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Original poster

To want to write to my MP about Chinese plastic tubs

137 replies

mismomary · 27/09/2025 08:28

Yesterday I was going to cook a chicken casserole. All the ingredients were purchased, some already laid out on the kitchen counter. I was looking forward to it. I knew it was going to take about an hour to make. But somehow I couldn't get my arse in gear. It's an exeat weekend and I just flopped on the sofa watching a film with DC and lit the fire. Chicken casserole didn't happen and suddenly everyone is starving. So out come the ancient Chinese menus. I've even written "don't do it" on one. But we did it.

And it arrives in trillions of those plastic tubs. I already a cupboard dedicated to them, three columns - large, small, lids. I don't need any more and they are non recyclable. Aren't they? Aren't they the single use plastic that is supposed to be banned? I don't understand. Why can't we do the glamorous cardboard boxes like America. Why?????

OP posts:
Original poster
mismomary · 27/09/2025 11:29

applesblowinginthewind · 27/09/2025 10:10

I reuse them for other non food things. For example sorting lego out so all small pieces of one sort are kept together in a box, or storing kids jigsaw puzzle pieces separately, so for example when you get four puzzles in a big box, you can have one puzzle in each box, then stick all for plastic tubs inside the big box.

What annoys me is that boxes from different takeaways are slightly different sizes, so whilst they might look the same, the lids from one won't fit the box from another.

Lego storage is an excelente idea. Jeeez must turn off internacional keyboard.

OP posts:
Original poster
mismomary · 27/09/2025 11:34

TofuEater · 27/09/2025 10:19

I am with the OP on the glamour of those foldy cardboard boxes you see in American films. I fell in love with them when Cliff Barnes used to order them for his regular dates with JR's cast offs...

Yessss Exactly! I'm so glad it's not just me. When they are working late at the office to solve a huge legal case and order in and all tuck into little white boxes with chopsticks.

OP posts:
NannyR · 27/09/2025 11:49

DeanStockwelll · 27/09/2025 10:28

No , you would keep the container at home like you do with your coffee cup.
I think ( @NannyR can you clarify) that you would buy / get the metal boxes from the takeaway the 1st time you go, take your food home and enjoy it . Wash and store the tin until you want another takeaway then take it back to be refilled.
Of course there are going to be times when you are out and you want to call in on your way home so it wouldn't work then
And also it wouldn't work for delivery companies, but it would be great for collections.

Show quote history

I've not been as I'm not a huge curry fan, but as far as I can tell , if you order your food in a tiffin tin, you pay an extra £10 or so. You keep that tin at home and next time you order a curry you take it back and they give you your food in a freshly washed tiffin tin. They wash/sterilise the tin you brought back and use it for the next customer.

babyproblems · 27/09/2025 11:52

They are recyclable.
Do not keep and reuse them - they are single use plastic; and definitely do not reheat in them- the microplastics will seep into the food. Get rid of them- why on earth are you keeping them???

TofuEater · 27/09/2025 12:10

mismomary · 27/09/2025 11:34

Yessss Exactly! I'm so glad it's not just me. When they are working late at the office to solve a huge legal case and order in and all tuck into little white boxes with chopsticks.

Show quote history

Yes! I've always wanted to do that. Not actually work late but have my boss order Chinese takeaway in the little boxes

Baital · 27/09/2025 12:56

klim · 27/09/2025 09:23

They are not bottles so the council doesn't recycle them. They say their machinery doesn't work with non bottle shaped plastic things. Putting stuff that they are not able to recycle in the recycling bin risks the whole batch being chucked away.

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I think you need to write to Council about their recycling. Ours have been accepting a range of recycling in the green bins for the last 20+ years.

LindorDoubleChoc · 27/09/2025 13:12

The variation in recycling provision around the country never ceases to surprise me.

RedToothBrush · 27/09/2025 13:16

There is a way you could easily reduce how many of these plastic boxes you have.

Stop eating Chinese takeaways.

Kreepture · 27/09/2025 13:17

ours make perfect containers for sorting lego when we're building!

ERthree · 27/09/2025 13:42

Don't take it on the rest of the world because you couldn't be arsed to cook.

CaptainMyCaptain · 27/09/2025 13:56

klim · 27/09/2025 09:23

They are not bottles so the council doesn't recycle them. They say their machinery doesn't work with non bottle shaped plastic things. Putting stuff that they are not able to recycle in the recycling bin risks the whole batch being chucked away.

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That's very poor of your council. We put almost everything in our recycling including yoghurt pots etc.

DeanStockwelll · 27/09/2025 14:59

NannyR · 27/09/2025 11:49

I've not been as I'm not a huge curry fan, but as far as I can tell , if you order your food in a tiffin tin, you pay an extra £10 or so. You keep that tin at home and next time you order a curry you take it back and they give you your food in a freshly washed tiffin tin. They wash/sterilise the tin you brought back and use it for the next customer.

Show quote history

Ah that makes sense , it's a great idea.
I bet loads of people keep them intentionally to take lunches to work and school 🙂

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