Clearing tables--what is customary in fast food establishments?

Completely random question, but...

What is the expectation when someone is finished with their food at a fast food place like McDonalds, etc?

So I've noticed the few times we've been to fast food places around town--McDonalds, Burger King, KFC and the like--that people leave their trash behind on tables. The tables are then either cleared by customers eager to claim the table for themselves, or eventually by an employee.

The few times I threw away my own trash and cleared my tray I got a very surprised "Ohh?, Uh, thank you" from the attendant. Am I not supposed to be doing that? It would drive me nuts to leave my trash behind, especially when rubbish bins seem to be plentiful and the effort to do so would take a few seconds. And it honestly never occurred to me to leave it behind.

No idea if there's an official policy but who could object if you bus your own?  DH is always running around returning mugs and stuff to serving areas. I'd certainly get clear anything that can just be tossed in the bin.

When I lived in Germany and was first traveling around Europe I would often find it odd that people didn’t clear their tables, but then in some fast food joints I couldn’t locate a trash can at all.  Over the years I’ve noticed signs asking people to please clear their tables.  I can’t remember if I’ve only seem those in Germany though.  I just sort of thought that it was one of those quirky differences between the US and Europe.  I guess I’ve also just assumed it fell under that stereotype (I know that people here don’t like to use that word) that Americans eat more fast food and it was a “newer” concept to Europeans.  Keep in mind, that when I lived in Germany I was in Dresden, not in the west. 

I still clear my table, I feel like an ass if I don't. I also tip bartenders discreetly.

I am ashamed to say I have gotten used to not clearing the table.
Seems weird to do so now.

So when I go to the US, I end up forgetting that I have to do it. J thinks its funny that's what we do in the US.


Oh sorry, didn't realise you were asking about fast food places specificially- I can't comment on McDonalds and the like -but places like Costa or other cafes, we just leave the trays. I don't see anyone else doing it and nowhere to put anything, so don't know what else to do except leave the tray. 

I always clear my table in fast food places - I've always assumed that's what they expect you to do in the UK ! Even if it's not expected, though, I still do it myself anyway .

I figure if you weren't supposed to clear your own table, they wouldn't have bins in the open.

DH says, "It's somebody's job to clear that stuff away so if we don't leave it there, they won't have a job."  My point was that person has another 'real' job to do and clearing the tables is an additional duty (for which they probably don't receive additional compensation).  I could be wrong but I doubt it.  If it was a 'real' restaraunt then I could say yes it might be a bus boy...but not at Micky D's.

I clear the table if I'm able but if it's a case of me in town with both the kids on my own and I can't carry both of them plus the tray or leave them alone at the table...I will leave it there.  IMO that's why the attendants are there...to help people who are unable to do it themselves. 

Right, I was specifically asking about McDonalds-type places where there are tons of bins around with an obvious area to leave your trays. Cafes and sit-down restaurants are obviously another story.

Even at cafes where you are obviously expected to leave your tray behind I still try to leave things as tidy as I can.  :-\\\\I guess it's a compulsion. Thousands of miles away and I still suffer from Motherly guilt. That little voice that always creeps into my head---"Clean up after yourself, Oona!!"

Dh & I are always having this discussions when we do go out to eat like McDonald's I said I couldn't just leave my trash it would bother me waaayyy tooo much. I used to work in fast food in my late teens & early 20's an it wold drive me nuts how some people could just walk off an leave there trash on the table. when ever we are finished with our meal I always clean off the table like the crumbs or spilt ketchup. Dh is like they have someone for that I said I know that used to me so I know I always appreciated when someone cleaned up after themselves made my job easier.     when we were in Heathrow a couple weeks ago one of the restaurants was supper busy an there sitting area was packed with people. I watched several people as they ate there food an just got up an left there trash behind on the table they were at I was gobsmacked I honestly cant see how people just eat there food an leave there trash behind.     there were places to put your trash there as well they were just being lazy cause these people had no kids I saw with them!! I'm always saying to Dh I wander if they do that in there house more than likely probably not but if they do they must have a real pigstye of house then!!    

Dh & I are always having this discussions when we do go out to eat like McDonald's I said I couldn't just leave my trash it would bother me waaayyy tooo much.     

One thought here. Some poor people scavenge the tables at fast foods for left over food.
I saw this man who I could believe was on drugs and he bought about 16 pies and ate two and left the rest on the table with other stuff he had bought. He was really on a trip. This was in an upscale neighborhood and he had a good appearance except for his badly torn clothes.

One thought here. Some poor people scavenge the tables at fast foods for left over food.
I saw this man who I could believe was on drugs and he bought about 16 pies and ate two and left the rest on the table with other stuff he had bought. He was really on a trip. This was in an upscale neighborhood and he had a good appearance except for his badly torn clothes.

This used to happen at Wendy's in Manhattan. I would stop there for supper if I was working late. Homeless people would come in and eat the food that was left on the tables. I never threw away my leftover food there because I thought it was better that a hungry person eat it than it get thrown in the bin.

I stopped trying to bus my own table in cafes when I gave up on finding a place to clear it to. 

It's normal here for a waiter or waitress to spot you've finished with your stuff and come over to take stuff away to clean up, if they're not on the ball though you could end up waiting a nice long time with greasy chicken bones gracing your table before someone eventually comes over and sorts it out... at any rate, your always better off with a take-away or go to a real restaurant.

It's normal here for a waiter or waitress to spot you've finished with your stuff and come over to take stuff away to clean up, if they're not on the ball though you could end up waiting a nice long time with greasy chicken bones gracing your table before someone eventually comes over and sorts it out... at any rate, your always better off with a take-away or go to a real restaurant.

Where is here?

Where is here?

Location says UK.