Would You Do This?

[Sad Eyed Lady]

A co-worker sometimes eats lunch with me in my office. She is very much a neat/clean freak. When she brings her lunch she might have a sandwich in a baggie, and some chips in another baggie. When she finishes eating she throws the baggies on the top of my trash can which usually only holds paper. So, when she leaves the office I am looking at these perfectly good, very nice (zipper etc) baggies, only SLIGHTLY used. The frugal person inside of me, coupled with the environmentalist, coupled with the re-cycler, grabs the baggies! I stick them in my tote bag to take home and then at home I wash them well, let them dry and I have nice baggies for MY lunch! It's not like I am taking baggies used by a perfect stranger, or someone who may not have the best hygiene. Seemed perfectly logical to me, but was just wondering what my fellow simple living people think? Would you or wouldn't you?

[IshbelRobertson]

Nope!
Not for me! I wouldn't be able to bring myself to use plastic bags which were previously used.

[sweetana3]

Seems fine to me but I would not advertise it in the office.

When I am with a bunch of quilters, I am known for going thru the trash for fabric scraps. Finally told them what I was looking for and piles ended up on my table. In one class, we shop the floor scraps too but this group was too neat.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

Seems fine to me but I would not advertise it in the office.

Right you are sweetana3 - I don't intend to!

[CathyA]

I think its fine. I think most of us are too worried about germs. I think its great you're saving them from the dump!

[Polliwog]

I think it is great. It's amazing what us little frugalistas will scurry around and do! :)

[Kathy WI]

I would totally do that. We use sandwich bags over and over. My MIL always buys the fancy shmancy name brand zipper bags, and lots of times when we visit she'll send us home with something in one of those bags. Score!

[herbgeek]

No, I wouldn't, because I use reusable bento boxes. I'd encourage my co-workers (if they complimented my various boxes) to use reusable containers too. My favorite ones at the moment are these: http://www.easylunchboxes.com/

[danna]

I would and have...ditto on the not advertising unless...

[Mighty Frugal]

I'd do it too...but I'm a bag lady at heart

[Mrs-M]

You go girl! :) Here's the thing with me. I buy Ziploc plastic so very rarely because they last for sooo long in our house, that I probably would pass on collecting, but I still see your dedication towards reusability as being nothing short of stupendous! I am totally proud of you Shalom!!!

By the way, I hand-wash all plastic bags in my home (Ziploc specifically), then pin them up outside on the line to dry! Been doing it for years... I used to think it looked silly, now I just don't care! :laff:

[Float On]

I don't reuse if they've had a meat sandwich in them, but anything else is game.

[cdttmm]

I don't reuse if they've had a meat sandwich in them, but anything else is game.

+1

[Maxamillion]

I would do it, no problem.


No, I wouldn't, because I use reusable bento boxes.

I discovered bento boxes last year, they're so much fun.

[iris lily]

yep, I'd take them home.

[pony mom]

I'd definitely take them when no one was looking. I used to work with a woman who would use a heavy duty freezer bag to carry her container of yogurt and plastic spoon, then throw the bag away, every day. Grabbed those. If it was messy inside, like from a liquid or meat, I'd probably pass.

At work we used to pitch in and buy a box of plastic utensils until the few people who didn't want to pay used them anyway. Now I use a fork and spoon from an old stainless set from home--it lives in my locker and I just wash with the rest of my lunch/dinner dishes.

Always felt guilty wrapping my sandwich in plastic wrap every day. Now I use one of those bread slice-shaped plastic containers. It's a bit too small for whole wheat bread (think it's designed for small Wonder Bread slices) but I manage to cram it in there.

Those Bendo Boxes are neat, but won't liquid from one part mix into another part? I don't think they'd work for me, since I microwave a lot of my meals at work and usually separate the different foods for heating at different lengths of time. I'd actually prefer reusable glass containers with plastic lids but they're heavy and clumsy me would probably drop them.

[ApatheticNoMore]

I've never done it but I might. I don't see anything wrong with it.


I'd actually prefer reusable glass containers with plastic lids

totally my choice, I could only imagine them being heavy if you biked to work or something.

