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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.
Ian Louda
Ian is a passionate environmental advocate who joined Clean Water as a Field Canvasser in the summer of 2016. He went on to direct the Philadelphia Field Canvass for seven years from 2018-2024 and served as the organization’s Lead Network Canvass Director beginning in 2022. Ian now works in a multifaceted role. As Legislative Coordinator, he conducts outreach to elected officials in Southeastern PA and assists with Clean Water Action endorsements in state and local races. He also works on membership development in the region, building engagement programs and coordinating events. As Canvass
Cedar Lake Triathlon Series, Chester, CT
The Valley Shore YMCA holds the Cedar Lake Triathlon series each summer in Chester, Connecticut. At each event in the series, the YMCA provided plastic bottled water and disposable cups. ReThink Disposable helped them make the switch to reusable silicone water bottles and reusable cups instead! Our New England Zero Waste Organizer collected the used bottles and cups for sanitization and reuse at the following events - making 3 of the 5 events in the 2024 series zero-waste! Overall, 600 disposable plastic items were kept out of the trash.
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 disposable paper cup
- Plastic bottled water
Recommendations Implemented:
- Reusable durable plastic cup
- Reusable silicone water bottle
Before & After
Document
Business Information:
Cedar Lake
Chester, CT 06412
United States
The Bottom Line
100% savings
eliminating the purchasing of all disposable cups and bottles
600
disposable items reduced during the three zero-waste events
Rethink Disposable’s innovative bottles and process seamlessly provide our triathletes with hydration on the go while eliminating the wasteful paper cups originally provided. Our participants were extremely impressed with the functionality and simplistic process, all while providing them with the peace of mind of being environmentally conscious.
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.
House of Bread, Hartford, CT
The House of Bread Soup Kitchen is in the center of Connecticut’s Capitol City and serves over 250 daily meals to food-insecure residents. They were using primarily donated disposable cups, bowls, and utensils. ReThink Disposable helped the House of Bread make the transition to 100% reusable service ware for all meals.
Switching to reusables will save the organization over $1,600 annually and keep over 120,000 disposable items out of the trash each year. This translates to 845 pounds of annual waste reduction. The two inspirational nuns who volunteer for the program, Sr. Maureen and Sr. Theresa, report that switching to reusables also gives the food-insecure residents who dine at the House of Bread a more elevated dining experience, contributing to a community feeling when dining together.
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 plastic cold cup
- Single-use expanded polystyrene hot cup
- Single-use plastic spoon
- Single-use plastic fork
- Single-use plastic knife
- Single-use paper soup container with lid
Recommendations Implemented:
- 5oz durable plastic cup
- 8oz ceramic mug
- Stainless steel spoon
- Stainless steel fork
- Stainless steel butter knife
- 8oz ceramic bowl
Document
ReThink-CT-Case-Study-House-of-Bread.pdf
(1.19 MB)
Business Information:
27 Chestnut St
Hartford, CT 06120
United States
The Bottom Line
$1,643.70
net annual savings
123,500
disposable items reduced per year
845 pounds
annual waste reduction
The House of Bread is always looking for ways to improve how we can best help our clients AND how we can help Mother Nature! Our next step toward improving our environmental impact was to eliminate the plastic utensils, bowls, and cups that we use and replace them with reusable, washable items. As a New England Zero Waste Organizer, Amber was instrumental in making this happen and was simply a joy to work with.
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.
