Today, good news comes from the Good News Network.
City Experiments with Reusable Cups at Starbucks, Taco Bell, and 30 Other Restaurants–with Return Bins all over town
A consortium of small firms is creating a renewable revolution within the boundaries of a small city in Northern California. The city will be the testbed for a use-and-return concept for fast food drinks.
Around 50 billion disposable drink cups are used every year in the US, but in the city of Petaluma, we will see if Americans have the discipline to reduce this footprint.
The city has around 60,000 people and will participate in the Reuseable Cup Project. The aim is to furnish 30 local restaurants, from Starbucks to Taco Bell, with identical, durable plastic drink cups. Customers and diners can use these cups and then either leave them on the table or deposit them in a network of dropoff bins around the city.
NextGen Consortium, led by the Center for the Circular Economy at Closed Loop Partners investment firm, asked the city government for help identifying partner restaurants. A firm called Muuse will provide professional cleaning and distribution services to redeliver the cleaned cups back to the locations.
“What they’ve told us they like about Petaluma is that there’s already a spirit of sustainability in Petaluma and [an] interest in trying to reduce the amount of waste that we’re creating collectively as a city,” Patrick Carter, assistant of the city manager who oversees the program, said in a phone call with FOX Business.
“They liked the combination of kind of a denser downtown, more businesses together that are serving these drinks, these beverages, but with a smaller population.”
Located between Santa Rosa and San Francisco, Petaluma’s residents will not be charged a penny more for their drinks and are only asked to drop them off in one of the networks of bins when they are finished. A map showing the locations of the bins can be found on the project website.
Along with reducing cup waste, it should also reduce the number of throwaway hot drink sleeves since the cups themselves are more durable and less conductive to heat.
A three-month trial starting on August 5 and running into November will provide NextGen with the data it needs to understand whether such a program can be used in larger cities.
The good news in this article is that the government, community, and individuals are all working together to eliminate waste. Today’s JohnKu talks about cooperation. I hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Together by John W. Howell © 2024
Projects done alone,
Require increased energy . . .
Better to have help.
Fiction Favorites 
Really hope this concept spreads. Even if some people do it, that’s progress.
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I agree. Thanks, Charles.
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An important issue. A wonderful post, John. Thank you.
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It is important and thanks for the supportive words, GP.
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That’s a good idea. Recycling makes sense.
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Once we get past the germ phobias it may take off. Thanks, Tim
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I sure like this idea. I just hope people can make the effort to support it.
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I lived near Petaluma CA at one time. If anyone can do it those folks can.
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It will be interesting to follow this story. See how many disciplined people are out there. I don’t doubt some of these cups will land in the trash instead of the proper bins but if the grand majority do the right thing, this could be more than fabulous.
Thanks for sharing this good news, John!
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I agree, Dale. It could be terrific. 😊
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😊
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😁
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What a great project!
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I agree. I hope it works.
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🙂
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Great news, John! Awesome and innovative! We need this!! 🩷
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We certainly do, Cindy. Thanks for the support.
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Interesting. Reminds me of the old deposit bottles we used to cash in as kids.
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Those were the days. 2 cents was a great find.
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Everything is cyclical, isn’t it? We couldn’t embrace the fast food throwaway concept fast enough; now, it looks like the old-timers (with returnable milk and soda bottles) were right all along. Interesting piece of news, John, and it will be even more interesting to see if it’s successful.
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The old “What goes around comes around” is at play here. I hope it works too.
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I hope this works. I do remember when we returned drink bottles and milk bottles! Keep us in the loop and let us know if it’s successful.
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I hope there is a follow-up. Thanks, Noelle.
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I hope this pilot project is successful, so it then expands to many other cities. It makes me think of, years ago, when grocery stores started charging for plastic and paper bags. More people started using tote bags. Now I use tote bags, and I like seeing when other customers use them, too.
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If there is an incentive to change people will change. I would like to see the coffee be a little cheaper in the returnable. Then it would really take off.
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A worthy experiment! Hope it flies. Thanks for sharing, John!
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I do too, Jan. Thanks
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I like this idea. Nice they have places outside of restaurants to deposit the cups for reuse.
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I agree. Makes it easy. (Well easier)
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Petaluma is such a nice area. It’s a forward-thinking city, so this doesn’t surprise me.
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I agree.
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Sounds like a good idea!
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Yes it is. Thanks, Liz.
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You’re welcome, John.
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Bravo Petaluma! When I worked downtown, there was a Starbucks in my building. All of us who would down for a latte brought our own cups to reduce our disposable footprint. Let’s hope it’s a successful cooperation between the various entities.
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I love this idea. A latte in a cup tastes better too.
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Good for Petaluma. Every little bit helps a great deal and they’ve taken the matter to heart.
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Yes they have. 😁
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I’ll drink to this!
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Me too.
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I hope it works. Petaluma is a lovely little town. I was happy that Corpus Christi at least had recycle bins on the bayfront for cans. Good story!
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I have been to Petaluma and it is lovely.
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It is encouraging to learn of several entities collaborating for the greater good and sustainability, and of course great news for the environment. Good luck to them and may others learn and duplicate. Thanks John!
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I wish them well too. Thanks, Michele.
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That’s an interesting initiative. When ice cream was new and before they invented things like sugar cones they used reusable cups, but the difference was that they did not wash them in between. The concept of hygiene was not as evolved. As a result ice cream vendors spread diseases.
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Not a great start to the ice cream business.
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Wow, what a great idea! Thanks for sharing, John.
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Yes it is. Thanks, Marie. 😁
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A wonderful idea!
I’m all for waste reduction. I don’t buy any containers I can’t put in the recycler.
You know, I live across the intersection from a McDonalds. In front of my place is a streetcar stop, and a bin with openings for Trash & Recycling.
Still, I can’t tell you how many people just toss their take out stuff on my step.
Some people should get educated.
Anyway, love the concept and your JohnKu.
Way2go!
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I have always said some people are pigs. Your story proves my point. Thanks for the compliment. OX OX OX OX
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OX OX 💋OX OX
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That’s it. We win. 🤗
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👍
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Great concept. I hope everyone will take heed and return their cups. 🙂
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I hope it works, Debby. Thanks.
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🙂
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Great idea, dear John! Let’s hope you will make it! You know how to keep the hygienic standards.👍🌞🍻🍤🍤🍤
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😁
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