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Environmental Justice Organizer | Hybrid in Elizabeth, NJ
Clean Water Action is seeking a passionate Environmental Justice Organizer to lead campaigns and community initiatives across New Jersey. You’ll coordinate projects like Tea for Toxic Beauty, expand our Safe Water Safe Lives efforts, and work directly with communities to identify environmental threats, develop solutions, and amplify local voices. This role involves community outreach, coalition-building, education, media support, and leadership development, with opportunities to shape statewide environmental justice (EJ) strategies.
State Director Assistant | Hybrid in Elizabeth, NJ
Clean Water Action and Clean Water Fund are seeking a part-time Director’s Assistant to support our programs, operations, and fundraising efforts in New Jersey. This role offers the opportunity to contribute to meaningful environmental campaigns while ensuring smooth financial and administrative operations.
University Taqueria, Berkeley
With the help of our ReThink Disposable Zero Waste Specialists, University Taqueria is eliminating 52,664 items from the waste stream every year, and the business is saving $1,224 annually, which can be reinvested into other upgrades to the space. They were able to cut their overall disposable usage by 55% annually and totally eliminate disposables from dine-in service!
Business Profile:
University Taqueria is a community favorite in Berkeley, California. Locals and university students alike enjoy the standard comfort foods: tacos, burritos, and incredible quesadilla plates that keep the neighborhood fed and satisfied! Their authentic flan dessert is something that you don’t want to pass up when you're enjoying a meal at this local eatery.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Bioplastic drink cups
- Plastic sauce cups
- Plastic forks
- Plastic spoons
Recommendations Implemented:
- Reusable SAN plastic cups
- Stainless steel sauce cups
- Stainless steel forks
- Stainless steel spoons
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
2021 University Ave
Berkeley, CA 94704
United States
The Bottom Line
52,664
disposable items reduced per year
55%
reduction in usage of disposable items
$1224
net annual savings
The program has been very helpful ... It helps us a lot, especially because we are saving money and there is less trash for us. You are making everything easier for us! ... We've [already] been buying fewer forks and spoons since we have the metal ones, and the water dispenser is perfect!
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.
Casa Do Petisco, Berkeley
With the help of our ReThink Disposable Zero Waste Specialists, Casa Do Petisco is eliminating 24,074 individual pieces of single use disposables (754 pounds, or the weight of a baby grand piano!) from the waste stream and will be saving $3,005 annually, which can be reinvested into the business. They were able to cut their disposable usage by 52% annually.
Casa Do Petisco is another example of how just a few changes can make a big impact.
Business Profile:
Casa Do Petisco has become a place of community, bringing Brazilian cultural staples, flare, and food to the Elmood District of Berkeley. Not only do they have a restaurant and local market (Berkeley Organic Market) including Brazilian goods, but they also regularly host open community events with food and live music.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Fiber clamshells
- Disposable coffee cups
- Coffee cup lids
- Paper sauce cups
- Plastic packaged cutlery
Recommendations Implemented:
- Ceramic bowls
- Stoneware coffee mugs
- Stainless steel sauce cups
- Stainless steel forks & knives
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
2642 Ashby Ave
Berkeley, CA 94705
United States
The Bottom Line
Casa Do Pestico switched 52% of their disposable foodware to reusable for their dine-in guests, which results in over $3,000 in savings annually for the restaurant.
$3,005
net annual savings
24,074
disposable items reduced per year
52%
reduction in use of disposables
The biggest difference I've noticed is in our purchasing of coffee cups, to-go clamshells, and to-go silverware. We love having real plates, bowls, and silverware for our guests. It elevates their experience of our business and helps us reduce waste. We especially loved that you worked with us to pick items that fit our practical needs and aesthetics.
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.
Shish Grill (Video)
As a result of implementing ReThink Disposable’s recommendations, Shish Grill reduced the use of disposable foodware items targeted for reduction or elimination by an average of 82%, preventing 73,559 disposable foodware items from operations every year. Shish Grill earned an ongoing annual cost savings of $974 and reduced annual waste by 350 pounds!
Business Profile:
Shish Grill is located in San Ramon, California and is owned by Nancy Annan. Shish Grill is a casual Mediterranean / Lebanese restaurant that serves amazing falafel, hummus, chicken shawarma wraps, kabobs and gyros. Much of their business is made up of business people who are seeking out a good lunch. They also have a strong catering presence in the area.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
- Dine-in customers served on a mix of reusable and disposable foodware like a reusable plate with reusable utensils, but disposable side sauce cups for items like hummus
- Disposable Styrofoam cups offered for water and soda with lids and straws at a self-serve station
- Bulk condiments available at each table
- To-go orders placed in Styrofoam or plastic clamshells and bags with items like disposable utensils at a self-serve station
- Customers bussed their own tables and placed the reusable items in a bus tub above the garbage can
Recommendations Implemented:
- Replaced Styrofoam cups and plastic lids with reusable cups for water and soda
- Reusable sauce cups used in place of disposable ones
- Made wrapped straws and disposable to-go items by request only
- Signs were installed to remind customers to not throw away the sauce cups and utensils
Styrofoam cups for water were eliminated. Plastic sauce cups, soda and water cup lids, and wrapped straws were drastically reduced by implementing a reusable sauce cup and beverage cup for customers who dine onsite. A sign was placed on the trash can to remind customers to return their reusables for washing into the bus tubs. Nancy Annan spent $79.84 to purchase 36 reusable plastic cups and 60 reusable sauce cups to implement the recommended best management practices.
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
1061 Market Pl. A1
San Ramon, CA 94583
United States
The Bottom Line
$974
in annual savings
350 pounds
of waste reduced annually
73,559
disposable items reduced per year
First of all, your dishes are going to look a lot better, more presentable and more on the upscale side. And you’re going to save a lot of money. No one hates to do that. You work hard for your money, so saving will go a long way. Third of all, I mean, you’re going green, help the environment as well.
Video URL
Video file
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.
