GreenUP! celebrates Plastic Free July; encourages reusable takeout containers at Carson City green dining restaurants
Submitted by Jeff Munson on Tue, 07/19/2022 - 1:27pm
CARSON CITY — GreenUP!, an environmental education non-profit working with local businesses, is encouraging restaurant patrons to participate in the month of Plastic Free July by joining their reusable takeout container program. Diners that post a picture demonstrating how they choose to reduce waste while dining out will receive a free $20 token for a reusable takeout container at participating restaurants.
Launched earlier this year, greenUP!’s Green Box To-Go initiative aims to reduce single-use plastics in the foodservice industry by offering restaurants and customers a way to swap out disposable takeout containers for reusable ones. The project is modeled after successful reuse programs across the country and is designed to incentivize sustainable behavior by simplifying the practice of Reuse for customers.
When ordering a meal to-go, customers at participating locations have the option to make a one-time membership purchase that allows them to check out and return reusable containers indefinitely. Reuse members can request that their food be packaged in one of the Green Boxes and will take it with them like any other take-out box.
After their to-go meal, customers will rinse and return their borrowed containers, dropping them off at any one of the participating restaurants (Squeeze In, Scoups Ice Cream & Soup Bar or So Juicy). Customers will receive a token that can be redeemed for their next Green Box To-Go meal.
Sierra Jickling, Green Dining Coordinator for greenUP!, said, “Awareness of the plastics pollution problem is growing, and we believe that customers and businesses want more sustainable options. We are proud to partner with these innovative restaurants and explore the reusable takeout container program as a solution to plastic pollution in our community.”
“We chose to experiment with the Green Boxes because the size and structure is familiar to customers and kitchens, yet the sturdy material can withstand many uses. We follow the waste hierarchy methodology, which prioritizes Reduction and Reuse before all other waste minimization techniques. By reducing the number of single use takeouts in our community and reusing our durable Green Boxes, we target the greenhouse gas emissions that are released from manufacturing, transportation, and landfill,” explained Jickling.
Plastic Free July is a global campaign that encourages communities to rally against plastic pollution. This campaign has been stewarded by the Plastic Free Foundation since 2011.
Those interested in learning more about greenUP!’s project can find more information online here. Information about the international campaign is available at plasticfreejuly.org.
The Carson Street Green Dining district is a greenUP! project. greenUP! is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that provides environmental education for businesses helping Nevada cut down on waste, reduce valuable resource consumption and fight climate change in an environmentally safe and cost-effective manner.
Restaurants interested in joining the Carson Street Green Dining District may contact info@greenupnow.biz or call 949-306-3465 to engage.
