Let me say this in advance: I fully support efforts to protect the environment and reduce our daily impact on the planet, especially when it comes to single-use plastics. However, sometimes I wonder if we are on the right track or if some of the changes being imposed on us are simply impractical.
The other day, I took my family for a drive, and we stopped at McDonald's for lunch. I went inside with my two youngest children while my husband took the dog for a quick walk around the car park. After placing my order and asking for it to go, the person at the counter asked if I wanted a bag. I said no, assuming she meant a large plastic bag or something similar. I had never been asked that before when ordering food. So when my order number was called, she handed me a tray with four meals, all spread out. I reminded her that I had asked for it to go, and she replied, "Yeah, you didn’t want a bag."
How was I supposed to carry out all these fries and burgers, all loosey goosey? So I asked for a bag, and she told me it cost 30 cents. I reached into my pocket and found a 25-cent coin, handed it to her, and told her that was all I had. She repeated that the bag cost 30 cents, and I needed five more cents. Yes, I understand how math works, but that was all I had, and I wasn’t about to tap my card for five cents. Obviously, I didn’t say that out loud.
My little ones were getting restless, climbing on me, and I could see my fries going cold. (And everyone knows McDonald's fries need to be eaten hot.) I dug into my purse and, thankfully, found a 10-cent coin. She gave me the bag and then printed a receipt for it. Is that not a waste of paper? Does that not contradict the point of switching to paper bags? And where exactly is that 30 cents going?
(Just an FYI, in 2023, McDonald's made $25.49 billion in revenue.)
The whole situation just seemed so ridiculous to me.
I always try to remember to bring my reusable bags when I go grocery shopping, but sometimes I forget and end up having to buy yet another reusable bag. Who is profiting from these reusable bags, and are they really that much better than a paper bag? I fully support the use of reusable bags—they are sturdier, promote sustainability, save money and reduce litter. I am all for it. However, sometimes you forget, or you weren’t planning on shopping and didn’t prepare accordingly. Trying to carry a handful of groceries without a bag is not convenient. There should be more options than constantly adding to my collection of reusable bags.
And I don’t know what the solution should be for fast food. Am I supposed to carry a cooler around with me? Or buy paper bags in bulk and keep them in my car? Neither of these options makes sense to me. What am I missing? Can fast food restaurants not invest in easily-compostable paper bags and provide them at no extra charge to customers?
