SUN JOURNAL • January 28, 2026
Disposable food packaging imposes a significant cost burden on Bath food service providers. Our research team surveyed 12 Bath restaurants and found that they reported using, on average, 5,798 disposables per month and spending over $736 per month on disposable food packaging. Bath restaurants also spent an average of 101 labor hours and $245 per month on waste management. Small businesses can save an average of $3,000 to $22,000 annually by transitioning some disposables to reusables. Reusable items can also reduce municipal costs and directly address local waste issues. Communities across the U.S. and the globe have already successfully implemented reusable food packaging systems, showing that collective effort can lead to meaningful change. ~ Catherine Segada, graduate research assistant and Bath community liaison with the NOAA/Sea Grant Marine Debris Challenge Project