A secret to trashless travel

Keep a travel kit of reusable dishes in your car

Last week my wife and I took a road trip to our son’s university graduation (sidebar: 2000 KM in an EV with no charging hitches).  Most of our hotels included breakfast – a nice cost savings, but typically served entirely with disposable plates, bowls, coffee cups, juice cups and flatware.  Ouch, what waste!

If you’re traveling and would like to say thumbs up to the free breakfasts but thumbs down to all the trash generated, here’s a simple tip: carry a small kit of reusable dishes in your car, and make a point of using them instead of disposables.  It need not be complicated; all you need are:

• A bowl
• A plate
• A juice cup
• A coffee cup
• A fork, knife, cereal spoon and teaspoon

made of an unbreakable camp-worthy material for each person in your group.  It’s also a good idea to include a few Tupperware containers for leftovers so you can avoid disposable takeout containers too.

True, it does mean you need to remember to bring the kit in to breakfast, and then wash it afterwards.  But the upside is the huge amount of trash you can avoid once you’re in the habit – and hopefully the inspiration you’ll provide for others at breakfast!

So, this summer and always, carry a kit of dishes with you and enjoy trash-free travel!

Thanks to subscriber Karen B for sharing this tip a few years ago; it’s now firmly embedded into our family’s travel routine!