NZ's Guide to Reuseable Serviceware Under Alert Level 2
*UPDATED September 2021*
THIS GUIDE SHARES TIPS FOR HOSPITALITY OUTLETS WANTING TO FACILITATE REUSABLES FOR FOOD AND DRINK under Alert Level 2.
Let us know if your outlet has developed other methods for reusing while still managing food safety risks and contactless requirements. The more ideas we can share here, the better.
But first… Are retail and hospo allowed to accept reusables under Alert Level 2?
Yes. During the “original” Alert level 3 in May 2020, the Government confirmed that under Alert Levels 3 and 2, businesses are allowed to accept customers’ reusable cups and containers and/or operate reusable cup and container schemes, provided food safety risks are managed and all service complies with general service requirements for the Alert Level. For more info, check the “Eating Out at Alert Level 2” section of this page on the official covid-19 website.
Customers… Help your favourite outlets embrace reusables safely:
Stay home if you have any COVID-19 symptoms.
WEAR A MASK (reusable, if you can!).
Remember physical distancing requirements - stay at least 1m apart from others at all times.
Sign in using the NZ Covid Tracer App or make a note of the outlet’s name and time you are there if you are keeping a manual record instead.
Follow the outlet’s ordering process (online, text, phone, app or in-person). Be sure to let the outlet know, at the time of ordering your food & drink, that you’ve got your own cup/container or would like your order in a reusable.
BYO CLEAN reusables only & hold onto your lids.
Be patient & kind. Hospo is having to adapt very quickly to operate under Alert Level 2 requirements. Making new workflows operate smoothly takes time.
Using a reuse scheme? Try not to be a hoarder ;-) Return the cup or container you’ve borrowed to keep it cycling through the system.
Make time to stay…
The gold standard for enjoying the best New Zealand hospo has to offer, without the waste!
Under Alert level 2, customers can dine-in at the premises, with restrictions. You need to wear a mask when not eating or drinking. You need to be seated at a table the whole time, unless entering or leaving the venue or going to the bathroom. You need to be physically separated from other customers by 1m.
So, if you choose to go out for food or drink, embrace the community vibes that cafes & eateries provide - take a seat and enjoy your food & drink in the outlet’s in-house reusable crockery. No waste, no fuss. Positive vibes only!
Takeaway Drinks
BYO cup - the ‘contactless pour’
Follow these simple steps to fill a customer’s BYO cup/glass:
Customer orders drink through the outlet’s Alert Level 2 ordering process (whether that’s online, text, phone, app or in-person at the counter) and lets the outlet know they would like it in their BYO reusable cup.
Customer leaves their reusable cup on a pre-marked spot at the takeaway servery or counter. The customer holds onto their lid.
The barista prepares the drink in a reusable jug with a spout. If the order is coffee, the barista will keep the coffee shot & milk elements separate.
The barista pours the drink into the customer’s cup (without touching the cup).
Customer grabs their drink, smiles, goes on their way.
Check the video below for an example of this method at Pembroke Patisserie (video courtesy of Sina McPhedran). NOTE that this film was made in May 2020. Now, everyone - both customers and staff - MUST be wearing a mask.
Takeaway coffee in a sterilised, upcycled jar from Good to Go at Betty’s on Waiheke Island
Reuse Schemes
Customer orders drink through the outlet’s Alert Level 2 ordering process (whether that’s online, text, phone, app or in-person at the counter), at which point they are given the option to have the drink prepared in a reusable takeaway cup instead of a disposable. The reusable cup is lent to the customer through a system such as Again Again, CupCycling, Wanakup, Chunky, Good to Go, Mugcycle, Mugly, miKuppi, or The Koha Jar Project. The cup may be loaned for free (as with mug libraries or jars) or the customer is charged a refundable deposit or bond. Outlets are responsible for sterilising returned cups and should establish a safe take-back system for returned cups. See, for example, Again Again’s Best Practice Workflow.
Takeaway Food
BYO CONTAINER - The ‘Contactless Transfer’
This system looks pretty similar to the ‘contactless pour’ for takeaway drinks and coffee.
Customer orders food through the outlet’s Alert Level 2 ordering process (whether that’s online, text, phone, app or in-person at the counter) and lets the outlet know they would like the food in their BYO reusable container.
Customer leaves their reusable container on a pre-marked spot at the takeaway servery or the counter. The customer holds onto the container lid.
The kitchen staff prepare the food onto a reusable plate or bowl that the server then transfers into customer’s container (without touching the container).
OR the server uses tongs to put deli/counter food directly into the customer’s container (without touching the container).
Customer grabs their container, smiles, goes on their way.
Check the video below for an example of this method at Pembroke Patisserie (video courtesy of Sina McPhedran). NOTE that this film was made in May 2020. Now, everyone - both customers and staff - MUST be wearing a mask.
Reuse Schemes
Pre-prepared food delivered in reusable glass jars (Yum Jar)
Make use of a third party reusable takeaway container scheme - a great example is Reusabowl in Wellington, which works with partner eateries to offer reusable takeaway containers using a deposit return system. Check out their Alert Level 2 takeback guidelines.
Offer a container take-back program - pack takeaway food orders into reusable containers that you allow your regular customers to borrow and bring it back. This can be done on a deposit system to ensure that containers really do return. Outlets should establish a safe take-back system for returned containers. See, for example, Reusabowl’s covid eatery guidelines for different alert levels.
Implement a reusable container delivery model - give your customers the option of ordering their takeaway delivery in a reusable container that they leave out for you to pick up again on a later date (or which they can return through a contactless drop-off outside your outlet). See, for example, the Yum Jar system, including their Alert Level 3 takeback workflow.
Bits and Bobs
Cutlery, bags and straws
Refrain from giving out disposable cutlery and straws automatically - offer ‘on-demand’ only.
Do your customers take sugar in their coffee? Leaving sugar sachets out for customers creates single-use sachet waste while also inevitably leading to customers touching sachets that other customers have touched. Instead, try a contactless transfer of sugar from a spoon into the customer’s cup before pouring the coffee, or invite regulars to put sugar in their cup at home before collecting their coffee.
Encourage regulars to BYO bag for their takeaway food orders so you don’t have to give out single-use bags.
Water
Advice from Refill NZ. Check their website for more information about safely refilling water bottles at Alert Level 2.
New Zealand has some of the cleanest drinking water in the world and tap water is more highly regulated that bottled water. Don’t waste money on bottled water!
Carry a reusable bottle & clean it regularly & thoroughly between uses with warm, soapy water. Fill up your bottle before leaving the house or work to reduce the need to fill up on the go. When refilling on the go, ensure there is no contact between the bottle and the tap, jug, fountain or nozzle from which you fill your bottle.
Councils facilities, cafes and businesses can set up ‘RefillNZ Stations’ where the public can refill their own water bottles.
Online ordering
Put a button or checkbox on your website or app ordering portal for customers to let you know that they’ll be bringing their own reusable or that they’d like to make use of any reuse schemes you operate. If you are working with an external app or delivery platform that doesn’t yet have this feature, ask them if they can add it in!