Bending the Arc

Try as we may to be environmentally sustainable, throwaway routines are part of nearly every facet of our lives, from food and drinks to clothes and activities. While more people carry reusable water bottles, too many other daily activities still involve throwaway stuff. A number of countries around the world, especially those with limited land space, have decreased the amount of waste sent to landfills and increased their reuse, composting and recycling. However, waste generation in the United States continues to rise. Americans constitute just 4% of the world’s population, but generate about 12% of the world’s waste.

Huge amounts of single use packaging are part of the fast food industry. One estimate of McDonald's waste is the production of three tons of packaging garbage every minute. A program reignited at the Portland International Airport (PDX) in Oregon is a model for waste reduction and sustainability that other airports and organizations should emulate. Titled The Green Plate Program, it is described as the first reusable dish program at a U.S. airport. When travelers order food at one of the participating restaurants, they have the option of using a real dish, cup, and utensils. There are drop-off sites for the reusable materials after use. There are also to-go containers that can be returned. When the project was piloted, there was a 73% drop in waste.

Numerous polls show that most consumers are interested in making sustainable choices, but too often options do not exist. The Portland Airport leaders expect that other American airports will adopt their program and give hungry passengers an opportunity to pass on disposables. Meanwhile, individuals can plan ahead to limit purchases that create unnecessary garbage. Imagine if people collectively choose zero waste on airplanes, where passengers are either prepared with their reusable containers or airlines go back to the “old” ways of using cups that they wash and reuse. Solutions exist when care for the earth is a priority.  

Read more about how the Green Plate Program works here.

This article was copied from a February 14, 2026, writing from Green Junction, a weekly column from St. Maria Goretti Parish in Dyer, IN written by Julie Peller, PhD.

Sign up to receive more creation care news like this from Julie by emailing her at julierpel@gmail.com. You will receive approximately one email weekly, each about a 2-minute read.