Isenhour interviewed for Waste Dive about reusable takeout containers

Variety of food takeout containers on counter in front of white background
Photo credit: Vitalii Matokha/Shutterstock

Cindy Isenhour, associate professor of anthropology and climate change and Mitchell Center Faculty Fellow, recently spoke with Waste Dive about her research on reusable takeout containers. In fall 2021, Isenhour worked with graduate student Jared Entwistle to present a few possible models for reusable takeout containers to a group of 35 Maine hospitality, waste and environmental management stakeholders as part of a larger project examining the potential for reusables in the state. Isenhour noted that the majority said they would prefer a third-party service that regularly dropped off clean containers. Costs involved in providing permanent storage space and cleaning packaging appeared to be factors given businesses current issues with staffing.