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Interfaith Neighbors Senior Center Program
As a result of working with ReThink Disposable, Interfaith Neighbors is now serving their clients with more dignity, as they provide a hot meal at all six Senior Centers on reusable foodware. They have eliminated the distribution of plastic single-use disposable fruit cups and individually wrapped desserts. Currently, they provide clients with fresh fruit. This is a healthier alternative for both the client and environment. Through their partnership with ReThink Disposable, Interfaith Neighbors is saving valuable funds that can be used to better serve their clients.
Business Profile:
Founded in 1988, Interfaith Neighbors in Monmouth County, New Jersey has been securing life’s critical necessities for the most vulnerable while improving the quality of life for individuals, families, and their communities. Interfaith Neighbors provides multiple services, including daily dine-in meals through their six senior nutrition programs.
Packaging practices prior to ReThink Disposable:
Prior to working with ReThink Disposable, the organization had been serving clients on exclusively single-use disposable foodware. They also had been providing fruit cocktail in disposable individual portion cups. They were spending thousands of dollars each month, ordering these items that eventually went into the waste stream.
Recommendations Implemented:
Single-use plastic fruit cups with foil lids were replaced with fresh fruit. Bowls and plates were replaced with reusable alternatives, paper cups were replaced with glass mugs and reusable cups, and single-use plastic cutlery was replaced with steel cutlery. The initial investment on new foodware was $2,910, and Interfaith Neighbors eliminated 100% of their single-use disposable foodware.
Before & After
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Business Information:
810 4th Avenue
Asbury Park, NJ 07712
United States
The Bottom Line
$37,113
Total annual net cost savings
326,000
Disposable items reduced each year
5,155 lbs
Annual waste reduction
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.
Morgan Schafer
Morgan received her bachelor's degree in environmental science in 2024 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison with a focus on social, political, and economic perspectives. She grew up moving across the Midwest, finally landing in London, England before attending college back home. She now works as the Zero Waste Organizer with the ReThink Disposable project to work with local businesses and institutions across Minnesota with the goal of stopping trash before it starts.
Morgan first became interested in advocacy through a program for teens at her local Planned Parenthood, led by the belief
Kyle Rosas
Kyle started working for Clean Water Action in 2013, after graduating from Gustavus Adolphus College with a bachelor's degree in political science. He wrote his thesis on renewable energy policy development and implementation, and Clean Water Action was conveniently working to strengthen the renewable energy standard in Minnesota at that time, making a perfect fit for Kyle and the organization
Kyle grew up in Apple Valley, MN and was fortunate to never have to really consider whether the water was clean; whether the land his house was built on was polluted; whether wealthy interests were
TAj Weathers
TAj is a proud lifelong resident of Baltimore County, Maryland. TAj grew up in the beautiful Baldwin area before graduating from the University of Baltimore County, Maryland & University of Baltimore. Before joining the Clean Water Action Maryland team, TAj fueled his passion for operations by working in the C-suite to build startups and restructure organizations. TAj is an avid promoter of youth advocacy, human rights & most importantly environmental sustainability. As Chesapeake Operations Manager, TAj continues his passion for operations and his dedication to important worldwide causes.