Envisioning a World with Less Plastic: Determining the Feasibility of a Reusable Takeout Container System in Hilo, HI
Partner organization: County of Hawai`i Solid Waste Division
Team members: Brian Corcoran (architectural engineering ’21); Lindsey Giorgi (management ’21); Jacky Kral (mechanical engineering ’21); Eric Motler (mechanical engineering ’21)
Executive Summary:
Plastic waste disposal is an immense problem our world faces today, and it is a problem which is only growing. With so many plastics being disposed of daily around the globe, the items that do not go to a landfill end up in our oceans, harming the ecosystems and poisoning the wildlife. This issue is especially prevalent on islands like Hawai`i, where the land is surrounded by ample oceans for plastic waste to be deposited, and landfill space is limited due to land size constraints. The goal of this project was to limit the amount of plastic waste that is disposed of on Hawai`i’s Big Island by determining the feasibility of a reusable takeout food container system.
In order to achieve this goal, we established a number of objectives. Our first objective was to identify stakeholder concerns surrounding the implementation of a program like this. To complete this objective, we interviewed restaurant owners and managers local to Hilo and surveyed Hilo’s public.
Additionally, we reached out to experts who have experience with developing reusable container systems and with the laws and regulations that may affect a reusable container system’s implementation. Our second objective was to analyze successful reusable container systems in similar sized cities to Hilo, HI. In order to do this, we first characterized Hilo by its population using census data. The reusable container system we found most similar to one which would be implemented in Hilo was Durham GreenToGo, who we contacted for more information regarding the logistics of getting their system up and running. Our third objective was to incorporate information gathered into information for consumers and restaurants and a business plan for the County of Hawai`i that is specific to Hilo, HI. To complete this objective, we created three deliverables, which consisted of a pamphlet for the public, a report for restaurant owners, and a business plan for the County of Hawai`i. The pamphlet highlighted key information about how a reusable container system works, and can be seen in the figure below.
The report for restaurant owners detailed how a reusable container system works and what its effects on a restaurant would be. This report can be seen in Appendix L. The business plan laid out our recommended steps to implementing a reusable container system in Hilo and can be seen in Appendix M.
Figure 1. Final deliverable: Pamphlet for the public
From our data, we learned that restaurant owners and managers had four main concerns for the implementation of a reusable container system. Firstly, they were concerned that the additional costs of the system would be prohibitive to their participation in it. Next, they were concerned that the containers would not be adequately stocked in their restaurants for unexpected large orders. Thirdly, they were concerned that they would be held liable if a container was cleaned improperly and made a customer sick. Finally, they were concerned that the system would not be able to adequately track customers, thus leading to people receiving reusable containers when they are not part of the program. Additionally, in surveying the public, we learned that 74.8% of the 142 respondents would be willing to opt into a reusable container system if one came to Hilo.
The report for restaurant owners detailed how a reusable container system works and what its effects on a restaurant would be. This report can be seen in Appendix L. The business plan laid out our recommended steps to implementing a reusable container system in Hilo and can be seen in Appendix M.
From our data, we learned that restaurant owners and managers had four main concerns for the implementation of a reusable container system. Firstly, they were concerned that the additional costs of the system would be prohibitive to their participation in it. Next, they were concerned that the containers would not be adequately stocked in their restaurants for unexpected large orders. Thirdly, they were concerned that they would be held liable if a container was cleaned improperly and made a customer sick. Finally, they were concerned that the system would not be able to adequately track customers, thus leading to people receiving reusable containers when they are not part of the program. Additionally, in surveying the public, we learned that 74.8% of the 142 respondents would be willing to opt into a reusable container system if one came to Hilo.
In interviewing experts, we learned from Recycle Hawai`i that as a general rule, the public of Hilo is very involved when it comes to green initiatives. From Durham GreenToGo, we learned that a reusable container system cannot run without a staff to upkeep it. Finally, from the County of Hawai`i Department of Health, we learned about laws and regulations regarding food safety that would affect the implementation of a reusable container system.
These results guided our recommendations for the County of Hawai`i. In our business plan, we recommended that Hilo’s reusable container system has a small staff to run it and a third-party washing and sanitizing station somewhere in the city. We also recommended that the system has a mobile application for users to interact with as part of their experience with the reusable container system.
Additionally, we recommended that the Hilo reusable container system has container dropoff locations dispersed throughout the city for customer convenience.
After conducting these interviews and surveys and developing these three deliverables, the team concluded that a reusable container system will be feasible in Hilo, HI if stakeholders in the system are educated enough about the system. In order for this system to work, consumers and restaurant owners and managers need to understand what their roles are in a reusable container system. This means there needs to be educational materials provided by reusable container system founders that will enlighten the stakeholders regarding how the reusable container system works.
Additionally, there are many unknowns still present in the implementation of a reusable container system in Hilo. These unknowns are outlined in the business plan, which can be seen in Appendix M.