REUSABLE CONTAINER PROGRAM 2022

RESTAURANTS | BARS | CATERERS | FOOD TRUCKS | FOOD SERVICE

The Laurel District Association (LDA) presents the benefits of restaurants and the food service industry converting to reusable containers for delivery and to-go orders as opposed to one-time use disposable containers. The effort is to provide a quality product for customers as well as to reduce waste. 

The reusable container vendor that the LDA has partnered with is Dispatch Goods based in San Francisco. At the time of this presentation, Dispatch Goods is the only product authorized by the Alameda County Health Department—that we are aware of—primarily because of their exceptional cleaning and drying methods for used containers that meets health safety standards.

Customers will enjoy not only the portability and presentation of their food in these containers, but also the convenient return options. By a simple text, containers can be scheduled for pickup from people's homes or offices. They can also be returned to any participating restaurant.

Dispatch Goods can visit a restaurant several times per week to collect returned containers and to resupply as needed. Because they are a local supply chain resource, there are no delays in delivery of their products.

The cost of one-time use containers continues to rise, where now, there is not a significant difference in the cost of ordering reusables. The legislative trend is to start phasing out the use of disposable containers, so it is a good time to consider adopting a new, greener method. 

Thanks to the initial grant support from StopWaste, businesses signing up with Dispatch Goods by the SEPTEMBER 30, 2022, will get their first month of orders entirely free so they can transition from disposables to reusables with greater ease. They will also be included in a robust local marketing campaign of $10,000 in paid advertising, as well as in social media, media releases, postcards, fliers, A-Frames signage, and more. The LDA will also be paying for locals to order takeout from participating restaurants to demonstrate the effectiveness and ease of the program. The goal is to not only convert the food service industry to reusables, but to educate and influence customers to support the businesses that do. 

Businesses along MacArthur Boulevard in The Laurel, Bret Harte, and Dimond that are interested in participating can sign up with Dispatch Goods directly: dispatchgoods.com.

They can also contact Jody Colley at the LDA with questions or to get started: ambassadorblvd@gmail.com.

This presentation is an interview with Michele LeProhn, owner of Communitē Table in the Laurel District of Oakland. She will address why she uses Dispatch Goods, how she's integrated it into her operation and revenue model, and how her customers have responded to the container program. She is being interviewed by Daniel Swafford, Executive Director of the Laurel District Association who received a grant from StopWaste to promote the program to both businesses and area residents. Also attending the presentation is Andrew Vennari, owner of the popular local restaurant, Sequoia Diner, who will be learning about the program and asking questions.