Starting next month, Petaluma, California, will implement a pilot program where over 30 restaurants will serve drinks in reusable cups to cut down on plastic waste.
Joseph Winters reports for Grist.
In short:
- The Petaluma Reusable Cup Project will distribute bright purple reusable cups across 30+ restaurants and cafes.
 - Customers can return used cups to any participating location or designated return bins.
 - The project, funded by the NextGen Consortium, aims to inform similar initiatives in other cities.
 
Key quote:
Having reliable access to a return point “takes the guesswork out of the consumer’s hands and makes it easier on them."
— Rob Daly, owner and president of Avid Coffee
Why this matters:
Single-use plastic contributes to significant pollution and waste. This program aims to reduce plastic waste and could serve as a model for other cities looking to implement similar initiatives.














