Plastic Free July ➡️

Small changes in Schools = Big Impact on Sustainability

July 10, 2026 | By Amber Schmidt

Every day, public schools in the U.S. generate about 14,500 tons of municipal solid wasteand approximately 42% of that is food packaging.” The waste crisis in America is costing taxpayers more every year as landfills close and old incinerators shut down. It’s a massive problem, but the Arlington, Massachusetts school district is piloting some creative zero waste solutions!

Boy holding folk, forks, utensils on plate and cafeteria with server handing food to kid

Kids holding sign that says We Want a Plastic Free World

Stop Trash Before it Starts: ReThink Disposable’s Growing Impact

July 7, 2026 | By Dianna Coleman, Mercedes Forsyth, LaTrice Harrison, Morgan Schafer, Amber Schmidt, Julie Wedge, and Marta Young

Let this sink in! The world produces hundreds of millions of tons of plastic every year, with up to half created for single-use purposes. These are items designed to be used for only minutes before becoming waste. That’s the equivalent of hundreds of Empire State Buildings’ worth of plastic entering our environment each year.

How to Host Sustainable Celebrations for a Plastic Free July

June 30, 2026 | By Jenny Vickers

We're excited to kick off Plastic Free July! As families and friends gather for summer celebrations, BBQs, picnics, and beach days, it's the perfect time to think about simple ways we can reduce waste and choose reusable alternatives.

Freight & Salvage Coffeehouse stage sign lit in blue light.

Bringing Sustainability to Freight & Salvage

July 30, 2025 | By Clean Water Fund

When the ReThink Disposable California team approached the historic Freight & Salvage music venue to discuss moving away from single-use disposables, we knew we were going to ask them to make a new kind of history.

ReThink Disposable Collaborates with Schools to Bring Reuse to our Youth

July 18, 2025 | By Amber Schmidt and Julie Wedge

K-12 students spend half their year in school, with up to 60% of students choosing school-provided lunch options. Pre-K and daycare kids are in these educational settings year-round. Unfortunately, many schools serve meals on disposable cafeteria foodware such as polystyrene foam trays and plastic utensils.

Why Plastic Free July?

July 10, 2025 | By Julie Wedge

Each year we collaborate with our reuse partners to highlight our work reducing single use plastic foodware from our waste streams. Why? Well, we know that 50% of all plastic ever produced has been manufactured since 2000. We also know that plastic contains forever chemicals that are known to cause health problems in humans.