The Consumer Council is trialling take-away meal boxes and 4 restaurants do not accept take-away meal boxes. 5 suggestions for restaurants and consumers

The Consumer Council is conducting a trial of take-away meal boxes to reduce waste. However, some restaurants refuse to accept these boxes due to food safety and hygiene concerns.

Survey Findings

• The Council visited 15 restaurants through 45 trial runs.
• 31 trials were successful, showing a 69% success rate.
• 4 out of these restaurants did not accept take-away boxes.
• Restaurants partaking in the EPA’s “Waste Box Restaurants” program showed a higher success rate of 87%, while other chain restaurants had a rate of 60%.

Reasons for Restaurant Rejections

1. Poor customer service was reported at one restaurant, where staff refused to accept personal containers without explanation.
2. Some restaurants had contradictory policies regarding take-out boxes.
3. High customer traffic may lead to refusals.
4. Personal containers might not fit or be appropriate for certain foods.
5. Some restaurants require a specific number of meal boxes for set meals.

Packaging Fees and Discounts

• Some restaurants continue to charge for packaging, even when consumers opt out. Refund requests must be made by the customer.
• No restaurant offered discounts for bringing personal lunch boxes.
• A few restaurants are participating in the “Takeaway Plastic-Free Cutlery” program.

Suggestions for Improvement

For Restaurants:

1. Create clear guidelines for accepting personal lunch boxes.
2. Clearly list policies and restrictions on websites and platforms.
3. Improve staff training to enhance customer service.

For Consumers:

1. Learn about each restaurant’s rules for bringing boxes before visiting.
2. Ensure that containers are clean and suitable in size.

Future Outlook
By April 2024, the government will ban certain disposable plastics. The Consumer Council hopes to encourage restaurants to adopt reusable meal box rental services. With cooperation from both restaurants and consumers, the aim is to shift towards a less wasteful culture. Clear guidelines and rewards may help make bringing personal lunch boxes a common practice.