City Of Del Mar: Program Offers Zero-Waste Option For Takeout Orders

Press release from the City of Del Mar:

January 26, 2021

The pandemic has brought a big increase in takeout dining and, not surprisingly, a pileup in the packaging used to wrap up those orders.

That’s why the City’s downtown partner is working with restaurants and a San Diego company to expand a zero-waste takeout program.

Del Mar Village Association and the M’Porte Exchange Program have enlisted nearly a half-dozen Del Mar restaurants to offer reusable, stainless steel containers for orders to go.

To join the container exchange program, customers pay a one-time fee of $25 before ordering zero-waste takeout from a participating restaurant. Customers are asked to rinse the container after enjoying its contents. That same, 50-ounce container -- which is fitted with hasps and a no-leak lid – gets exchanged for a pre-cleaned and sanitized box with the next meal.

Since 2019, Del Mar has banned single-use plastic bags, straws, stirrers and Styrofoam packaging. Reducing solid waste, and ultimately achieving zero waste, is a top goal of Del Mar’s Climate Action Program.

Participating restaurants in Del Mar include Viewpoint Brewing Co., En Fuego Cantina & Grill, Elixir, Americana Restaurant. Beeside Balcony and Jake’s Del Mar are coming soon.

Open the M'Porte Exchange Program websiteOpen Del Mar’s Zero Waste webpageOpen Del Mar’s Climate Action Plan

This press release was produced by the City of Del Mar. The views expressed here are the author’s own.