On May 14 a new Island-based initiative will launch with the goal of reducing trash generated by takeout food containers. Island Eats will partner with five local restaurants to offer takeout in reusable and returnable bowls. Customers will have the option to receive takeout orders in bowls made from 75 per cent recycled stainless steel and then return the bowl to any participating restaurant.

Every bowl will prevent thousands of single-use containers from ending up in the landfill, an announcement about the new initiative said.

The pilot will run Memorial Day weekend through the end of September. Restaurants participating are MV Salads, Black Sheep, Bobby B’s, Pawnee House and Katama General Store. Kitchen Porch will professionally clean and sanitize the bowls before they are redistributed to the restaurants for the next use.

The pilot phase is limited to 120 participants. Sign-ups will go live May 14 online at the Island Eats website and in-person at the MV Climate Action Week festival.

The initiative is led by Jessica Mason, a Chilmark resident and executive director of a national nonprofit that helps launch cooperative businesses. For more information, go to islandeatsmv.com.