle the foam used for packaging material.)
This is a typical scene in the cafeteria at the end of lunch time, every day.
What's not shown in this shot are the two other almost-filled trash cans to the left of the recycle bins. The other trash cans are actually blocking the reusable dish return carousel... as if to say "who needs that, anyway?"
Of course the implication of this scene is that people must get their lunch in foam containers, and eat it in the cafeteria dining area. Otherwise the foam would be in everyone's individual trash cans next to their desk. So my question is, why are people getting "to go" containers and sitting down and eating with them in the cafeteria, then throwing them away?! It makes no sense, and we need to find the root cause.
The only rational explanation I can think of is that the cafeteria ran out of reusable dishware. I can't imagine that anyone would actually want to eat out of a piece of foam. Even if they are taking this stuff "to go", there isn't a good excuse for the waste: there are plenty of dish drop-off areas.
I'm going to go sulk now.
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