[chrisgermany]

Sure I would. I would know what has been in there before and clean them before re-use. She doesn't eat raw meat sandwiches, does she?

I am not a germophobic, grew up with eating carrots fresh from the ground, cleaning them with some wipes on the lawn...and still pick + eat blackberries in the park where I spend my lunch hour. Anything there that grows higher than my knee is ok.

[Maxamillion]

Those Bendo Boxes are neat, but won't liquid from one part mix into another part? I don't think they'd work for me, since I microwave a lot of my meals at work and usually separate the different foods for heating at different lengths of time.

With the setup I've got, there's a bunch of small containers with lids that all fit into a bigger container, which also has a lid to keep everything together. It's not an "official" bento box but something I picked up at Dollar General a couple of years ago. Here's a picture of it:
http://i30.photobucket.com/albums/c310/bewilderness/100_2781.jpg
The nuggets and veges were frozen, and the other stuff was fresh from the fridge, so everything stayed cool until lunchtime, when I warmed the nuggets and veges in the microwave. The small round clear container with the BBQ sauce in it originally held sprinkles for cakes/cupcakes. The big lid that fits over everything isn't in the pic, but you can see all the smaller lids behind the big container.

[Sad Eyed Lady]

She doesn't eat raw meat sandwiches, does she?


Nope, no raw meat. I think they are pretty clean, and of course I wash them when I get home. I am not completely sure she doesn't also have the sandwich wrapped in plastic. I will have to notice next time. Just seems so wasteful to me.

[Mrs-M]

Maxamillion. What a setup! What a meal!!! Good job! :) P.S. When are you having us all over for lunch? Or, if you prefer, we can all meet up somewhere, like a park, and you can pack our "to go" meals for us! :laff:

[herbgeek]

Those Bendo Boxes are neat, but won't liquid from one part mix into another part?

Depends on the Bento box. Most of the ones I have- have solid dividers or internal containers like the one Maxamillion posted so there is no mixing. A few do not, and are only used for "dry" snacks.

I do have a Tupperware container that has a part that can be removed when you want to microwave the rest of the meal, but for me most of the year, I just pack things that are good at room temp (sandwiches, quiche, flatbreads...) and if I need something warm, bring along a thermos of soup. This way I don't have to wait in the often long line to use the microwave (ie 100 employees, 1 microwave).

Bento boxes used to be hard to find, and often imported only from Japan ($$$) but since there's been more of an environmental focus, particularly for children's lunches, there are now a lot of inexpensive (and some, not so inexpensive grrr) options. This is one of the more expensive options, http://www.laptoplunches.com/, but I like this one for plane travel as it fits nicely on the tray, and is easier to use than constantly having to reach under the seat in front of me and take out yet another container. And it comes in an "adult" set of colors so I'm not embarrassed if business associates/clients happen to see it.

[loosechickens]

Of course I'd do it.....in a heartbeat.

I've always considered that kind of thing "possum living", which is the art of living a great life utilizing the waste and overconsumption of others to create a low cost life for yourself, which hurts no one, but allows you to have a great life on little money.

She is already buying the bags.....there is nothing wrong with them, having had nothing but clean food in them, so I don't see any downside at all.

Although, as we've always considered it important to "pass", especially in business environments (too many ways a simple liver is going to stick out in a consumption world already), I would do it quietly, and say nothing.

[Maxamillion]

Maxamillion. What a setup! What a meal!!! Good job! :) P.S. When are you having us all over for lunch? Or, if you prefer, we can all meet up somewhere, like a park, and you can pack our "to go" meals for us! :laff:

Lol. Thanks. I love the container and even better, I got it on sale for half price. :D

[mira]

I'd definitely snatch them up, provided nobody witnessed it!

I just turn ziploc bags inside out and wash them along with my dishes. They're so thick and durable; using them only once is a terrible waste.

[early morning]

Oh heck yeah, I would take them - actually, one of the ladies who eats in my room (the unofficial teacher's hangout, lol) routinely offers hers up, so they don't even hit the trash. All my work buddies know I'm a scavenger!