Reuse Rising: Building the movement
We know our Community is ready to ditch throwaway culture. So, we’re training volunteers, building community power, and boosting the reuse movement for a cultural shift. This quarterly newsletter is a nod to the inspiring and impactful work of Reuse Changemakers across the U.S. and includes action you can take to join the Reuse Revolution.
What’s inside this issue
- Communities That Serve Up Reuse
- [Story] Reuse Coalition Spotlight (featuring Plastic-Free MKE)
- [WIN!] Reuse Movement Landscape Snapshot
- Events and Opportunities
- [Video] Reuse in the Real World – Nude Foods
- Companies Pushing Back Against Reuse – FIFA
Looking for a past issue? Find all issues on our Blog.
Communities THAT Serve Up Reuse
The Community Environmental Council (CEC) in Santa Barbara, CA has been co-hosting bimonthly repair cafes with their local Repair Cafe SB group. The local group recruits all of the ‘fixers’ and manages check-in, including repair tickets and waiver forms. CEC promotes through all of their organizational channels, including an email list of about 12,000. CEC also takes out ads in local papers. The events have attracted at least 100 people each time. CEC offers live entertainment (local musicians donating their time) and light snacks (coffee, donuts). It’s a community-building event on every level!
Community members in attendance at CEC’s bi-monthly repair cafe, fixing beloved items! (photo credit: Sarita Relis Photography)
Reuse Coalition Spotlight Story: Plastic-Free MKE in Wisconsin
This issue’s Coalition Spotlight features the voice of Leah Halloway on the work of Plastic-Free MKE (that’s short for Milwaukee). A bit about Leah!
Leah: One of my favorite parts of being involved in Plastic-Free MKE is seeing the positive ripple effects of the work we do. One conversation or shared insight sparks an idea, which leads to a collaborative partnership, which results in a whole new program or project that brings new people and ideas and networks into our movement.
The collective energy, passion, and love our community brings to Plastic-Free MKE makes this heavy work a whole lot lighter.
Plastic-Free MKE’s Boat Parade plastic float (left) and coalition picnic (right)
Plastic-Free MKE is a coalition of nonprofits, businesses, agencies, community groups, and volunteers committed to reducing unnecessary single-use plastics throughout the Milwaukee region. We support individuals in reducing their plastic consumption where they can, while working towards larger systemic changes that will benefit the health of both people and planet. We host quarterly gatherings to build a joyful and engaged community, provide refill stations at events to reduce the need for single-use plastic water bottles, support businesses, neighborhoods, and events in reducing their plastic waste, and host regular swap events to keep clothing and household goods out of landfills and reduce packaging waste from buying things new! Sign up for our newsletter, find a Lake Friendly (i.e.; low-plastic) restaurant near you, and more at our website: www.plasticfreemke.org
Reuse Movement Landscape Snapshot
Story of Stuff is building a reuse movement with the power to win. We are dedicating resources, training opportunities, and more to the movement because we believe that reuse advocates equipped with the right tools can create a wave of reuse wins that the world cannot ignore.
- As part of our Reuse Changemaker Bootcamp training series, Story of Stuff has trained over 500 reuse advocates since 2025! Equipped with the knowledge of the reuse policy landscape and grassroots organizing skills, these advocates are joining and starting reuse coalitions all across the United States. Over 50 of those advocates have become members in those groups, and a handful even started their own reuse advocacy groups: Reusables Deschutes, New Haven ReUse Initiative, Plastic-Free Phoenix, Plastic-Free Pinellas Coalition, and Zero Waste Orlando to name a few. As graduates of our Changemaker Bootcamp and Leadership Training, the leaders of these emerging coalitions have the tools they will need to accelerate reuse locally – keep an eye out, reuse may be coming to a town near you sooner than later!
- Our website now features our interactive Reuse Movement Landscape Map, so you can watch the reuse movement grow in real time! This map tracks reuse coalitions and aligned groups focused on reuse advocacy across the United States. When you click on points on the map, you will see the group’s name, a link to their website and/or social media, and an email address you can contact if you’d like to join the group. There are around 60 groups listed right now and more being added every week – You can get involved today!
