It's not like you can walk down any sidewalk without tripping over a homeless person in SF. I am all for helping when and where I can and I applaud others for thinking of ways to help and reduce waste but I have found that the direct hand off works best for me.

I can't help but be concerned about how unsanitary eating food left on a trash can might be or about the ill nature of some who might find it funny to poison, drug, or spit on re-plated food.

As someone who was active with Food Not Bombs in SF during the Frank Jordan years, I can see the need to help feed. We were faced with arrest and jail on a regular basis with 'health concerns' being cited as the primary reason for the police harassment but we trudged on. Based on that experience though, I don't see this as something that will fair well with the officials, but I can see it catching on with diners out on the town.

Still the personal hand off seems the best route to take when available.