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The Food Party!

By Laura Stec

E-mail Laura Stec

About this blog: I've been attracted to food for good and bad reasons for many years. From eating disorder to east coast culinary school, food has been my passion, profession & nemesis. I've been a sugar addict, a 17-year vegetarian, a food and en...  (More)

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Refill Don’t Landfill

Uploaded: May 31, 2018
Boy o boy, Palo Alto is having fun, AND getting it done these days. Toot toot to yout. Last week it was the Last Straw campaign, and their Food Party! continues with a look-see into single-use gas cylinders. You know, those green canisters you bring camping. You can refill them. Right, like who knew?




We’ve Food Partied! about camping in the past. First there was Camp Glamp with Elaine's Crunchy Pancakes, and then we learned how to make Bacon S’mores in Bacon in Bed.

Little did I know in those innocent days that 40 million single-use, 1-pound propane cans are thrown way each year in North America, with over 20,000 clogging up Yosemite alone. Bad design in single-use products means litter, accidents, and even fire.

So drum roll please….

There is a solution and the 2018 winner award goes to….

Reusable Cylinders!

Refillable propane cylinders, now available at local stores and hardware centers, can be used hundreds of times, and have a lifespan of up to 12 years. Plus it’s cheaper to buy and refill a one-pound cylinder than it is to use disposables (80% of the price is packaging and only 20% is for the gas).

Lucky-dog Palo Alto’ans, can bring an empty, disposable, 1-pound propane cylinder, and the voucher from your April bill, to the Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Station till the end of June, and get a FREE refillable 1-pound cylinder. But you have to do it by June 30th.

If you aren’t a Palo Alto resident, stop by the stores listed below to buy or refill your reusable cylinders, or find a retailer near you by clicking here.

Time to ready. Summer is coming (I think), and the best Food Party! is one cooked outside.


Where You Can Buy or Refill Reusable Cylinders


George's Fuel & Auto Repair
996 East Evelyn Ave., Sunnyvale
408-733-2221
Refills cylinders

Hassett Hardware
875 Alma Street, Palo Alto
650-327-7222
Sells and exchanges cylinders

For more information about this program, click here.

Next week is Farm Bill Cafe chapters 4- 6. Read the chapters and join us back here for a discussion.







Democracy.
What is it worth to you?

Comments

Posted by Julaine Rosner, a resident of Barron Park,
on Jun 5, 2018 at 9:04 am

I love it, Laura! Will do. Hey, I need help with how to avoid straws. My daughter loves Boba tea but those straws are awful. What are the options and alternatives? Are their paper straws? bamboo straws? metal straws? If so, where can I get them?


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of Portola Valley,
on Jun 5, 2018 at 3:48 pm

Hi Julaine- right on! These refillable containers look wonderful, haven't used one yet though.

This Thursday, 3:45 PM - 5:45 PM, Cooking at the Market is celebrating Crazy Smoothies and goodbye plastic straws at the Portola Valley Farmers Market. I have samples of paper (I got from Costplus) and compostable straws (another who knew), I got from World Centric online, or from Whole Foods. I have seen reusable straws in a number of places around town; certainly check online. Stop by for a drink on Thursday!

Click here more Cooking at the Market information: Web Link


Posted by jones, a resident of Los Altos Hills,
on Jun 5, 2018 at 6:32 pm

I want to to thank you for this wonderful read!!
edited and answered: Well thank you jones.


Posted by parent, a resident of Midtown,
on Jun 5, 2018 at 8:57 pm

Compostable paper straws and reusable metal straws are easily available, but not in the jumbo sizes that boba tea requires. I'm sure jumbo paper straws are made somewhere; hopefully local cafes can find a distributor.


Posted by musical, a resident of Palo Verde,
on Jun 6, 2018 at 5:03 pm

I still use my trusty white-gas Svea 123 from 45 years ago.
Tent & backpack same vintage, always conversation pieces in the High Sierra.


Posted by Robyn, a resident of another community,
on Jun 7, 2018 at 8:03 am

Does all the new housing construction include garbage disposals and clothes driers? Those are two easily avoidable users of electricity. And the disposed food can go to the recyclers or composters.
Also, we were recently at a restaurant and asked that our left over food be placed in a reusable plastic container we brought with us to take home. We were told that the health and safety laws prohibited that. So into an disposable container and bag went the food.


Posted by Laura Stec, a resident of another community,
on Jun 8, 2018 at 8:12 am

Robyn, If my memory serves me, I heard that "bring your own to go box" rule was changed and now you can bring your own, but most eating establishments don't know about it yet. But I should, so I'll do the research and get back to you. It probably differs county-to-county, but I'll check with San Mateo.


Posted by Tom F, a resident of Esther Clark Park,
on Jun 10, 2018 at 2:20 pm

I didn't know these could be refilled - good to know now.


Posted by Laura Stec, a Palo Alto Online blogger,
on Jun 10, 2018 at 2:41 pm

Laura Stec is a registered user.


Posted by Camper, a resident of Adobe-Meadow,
on Jun 23, 2018 at 9:19 am

Does anyone know the actual cost to refill one of these? Someone told me $4 which is actually higher
Than the coat to buy a full throwaway bottle. I know environmental and all but the cost to refill needs to be lower than the cost to buy a a throwaway! Target sells a 2 pack for $6!

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