- Globally, despite last minute efforts by over 100 fast moving consumer goods giants to weaken and/or delay the EU’s Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation, the landmark law went into effect in August, most immediately banning PFAS in food contact packaging. The law also sets the clock on major reuse applications across B2B applications while 10% of beverages must come in reusable packaging by 2030.
- Nationally, Waste-Free Advocates launched the Reusable Bottle Alliance to accelerate beverage reuse across the US. WFA is tracking the growing interest in reuse, filling the need for stakeholders to have more opportunities to collaborate, share knowledge, and navigate the practical challenges of implementation. Story of Stuff has supported this alliance by signing their Statement of Alignment.
- [BIG WIN!] Regionally, we are seeing results with reuse policy making huge impacts in California. As a result of the Oakland Reusable Foodware Ordinance adopted in 2023, the City of Oakland has reported that ALL large event venues in the city are in compliance, meaning that beverages poured on-site are served from reusable cups and returned for reuse at the venue.
Reusable Alameda County coalition facilitator Sherry Gong with her returnable cup at a Giants game at Oracle Park in SF
Events & Opportunities
- Story of Stuff’s Reuse Changemaker Bootcamp – THIS FALL
- Basic Training (Mon. Oct. 19th or Thurs. Oct. 22nd)
- Leadership Training (Mon. Oct. 26th or Tues. Oct. 27th)
- Register here!
- Serve Up Reuse monthly campaign call – sign up here!
- Hosted on the 4th Wednesday of every month, the SUR monthly campaign calls offer a peer support network for those investing time and energy into the SUR campaign.
- Next call: Weds. Sep. 23rd 7 PM ET / 4 PM PT
- Cohosted events with reuse coalitions
- Plastic Detox Cleveland Screening Sept 16 – RSVP here!
- Plastic Detox Columbus Screening Oct 13?
- Plastic Detox Licking County Screening Nov 19
- Interested in hosting your own screening? Reply to this email and let us know!
- [Take Action] Active Petitions Supporting Reuse
- We invite you to sign our petition urging Coca Cola to Bring Back Refill and once again demonstrate to the world that widespread use of refillable glass beverage bottles is possible!
- Reusable Los Angeles is gathering signatures urging the Los Angeles City Council to pass a reusable foodware policy before the 2028 Olympics and Paralympics
- [Video] Bring Back Refill: One Bottle, Many Lives
- As part of our Bring Back Refill campaign, we released this short animated film envisioning a future where reusable bottles are the norm, not the exception.
Reuse In the Real World
Nude Foods Market is reimagining grocery shopping without single-use packaging. At their Colorado stores, everyday essentials—from local produce and pantry staples to prepared meals and household products—come in reusable containers that customers return for washing and reuse. Their system makes low-waste living simple, joyful and accessible, while supporting local farmers, organic food and a more resilient regional food system. They believe shoppers shouldn’t have to choose between convenience and protecting the planet. By replacing throwaway packaging with a circular model, Nude Foods is proving that grocery stores can nourish people, strengthen communities and help turn off the tap on waste.
Check out their YouTube channel and learn all about zero waste shopping, services provided at the market, and more.
Companies Pushing Back Against Reuse
The 2026 FIFA World Cup was characterized by two divergent stories. On the one hand, FIFA turned back on their decision to allow spectators to ‘BYO’ reusable beverage bottles days before the events started with the NYT Times reporting that whistleblowers at FIFA pointed at the “commercial interests” behind the decision. This included effectively undoing hard-won existing reusable systems already operating in host stadiums. This was contrasted by some outstanding organizing of reuse systems at the fan events outside the host stadiums where reuse service providers, local fans and venues came together to organize well designed reusable cup systems to support watch parties without the side of waste.
Stay tuned
Thank you for continuing to follow the ever-evolving Story of Stuff. We know that maintaining hope and believing in solutions to the take-make-waste status quo is a challenge. But we believe that a unified reuse movement can change the way things are. We also believe that we can’t make that change alone – we need you! Now is the time to stay involved and gear up for the Reuse Revolution.
Interested in more? Subscribe to the Reuse Rising newsletter!
