The focus of the October 12 ORANJ Zoom meeting was the use of plastic containers for takeout. Meryl from Medford Leas had learned of a company that would collect reusables from restaurants, sanitize them, and return them to the restaurants for reuse. The company was not local and was serving restaurants, not CCRCs. Still, the possibility of outsourcing dishwashing is an interesting concept.
During the discussions we learned that at Cedar Crest, an Erickson Community, the management is considering using reusables for takeout. Residents would return them, and they would be cleaned at Cedar Crest. Mimi, president of the RAC at Cedar Crest, emphasized that recycling is not a solution. The website Beyond Plastics links to the May 2022 report which documented a recycling rate of 5 to 6% for post-consumer plastic waste in the U.S. for 2021. www.beyondplastics.org/reports/the-real-truthabout-the-us-plastics-recycling-rate
Seabrook, another Erickson community, has shifted to paper-based products for takeout. Several communities have active environmental communities. At Lions Gate, which also uses paper-based packages for takeout, the Green Committee publishes a monthly newsletter, “The Green Lion.”
What procedures are cost-effective? What NJ regulations relate to the use of reusables for takeout? Can residents bring their own containers for takeout and/or for leftovers? What communities other than Cedar Crest have a process that allows residents to opt for electronic announcement instead of paper? Rules and customs vary, and we have a lot to learn from each other and from research.
Should ORANJ establish a Green Committee that helps us move forward together in our efforts to protect the environment?
At the October 12 Zoom meeting three other topics were briefly mentioned: plans for the Plenary on October 19, handicap parking problems at the two large Erickson facilities, and the New Jersey Senior Art Show Exhibit at Meadow Lakes, Monday-Friday until the end of October. https://njseniorarts.com/
Fourteen resident associations had reps at the October 12 meeting: Atrium, Cedar Crest, Cranes Mill, Friends Village, Laurel Circle, Lions Gate, Meadow Lakes, Medford Leas, Monroe Village, Oaks, Pines, Seabrook, Wiley, Winchester Gardens. The next Zoom conversation will be at 10 am on November 9.
Maggie Heineman
2 Responses
I’m forwarding this to the Director of Dining Services here at Medford Leas. Perhaps she will comment.
Unfortunately the Pines was NOT part of this meeting. I did not have Zoom access. But I too am going to distribute this information to our Dining Services Department as well as to our Executive Director. We here at The Pines spent far too much money on plastic during the Pandemic and as of November 1st, we will be required to pay an additional $2.00 per take-out tray in order to try and recoup our losses. This will also come on top of an increase in food cost. Obviously the residents are not happy with this.