Serving Queen Anne & Magnolia Since 1919 www.QueenAnneNews.com
APRIL 22, 2026
VOL. 107, NO. 17
Turning Surplus Easy Earth Day Ideas, Close to Home Into Sales: Why E Seattle Businesses Are Joining Too Good To Go Staff Report
LIGHTSPRUCH
F
ood waste is a cost most businesses absorb without much visibility. Unsold items at the end of the day are often written off as part of operations. But a growing number of Seattle businesses are finding a way to turn that loss into revenue. Too Good To Go connects businesses with customers willing to purchase surplus food at a discount. Through the app, participating restaurants, bakeries, and grocery stores package unsold items into “Surprise Bags,” which are sold to users at a reduced price rather than thrown away. For businesses, the model is simple. Instead of paying to dispose of unsold food, they recover part of the cost while reducing waste.
FROM WASTE TO REVENUE
Food waste is not just an environmental issue. It is also a financial one. Every unsold item represents sunk costs in ingredients, labor, and energy. While businesses may not recover full retail value, selling surplus through platforms like Too Good To Go allows them to capture revenue that would otherwise be lost. For many small businesses operating on tight margins, even partial recovery can make a difference over time. There are also operational savings. Reducing food waste can lower disposal costs, particularly for businesses paying for compost or waste hauling services.
A LOW-LIFT WAY TO PARTICIPATE
One of the reasons the platform has gained traction is its simplicity. Businesses decide how many bags to offer, what goes into them, and when they are available for pickup. There is no need to redesign menus or overhaul operations. Participation can scale up or down depending on daily surplus.
BUILDING NEW CUSTOMER RELATIONSHIPS
Customers who purchase Surprise Bags are often new to the business. The discounted entry point gives them a chance to try products they might not otherwise purchase, potentially turning into repeat customers. For neighborhood businesses, this can mean increased foot traffic and broader visibility within the community.
THE ENVIRONMENTAL CASE
Food waste has a significant environmental impact. When organic material ends up in landfills, it produces methane, a greenhouse gas far more potent than carbon dioxide in the short term.
TOO GOOD TO GO, 5
arth Day is a good opportunity to look at simple ways to care for the environment in everyday life. The observance began in 1970, after growing public concern about pollution and environmental damage, including the 1969 Santa Barbara oil spill. U.S. Sen. Gaylord Nelson and activist Denis Hayes helped organize the first Earth Day as a national environmental teach-in. That history may sound big, but Earth Day often feels most meaningful in small, everyday choices. In neighborhoods like ours, that can mean paying a little more attention to the streets, parks and public spaces people move through every day. One of the easiest ways to celebrate is by cleaning up the neighborhood. A walk with gloves and a trash bag may not seem like much, but litter on sidewalks and along streets can eventually make its way into storm drains and waterways. Seattle Public Utilities notes that storm drains flow directly to rivers, lakes, creeks and Puget Sound, making cleanup efforts one small but practical way to help protect local waterways. Earth Day is also a good excuse to spend time outdoors. Whether that means visiting a nearby park, walking a familiar trail, or simply spending more time outside with friends or family, it can be a reminder of how much these everyday green spaces add to neighborhood life. Parks do not have to be large or dramatic to matter. Often, the places closest to home are the ones we value most. Walking or biking more is another practical way to mark Earth Day. Choosing
to walk to school or work, bike to a nearby errand, or keep a local outing close to home are all small steps, but they help connect daily habits with environmental impact. With Bike & Roll to School Day coming up in early May, this is also a good time to think about how everyday transportation choices add up. Earth Day does not have to be about dramatic changes. Sometimes it is simply a matter of choosing a few better habits and sticking with them.
Planting something is another easy project. It does not have to be a tree. Herbs in pots, pollinator-friendly flowers, vegetable starts, or even a small garden bed can be a good place to begin. In this part of Seattle, community gardening already has a foothold, from the Queen Anne P-Patch to rooftop growing spaces like UpGarden in Uptown.
EARTH DAY, 5
What’s Holding Drivers Back?
Seattle’s EV Hesitation Isn’t Just About the Cars (usually a 15 hour drive) with planned charging stops along the way. The difference is not the ability to travel, but how travel is structured. Instead of long stretches followed by a quick refuel, EV trips are broken into shorter segments with charging stops that often align with natural breaks. Drivers stop to use restrooms, grab food, or take a break, and the vehicle charges during that time. For many, the adjustment is less about losing time and more about changing expectations. The car tends to stop when the driver would need to stop anyway. That said, the experience still depends on access to reliable charging infrastructure, particularly on longer routes.
Staff Report
E
lectric vehicles are increasingly visible across Seattle streets. Charging stations are expanding, new models are entering the market, and state and local policies continue to push toward electrification. Yet for many drivers, the decision to switch from gas to electric remains uncertain. Local conversations, including recent community discussions and testimonials from Seattle drivers, reveal a consistent theme. The hesitation is not rooted in opposition to electric vehicles. It is rooted in whether the transition fits into daily life. IT’S NOT ONE PROBLEM. IT’S A STACK OF THEM Most potential buyers are not focused on a single issue. Instead, they are weighing a combination of practical concerns that, taken together, create friction. Charging, cost, range, and reliability are often discussed as separate issues. In reality, they overlap. A driver without reliable access to charging may also be more sensitive to range. A higher upfront cost feels riskier when the long-term savings depend on habits that are still unfamiliar. This layering effect helps explain why adoption can lag even in cities that are otherwise supportive of EVs. CHARGING IS ABOUT ROUTINE, NOT JUST ACCESS The question of charging is often framed as infrastructure. Drivers accustomed to quick stops at gas stations are now being asked to think differently.
Without access to a Level 2, or 220-volt, charger at home or work, charging becomes less of a routine and more of a recurring task. Public charging networks continue to expand, but concerns about availability, reliability, and wait times remain. Local drivers consistently note that EV ownership works best with dependable access to home or workplace charging. Without it, the experience often requires planning around station locations and availability. This gap between ideal conditions and everyday reality remains one of the most significant barriers to adoption. While the technology continues to advance, the infrastructure needed to support consistent, convenient use is still catching up.
RANGE ANXIETY HAS EVOLVED Range anxiety is still one of the most cited concerns, but for many drivers, the experience is evolving. Planning tools like A Better Routeplanner have made longdistance travel far more predictable. These platforms map routes based on vehicle type, charging networks, elevation, and driving conditions, helping drivers plan trips with charging stops built in. In practice, many EV owners say the reality is less limiting than expected. In local experiences, drivers report being able to travel from Seattle to Portland on a single full charge in current vehicles. Longer trips are also manageable. One driver described completing an Albany (OR) to Los Angeles trip in about 20 hours
COLD WEATHER STILL RAISES QUESTIONS Cold weather is another factor that gives some drivers pause, even in a region like Seattle where winters are relatively mild. Electric vehicles rely on batteries that are sensitive to temperature. In colder conditions, energy is used not only to power the car, but also to heat the battery and cabin. This can reduce overall efficiency and shorten driving range. Studies have shown that EV range can drop in colder weather, sometimes by 10% to 30% depending on conditions and driving habits.
DRIVERS, 5