Deploy Reusable Cups in Battle Against Plastic Pollution

Target: Yana Garcia, Secretary of Environmental Protection for California

Goal: Support widespread replacement of environmentally detrimental single-use plastic cups with reusable cups.

Plastics can take up to a millennium to decompose. As they seep into the environment their effect can be immense, especially on the 1,500 species of marine life that ingest plastics and suffer severe health consequences as a result. In addition, the sheer amount of fossil fuels required to keep up with this enormous supply of plastic causes an avalanche of greenhouse gas emissions. Plastic pollution is a global problem. Now, a California town is poised to lead the way in finding a solution for one major source of plastic pollution: the astronomical 50 billion single-use plastic cups that are discarded by Americans every year.

Petaluma has become the first region in the nation to launch a city-wide reusable cup program. Dozens of local businesses large and small have joined the effort. Rather than provide single-use throwaway cups to customers, these businesses almost exclusively offer cups that can be used and then dropped off at bins placed throughout the town. The binned cups are taken to a facility where they are cleaned, sanitized, and returned to the businesses for further use. This pilot program will soon conclude, and advocates are hopeful that the positive public reception and promising results will lead to wider adoption of the initiative.

Sign the petition below to urge the state that has taken the lead in plastic pollution solutions to invest in this program at a statewide level.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Secretary Garcia,

California has helped spearhead efforts in tackling the growing problem of plastic pollution with its legislative progress on plastic packaging and on single-use plastics. Petaluma has now launched another promising action via its city-wide reusable cup initiative. If successful, this program could set a new course forward for ending the tens of billions of single-use plastic cups that pose a long-term threat to America’s environment each and every year.

The results of this pilot program will arrive in November. Please study this initiative and use its lessons to implement a state-wide reusable cup effort that will once again establish California as a leader in environmental sustainability.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Daniel Case