Today at lunch

I go to this place that sells pasta by the cup. That's convenient, because it's easy to transport. You don't need a bag or anything to carry it.

Except that they give you a paper bag and even look incredulous if one would dare to turn it down. They also give you, by default, a plastic fork, and a million napkins along with a receipt. People seemed to like the little paper bag. When their pasta was ready, they placed the sealed cup in the bag, carried it back approximately one block to their office building, to their desk, then threw the bag away.

So let's recap: one serving of pasta. one small paper bag. one cup. one fork. one million napkins. one receipt.

Really? Is that necessary? I don't need a receipt. I definitely don't need a bag. I need one napkin (although I do know people who require more than one. In fact I know people who would benefit from changing into a full-body napkin before coming within a 10 foot perimeter of food).

So much of our economy is industries of waste. Packaging, then disposal.

In Germany you pay extra for packaged goods, but get the money back on return (of a bottle, say). If you leave a bottle in the street, someone will pick it up IMMEDIATELY and return it. The upfront cost is like a rental. If you want to be lazy, someone else will benefit from that, but in the end the bottle will be recycled as it should be.

Why can't we just do that everywhere, for everything? I'm sure a stupid little pasta cup carrier bag costs a few cents. Make me pay a few more cents/pence if I want the stupid little pasta cup carrier bag or give me a discount if I refuse it. Either way I am incentivized to be responsible/practical.

And maybe that encouraged common sense would spread into other things. The economic message we've received is pretty clear -- the way things are run at the moment is not sustainable. That includes some businesses but mostly the way that many businesses are run (helloooo GM and most financial service companies).

There is a bright side. That bright side is that there is a whole new economy that can emerge from a new focus on resourcefulness and efficiency. I feel like a few good ideas (not big, just inspired) could change our behavior for the better. I just hope I think of one before some other jerk does.