Truro Community Kitchen (TCK) is a non-profit food provider on Cape Cod in Truro, Massachusetts founded in April of 2020 to combat food insecurity during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their mission has continued, and every Tuesday, a team of volunteers carries out the preparation, packaging, and delivery of free and anonymous meals to registered households.
Working with ReThink Disposable, TCK has replaced 100% of their disposable plastic items with reusable containers that are returned, washed, and sanitized for reuse. Truro Central School generously donates the use of their dishwasher each Tuesday to TCK’s Green Team, who sanitize and store the containers for recirculation. This reuse system will save TCK $6,700 in annual costs and prevent 12,000 plastic items from entering the trash each year. The return program uses an honor system, rather than QR codes or phone apps, so both TCK and program participants incur zero costs.
Read The Full Case Study Here (PDF)
ReThink Disposable is a program of Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund conducted in partnership with local organizations, businesses, and government agencies. Generous support is provided by a changing list of public and private funders. To learn more about the program, its partners, and funders, visit: www.rethinkdisposable.org.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Single-use black plastic 3-compartment container
- Single-use black plastic 3-compartment container
- Single-use clear plastic single container
- Brown paper bag
Recommendations Implemented:
- Reusable plastic 9"x9" 3-compartment container
- Reusable plastic 9"x6" single compartment container
- Reusable plastic 5"x5"x3" container
- Reusable branded cloth bag*
*After several months, TCK opted to revert to sending meals to recipients in brown paper bags. They continue to use the reusable bags as container collection bags that are distributed with the meals. The reason for making this change was the difficulty washing and drying the bags each week. A better washable material bag would be recommended for entirely eliminating paper bags.
P.O. Box 1053
North Truro, MA 02652
United States
The Bottom Line
$6,700
18,000
1.2 tons
Four years and 26,000 meals after we started, it is more than time for us to transition away from serving our meals in disposable takeout materials. This sustainability initiative is so exciting not only because it will help us hugely reduce the amount of waste we produce, but also because it is proof that TCK is prepared to stick around and support our community for the foreseeable future.
Reducing Single-Use Food Packaging
ReThink Disposable works with local governments, businesses and institutions, and consumers of single use food packaging to inspire a cultural shift away from single-use "throwaway" lifestyle.