Stopping Marine Debris at its Source from Coast to Coast

Clean Water Fund expanded the California-based ReThink Disposable program to six additional states on the East Coast and Great Lakes to provide assistance in converting operations from single-use food and beverage packaging to reusable foodware.

Type of Project: Prevention

Region:  California, Northeast, Great Lakes, and Mid-Atlantic

Project Dates: October 2022 - September 2024

Who was involved? 

With support from the NOAA Marine Debris Program, Clean Water Fund expanded and launched the ReThink Disposable program in six additional states—Connecticut, Massachusetts, Minnesota, New Jersey, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania—and continued work in California in partnership with California State Parks.

What was the project and why is it important?

Single-use food and beverage packaging continues to be a common type of debris collected during cleanups across the globe. These items, which are often made of plastic that does not degrade or break down like other materials do, can cause serious harm to sensitive habitats and wildlife, and can significantly impact local economies. 

Clean Water Fund's ReThink Disposable program supports businesses and local communities to voluntarily switch away from single-use to reusable items, such as cutlery, take-away containers, and other foodware materials. The project conducts assessments in partnership with businesses to better understand the items they currently use and the  infrastructure needed to reduce disposable items. Clean Water Fund and partners developed a training program, educational materials, data management tools, and a communications strategy to support the expansion of the ReThink Disposable program to new locations. 

What were the results? 

This project engaged 72 restaurants and institutions in the ReThink Disposal program, reducing the need for approximately 9 million pieces of disposable foodware each year. Partners engaged 7,900 youth and adults through outreach initiatives and developed case studies to highlight the economic and environmental benefits for participating businesses. Lessons learned from this project will be useful for many organizations working to prevent marine debris.

For more information about this project, visit the Marine Debris Program Clearinghouse.