The average restaurant produces about 8,200 pounds of waste a month, which is more than 98,000 pounds a year. About 15 percent of that waste is in the form of reusable materials. That means nearly 15,000 pounds of waste per month can be completely eliminated. That's a staggering amount once you factor in the number of fast food restaurants. Fast food waste comes in several forms. Plastic eating utensils, cups and containers, wrappers and napkins make up the bulk of recyclable material that is tossed into the trash in fast food joints. A concerted effort by the major fast food chains could impact our environment in a very positive way.