CLEANING OF
REUSABLE DISHES
What is already common for coffee-to-go is also becoming more and more common for take-away food: the takeaway of food in reusable containers. Disposable packaging produces a massive amount of waste, an average of 280,000 tons per year in Germany! To counteract the waste mountain, restaurateurs are increasingly turning to environmentally friendly alternatives with reusable packaging. With the mandatory use of reusable containers starting in 2023, this change is also politically supported.
REMSGOLD has developed a special rinse aid for plastic cups and lids: these not only ensure excellent cleaning results but also provide excellent drying. The result: hygienically clean cups that can be stacked dry and space-saving after washing.
Reusable rinse aid
Reusable obligation for restaurateurs
The mandatory offering of reusable containers for the gastronomy and food craft businesses dictates that gastronomic establishments with a takeout service (to-go beverages and take-away food) must offer their customers reusable containers as an alternative to disposable packaging starting from January 1, 2023. The reusable obligation applies only to businesses with a sales area over 80 m² and with more than 5 employees.
The rules in Germany are based on regulations that apply to the whole of Europe and must be implemented in all EU member states. The basis is the Single-Use Plastics Directive (EU 2019/904) of the European Parliament and Council of June 5, 2019, on reducing the impact of certain plastic products on the environment. This directive stipulates, among other things, that member states are obliged to implement measures for an ambitious and lasting reduction in the consumption of certain single-use plastic packaging.
Which packaging is affected?
The obligation to offer reusable containers applies to packaging for food that is typically consumed directly from the container without further preparation - either on-site or as a take-away meal or drink. In addition to the type of use, the material composition also plays a role: The obligation applies to food packaging that is wholly or partially made of single-use plastic.
A special case is single-use beverage cups: a reusable alternative must always be offered for them - regardless of the material they are made of. All other plastic-free disposable containers made of aluminum or paper-based materials are exempt from this requirement and do not obligate offering a reusable alternative. This includes, for example, pizza boxes, french fry containers, paper bags for fish & chips, and paper sleeves for sandwiches.
What hygiene aspects should be considered?
It is important to always adhere to the general rules of hygiene and food safety when filling, dispensing, collecting, cleaning, and storing reusable containers. To avoid contamination or filling of unreinforced reusable packaging, solid and well-signposted return, storage, and dispensing locations for reusable containers should be established. A clearly defined process flow for employees (for example: "What happens when a customer requests a take-away meal in our containers") ensures additional safety.
Containers brought by customers themselves should also be filled at a specific and suitable location. It is important to minimize contact points as much as possible. Ideally, employees do not need to touch the containers if customers open and close the lid or closure themselves - if necessary, the containers can be placed on a tray for filling. If self-brought containers are visibly dirty or unsuitable, they should be rejected, and alternatives such as your own reusable solution or disposable packaging can be offered. As a restaurateur, you must ensure that germs or contaminants from external vessels do not contaminate your work environment.