Customers Prefer Restaurants That Recycle

A new survey conducted by the National Restaurant Association shows that nearly two thirds of restaurants have an active recycling program and roughly 60 percent of customers prefer to visit a restaurant that has one. 

"Sustainability is more than a fad, it's the new way of doing business in the restaurant industry," said Hudson Riehle, senior vice president of the Research and Knowledge Group for the National Restaurant Association. "Our research found that a majority of consumers prefer to patronize restaurants with recycling programs, and restaurants are following suit to ensure they meet their customers' expectations."

Among the important findings of the survey: 

• 65 percent of restaurateur have some sort of recycling program
• 72 percent of restaurants use some form of recycled materials 
• 85 percent of customers sort recyclables in quick service restaurants, if the appropriate bins are provided
• 51 percent of people would pay slightly more for a menu item in a restaurant that recycles
• Just 13 percent of restaurants have an active composting program
• 60 percent of people prefer a restaurant that recycles 

Do you generally agree with these findings? Do your experiences bear them out?