My drinks are never around long enough to get sweaty. I suggest you drink faster to avoid the problem!

Just bring your own????

Well, thanks, beachboy, but I can't drink that fast. I think I'll get me some of those wrap around can coozies.

Coozies is a great idea! Two problems with napkins...they blow away, and then they need to be thrown away. We have a very hard time dealing with all the trash that is produced. I am guessing these are the main reasons why you don't see more paper napkins for drinks.

I always keep a coozie with me on island. It will hold a bottle or plastic cup and is not generating more trash.

The whole trash deal in the VI has always kinda of bothered me.

I understand that water is a commodity equal to gold, but if you look at the number of plastic cups that places like Duffy's, the Beach Bar, Woody's, Skinny Legs, etc... go through in a day it must be a phenomenal number. I am sure economically it is not a number that justifies glasses, but environmentally does it? Being more of a capitalist than a tree hugger that is a tough question for me, but I cannot help to think that there has to be something better than plastic cups.

Wow maybe I am capitalist with a conscience, radical new concept.
Where is/are the dump(s) in STJ, STT, and STX

Stjohnjulie, that makes sense - they blow away (but not if you're indoors!) I saw some cute wrap around coolies on ebay, so I'm going to get at least one of those. Thanks.

I, too, have a problem with all the plastic/styrofoam that's used on the island. The hospital now has a cute (yes, cute!) green bag for your styrofoam take-out containers so people won't use plastic bags. It's got a divided compartment for your beverage/soup, and a broad gusset, and it kind of short. Only 79 cents. Starting next month, they won't be using the plastic bags, and if you want a brown paper bag, that's 10 cents extra. Now if they can do away with the styrofoam containers.

I have always wondered why they waist a napkin with every drink I order? I guess its two ways of looking at the same thing.

We always did shots and will continue to do shots so we don't have that problem and if we did I would just wipe my hands on my shorts. In the VI they will dry quick enough. lol

I've always wrapped something around my cold drinks in a glass if I don't have a straw. I had a canned Coke at work today, and had to wrap something around it because it was so cold. But, I don't think it's that bad with a plastic cup - just glass and aluminum.

I won't get crazy anymore after I get my coolies!

ms411 and TomB: If we could get rid of styrofoam clamshells, plastic straws and plastic cups, we could be a lot further down the road...

Well, after the discussion on this forum, I put a washcloth in my bag so I can use that when I go out instead of a paper napkin.

I was at Molly Malone's yesterday, and when I saw that they serve their drinks in those plastic cups, I decided to stick with bottled beer. From now on, no more plastic cups for me. Plus, I don't drink beer out of a straw, either! Little by little, doing my bit.

Three Cheers To You! I try to do my best wherever I am. Then I know I made a difference. And if we all did it, we would make a world of difference! It is really nice to see some positive things being said on the message board. I thought it was starting to get kinda negative. I have only been to the islands once, but I dream of it all the time, and like to keep in touch by reading the board. Cheers to all who care!
Scooby

Glad you brought this up! I guess if we all think about it a little, we can all think of ways we can make a difference. I think I will start to carry around some reusable containers in my car for when I get take out. A word on the plastic cups....The Banana Deck on St. John has reusable cups with their logo on it. I ALWAYS take mine home with me. We use them all the time. Plus, they can make a nice little souvenir for some of you. I know it costs them more money to do this, but yea Banana Deck!

Hmmm, can we in the US use our own food containers for take out???? I've wondered about that, because I remember when The Body Shop started opening stores in the US, they couldn't let customers refill their old jars, like they were able to do in Englad, because of the potential liability from contaminants, introduction of foreign objects, etc. But, coffee places are selling the refillable cups, so I guess it's OK???? Anybody have experience with using personal food containers for take out???

STJulie

It works for the Soggy Dollar and they make great beer pong cups!

Did I miss it or did someone answer where does all the trash go?

I was thinking that bringing your own container wouldn't work in a lot of places in the states. I would guess that most places here would allow it though.
Where does the trash go? Well, we have a "dump" on island, right where Gifft Hill Road meets Centerline. But they don't accept much. Most of it is shipped off to STT to the landfill. Seen the movie Wall-E? First thing I thought when I saw the beginning of that movie is....that could be STT somewhere down the line. They also have had a lot of trouble with fires at the landfill. They can burn for a very very long time before they figure out a way to stop it.
I'm glad you brought this up...I have been thinking about how I can do "better".

This is an interesting thread! As far as using one's own containers for take-out, I'm trying to see it from the perspective of a restaurant owner and being one (I don't do take-outs) it might be a bit of a problem. I can envision running a busy take-out place and being handed such a variety of containers which could create a lot of chaos in a busy kitchen, keeping track of which container belongs to who, etc. Those of you live here can just imagine going to, say, MacDonalds or KFC with your own container. I can only begin to imagine the response!

As far as napkins for drinks, I don't serve in plastic anyway unless it's a quick take-out or someone wanting to take their last "roadie" and I use coasters for the glassware. I DO use dinner napkins which the silverware is wrapped in but as long as I can keep getting coasters they're much easier to deal with and those silly little drink "napkins" can fly all over the place even in an enclosed establishment with ceiling fans keeping the air moving.

Generally speaking, we can all do our "bit" and every little helps. I take my own "green bags" when supermarket shopping which is what many do. They're SO much easier to heft and move than all those double plastics anyway.  It sometimes takes a little bit of effort to get the baggers to understand that the purchases simply go right into the bags and don't have to be encased first in plastic, but ...

I DO occasionally get my purchases packed in plastic bags because I use the bags to dispose of kitty litter. Probably more information than anyone really needs to know but this thread has certainly developed since Ms411's original gripe!

I have a fryer at my restaurant and now supply a couple of boat owners who have converted their vessels to run on recycled cooking oil. The last garbage collector I used would haul off the oil and put it into the dump along with everything else which is actually a "no-no" as I understand that you have to pay extra to dump off that sort of waste and it should be separated from the general recyclable trash. After a series of major problems with that garbage collector I subsequently contracted with another. Shortly thereafter there was a communication glitch with the boat owner who was getting my oil and I had to put two/35lb containers of used oil into the dumpster and, my next bill reflected an additional $5/container charge. Ouch. Fortunately, the one boat owner turned into two and now there's no problem.

It can be argued that places which are basically open-air and/or close to the shoreline HAVE to use plastic because bare feet don't mix well with possibly a broken glass or bottle. Although there are exceptions in certain circumstances, I still think there are too many places here which in reality could easily go from plastic to glass but the bartenders would then have to wash the glassware and why is that a problem? I thought that was part of a bartender's job description ...

I know I'm babbling on at some length and for that I apologize if necessary but I have one more thought before I sign out and get on with my chores. A few times a year I do "outside" affairs at my place, whether a yard sale where drinks are served or a special evening BBQ. In that case I use plastic cups for the drinks and biodegradable plates for the food. The possibility of broken glass outside doesn't thrill me. There are garbage bags all over at these special events in which people can deposit their containers and - crazy though it may seem, I and my help DO go through those bags before putting them into the dumpster and take out the plastic cups which I either put into the dishwasher or do by hand to recycle them. Depending on the event I use either regular silverware or plastic - and if I use plastic I also salvage as much of that as possible to thoroughly clean and use again.

That's it. Cheers!

I think couple of the reason places like the beach bar and skinnys use plastic is first alot of people are there is bare feet so broken glasses would be a problem second the cost of water to wash all those glasses would be high too