Bringing your own coffee cup is such a simple but clever idea. Small changes really can make an impact. How about bringing your own bag as well to carry home the drive through goodies? Good article, thanks!

I think that this is a great idea but I wonder if some of the places would really allow you to do it? I really don't see what it would hurt but just curious as to if they would allow it.

I'm not sure why this article makes a comparison to "colonial times." Obviously, there was a great deal of use without concern for the environment since then. I'd be interested in knowing more recent data, such as how the forests are being depleted currently.

I think recycling of paper products at fast food restaurants is a great idea. I know they could cut down on how much packaging they use without much effort.

I agree we need to make more small changes to notice the big changes happening in this world. I think the idea you present is very good and if we could implement this we could see some changes.

I agree that using your own coffee cup is a great idea. A local gas station would offer discounted coffee refills if you brought in the travel mug that you bought there.

A lot of places over here, offer a small discount if you use your own cup, and also supermarkets which deduct a small amount if you bring your own bags etc... this could be so easily expanded, and save so much packaging.

I hate fast food places... but I guess the idea of using your own coffee cup is a good one to contribute with less waste. That's what we did at my office, and we saved a lot of money and produced a lot less waste.

I would think that the fast food places would object to a person bringing in their own cup as long as you were paying by the ounce; God forbid you should get a splash more coffee than you paid for. Free refills would be no problem, or at least no problem I could identify...

i think the idea is smart and regarding theconcern that some people may get larger serving poritons due to their large cups, the fast food joints can standadise the pouring vessel size...:)

Most places these days tend to see ordinary coffee as a loss leader, and bringing your own cup saves them the price of a throwaway one too..

All this doesn't mention the deforestation taking place in the Amazon rainforest, where tress are being cut down to provide pasture for the millions of heads of cattle that are being raised for the hamburger that is put in the paper wrapper that is put in the paper bag, which...I think I'm giving myself a headache.

That's a good point molly and when you start thinking about the many issues that cause concern it puts this idea into perspective.

You are right Molly. If we get into the details of every little thing, it is a chain that would never end. We all need to do our part.