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It defines reusable takeout container serviceware, explains local health department authority, and clarifies that adoption is not mandatory, while outlining key considerations for both establishment- and consumer-provided containers.",{"@graph":14,"@context":72},[15,34,55],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/","Document",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/healthcare/","Healthcare",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/document/best-management-practices-for-reusable-takeout-containers-at-food-establishments-in-massachusetts-guidance/404784/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/best-management-practices-for-reusable-takeout-containers-at-food-establishments-in-massachusetts-guidance/404784.png","ImageObject",300,407,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Margaret","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-28","2026-09-27",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":33},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",{"@type":56,"mainEntity":57},"FAQPage",[58,64,68],{"name":59,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":61},"What is the purpose of this guide for reusable takeout containers?","Question",{"text":62,"@type":63},"The guide provides best management practices for reusable takeout containers to help Massachusetts food service establishments reduce waste from single-use disposables while aligning with the Massachusetts Merged Food Code.","Answer",{"name":65,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":66},"Is switching to reusable takeout containers mandatory under this guidance?",{"text":67,"@type":63},"No. Switching from single-use disposables to durable reusable containers is not being mandated; the guide offers best practices for establishments interested in making the switch.",{"name":69,"@type":60,"acceptedAnswer":70},"Who developed these best management practices and what input was used?",{"text":71,"@type":63},"RecyclingWorks developed the guidance in collaboration with MassDEP, state and local health officials, food retail establishments, restaurants, colleges and universities, reusables organizations, advocacy groups, and other industry stakeholders through stakeholder meetings and interviews, plus review sessions for drafts.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":74,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":76,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":78,"site_id":7},404784,1790625397,{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":82},"success",[83,87,91,95,100,105,109,114,119,122,126],{"id":22,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":84,"show_sort_weight":85,"slug":86},"Story & Novel",90,"story-novel",{"id":26,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":88,"show_sort_weight":89,"slug":90},"Literature",80,"literature",{"id":33,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":92,"show_sort_weight":93,"slug":94},"Exam",70,"exam",{"id":96,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":97,"show_sort_weight":98,"slug":99},5,"Comic",60,"comic",{"id":101,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":102,"show_sort_weight":103,"slug":104},6,"Technology",50,"technology",{"id":106,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":29,"show_sort_weight":107,"slug":108},7,40,"healthcare",{"id":110,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":111,"show_sort_weight":112,"slug":113},8,"Research & Report",30,"research-report",{"id":115,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":116,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":118},9,"Religion & Spirituality",20,"religion-spirituality",{"id":117,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":120,"show_sort_weight":117,"slug":121},"World Cup","world-cup",{"id":123,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":124,"show_sort_weight":123,"slug":125},10,"Lifestyle","lifestyle",{"id":127,"doc_module":4,"doc_module_name":25,"category_name":128,"show_sort_weight":96,"slug":129},19,"General","general",{"code":4,"msg":81,"data":131},{"doc_id":78,"user_id":132,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":133,"doc_module":4,"category_id":106,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":134,"file_id":135,"file_url":136,"file_type":137,"file_size":138,"view_count":33,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":123,"language":139,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":140,"faqs":141,"seo_title":142,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":143,"read_time":144,"preview_page_count":4},137451207643,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_3d24733baf745e90a7e4bdd5f77d97b2","Best Management Practices for Reusable Takeout Containers at Food Establishments in Massachusetts  \nDeveloped in 2024  \nContents  \nIntroduction.............................................................................................................2  \nBackground.............................................................................................................2  \nWho Should Use This Guide?.................................................................................2  \nHow RecyclingWorks Developed This Guidance..................................................3  \nWhy Should My Business Switch to Reusable Takeout Containers?..................3  \nA Note on the Food Code/Health & Safety...........................................................4  \nEstablishment-Provided Reusable Containers.....................................................5  \nFood & Beverage Containers in Food Service.......................................................5  \nConsumer-Provided Reusable Containers............................................................8  \nBeverage Containers in Food Service...................................................................8  \nConsumer-Provided Food Containers in Food Service........................................9  \nFood Containers in Retail/Bulk Settings.................................................................9  \nConclusion.............................................................................................................10  \nAdditional Resources.............................................................................................10  \n2  \nIntroduction  \nBackground  \nThis guide provides best management practices for reusable takeout containers that  \nalign with the Massachusetts Merged Food Code to help food service establishments in Massachusetts reduce waste from single-use disposables. Best management practices were developed in collaboration with multiple stakeholders. RecyclingWorks in Massachusetts (RecyclingWorks) worked with members of the Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (MassDEP) Reduce and Reuse Working Group, state and local health officials, food retail establishments, restaurants, colleges and universities, reusables organizations and advocacy groups, and other stakeholders from the food service industry to develop and vet these management practices.  \nRecyclingWorks defines reusable takeout container serviceware as durable containers, plates, bowls, and utensils used to hold food and/or beverages.  \nIn Massachusetts, local health departments maintain the authority to interpret the Food Code as it applies to reusable serviceware. The Massachusetts Department of Public Health (MassDPH) continues to be a resource for local health departments when interpreting the Food Code. For food code questions, contact Mark Carleo, Senior Food Safety Trainer, MassDPH, [at](at mark.l.carleo@mass.gov)[ ](at mark.l.carleo@mass.gov)[mark.l.carleo@mass.gov](at mark.l.carleo@mass.gov).  \nPlease note: Switching from single-use disposables to durable reusable containers is not being mandated. For establishments interested in making the switch, this guide offers best practices to consider.  \nWho Should Use This Guide?  \nFood establishments such as restaurants, colleges and universities, hotels, grocers, corporate and hospital cafeterias, caterers, and stadiums utilizing single-use, to-go food containersand other disposable serviceware might find this guide valuable when initiating a reusable serviceware program.  \nResources in this guidance may also be helpful for:  \n• Health department officials  \n• Recycling coordinators  \n• Organizations and advocacy groups focused on reusables and/or waste prevention  \n• Industry associations for restaurants, colleges and universities, etc.  \n• Service providers for reusable serviceware and/or takeout container systems  \n• Vendors of reusable serviceware containers  \n3  \nHow RecyclingWorks Developed This Guidance  \nRecycl","cbCaibJpSBxqRMQb","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaibJpSBxqRMQb","pdf",335272,"English","# Introduction\n## Background\n## Who Should Use This Guide?\n## How RecyclingWorks Developed This Guidance\n## Why Should My Business Switch to Reusable Takeout Containers?\n## A Note on the Food Code/Health & Safety\n# Conclusion\n# Additional Resources","[{\"question\":\"What is the purpose of this guide for reusable takeout containers?\",\"answer\":\"The guide provides best management practices for reusable takeout containers to help Massachusetts food service establishments reduce waste from single-use disposables while aligning with the Massachusetts Merged Food Code.\"},{\"question\":\"Is switching to reusable takeout containers mandatory under this guidance?\",\"answer\":\"No. Switching from single-use disposables to durable reusable containers is not being mandated; the guide offers best practices for establishments interested in making the switch.\"},{\"question\":\"Who developed these best management practices and what input was used?\",\"answer\":\"RecyclingWorks developed the guidance in collaboration with MassDEP, state and local health officials, food retail establishments, restaurants, colleges and universities, reusables organizations, advocacy groups, and other industry stakeholders through stakeholder meetings and interviews, plus review sessions for drafts.\"}]","Best Management Practices for Reusable Takeout Containers at Food Establishments in Massachusetts - Guidance | PDF",1790550671,25]