Who we are
The Austin Reuse Coalition is a collective of nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, business leaders and passionate community members with the mission to prevent landfill waste by supporting Austin in the transition from single-use disposables to reusable alternatives.
Meet our Committees
Entertainment & Music Venues
By switching to reusable cups, Austin venues can reduce waste while keeping the fun alive. Case studies show reuse can enhance the patron experience and be cost-effective while reducing waste and emissions. Venues can show the world that Austin cares about cleanliness of our city.
Food & Drink Establishments
Austin’s coffee shops, restaurants, and bars can cut waste by using reusable plates, cups, and cutlery. Not only does it help the environment, but it saves money in the long run. Customers love eco-friendly choices, and it’s a simple way for businesses to make a big impact.
Schools & Retirement Communities
Campus-based institutions interact with largely the same participants every day which gives them a great opportunity to adopt reuse strategies. When they choose sturdy, washable, reusable trays, bowls, cups, and utensils instead of disposable ones they save money and reduce waste.
Past Events
TrashBlitz
In 2021, over 100 Austinites mobilized a TrashBlitz to collect over 8,000 pieces of trash from local watersheds and revealed nearly one-third of this trash was food and beverage packaging. From these findings, community leaders, businesses, municipal staff, and NGO partners committed to the pursuit of waste reduction locally banded together to form the Austin Reuse Coalition.
RestaurantBlitz
To better understand the degree of reuse and opportunities for improvement, ARC has been gathering data on reuse in the Austin food and drink scene by using PlasticScore, a free zero-waste rating app, including through a targeted RestaurantBlitz in 2023. See our take on the “Best of Austin” in the Chronicle.
More!
ARC has hosted meet-ups, clean-ups (even one with a silent disco!), and campaigns to bring the community together and move reuse forward in Austin. Contact us to learn more about what we have in the works.
Contact us
Interested in getting involved or learning more about reuse? Fill out some info and we will be in touch shortly.
We can’t wait to hear from you, including which part of Austin Reuse Coalition interests you the most!