Santa Cruz, CA — January 15, 2025 — Waste Free Santa Cruz is teaming up with 37 local coffee shops to launch the Just Bring It—BYO Coffee Cup Campaign, a community-wide effort to reduce the environmental impact of single-use coffee cups. Starting January 18, 2025, the campaign aims to inspire residents, students, and visitors to bring their own reusable cups when purchasing coffee, with a goal to cut single-use cup waste by 20% within three months. We estimate that 10,000+ single-use coffee cups go to the landfill daily in Santa Cruz, and there is a simple solution—Bring your own cup. “We’re thrilled to partner with local coffee shops to make a real difference in our community,” said Amelia Eichel, of Waste Free Santa Cruz. “By making a simple switch to reusable cups, Santa Cruz County residents and visitors can help reduce waste and protect our beautiful environment. Together, we can brew up a more sustainable future.”

Participating businesses will offer rewards to customers who bring their own reusable cups and display campaign materials to encourage sustainable habits. We are supported by local government, nonprofits and businesses that know local action can make change.

“It’s great to see businesses getting back to encouraging people to bring in their own coffee cups,” said Leslie O’Malley, Waste Reduction Manager for the City of Santa Cruz Resource Recovery division. “This campaign reminds us all of the many benefits of avoiding single-use disposables, including saving consumers and businesses money, preventing litter, and conserving resources.”

Key Highlights of the Campaign:

·        Local coffee shops will offer discounts or incentives for customers using reusable cups.

·        Social media engagement and giveaways will encourage participation, using the hashtags #JustBringItSC #BYOCup #WasteFreeSantaCruz #DitchSingleUse

·        Pop-up events and monthly outreach at local farmers markets and UCSC will keep the momentum going throughout the 3-month campaign.

Disposable “paper” cups may look recyclable, but they actually contain a plastic lining that prevents proper recycling or composting. Even when labeled as compostable, these cups still end up in landfills, contributing to environmental degradation. "Reducing single-use waste is one of the most immediate and impactful steps we can take to protect our environment," said Krystal Raynes, Legislative Associate at Californians Against Waste. "Waste Free Santa Cruz’s campaign is a perfect example of how local action can drive broader change. Encouraging reusable coffee cups isn’t just about reducing litter—it’s about building a culture of sustainability, and we’re proud to support this important effort."

“At Save Our Shores, we’re constantly working to protect our coastline from pollution, and single-use waste is one of the biggest threats to our marine environment. Waste Free Santa Cruz’s Just Bring It Coffee Cup Campaign is an inspiring initiative that empowers individuals to take simple, meaningful action. By bringing a reusable cup, each of us can play a direct role in reducing waste, keeping our beaches clean, and safeguarding ocean health for future generations.” Katie Thompson, Executive Director at Save Our Shores.

Participating Coffee Shops

11th Hour, Alta Organic Coffee, Cafe Delmarette, Cat & Cloud Coffee, Coffee Conspiracy, Coffeetopia, Companion Bakeshop Westside, Daily Grind Coffee, Game Santa Cruz, Hidden Fortress Coffee, Loft Coffee, Mr. Toots, Peoples Coffee, Shrine Coffee, Steamer Lane Supply, The Abbey Coffee Lounge, UCSC Dining (11 locations), Ugly Mug Coffeehouse and Verve Coffee Roasters. Go to JustBringIt.org for a map of all locations.

"At Cafe Delmarette, sustainability has always been part of our values. The "Just Bring It" campaign brings renewed focus and interest to the simple act of using reusable cups. We are excited to see this campaign connect so many local coffee shops towards green-centric decisions. As business owners, we have a huge opportunity to reduce waste such as single-use coffee cups." Fred Meng, Owner of Café Delmarette

"We are thrilled to be teaming up with Just Bring It for the next few months, encouraging people to enjoy coffee out of reusable drinkware. We just opened our new headquarters at 1855 41st Ave and have recently released our very first coffee mugs for co-conspirators to take home with them and/or use at our shop. Since day one we have always encouraged people to enjoy our coffee in a mug or glass. Not only does it prevent paper/plastic waste, but we also notice a positive taste difference in the coffee."  Eddie Alaniz, Owner of Coffee Conspiracy

"At Peoples Coffee, Live Oak isn’t just where we’re located—it’s who we are. We’re all about bringing folks together, and that’s why teaming up with Waste Free Santa Cruz for their “Just Bring It” campaign was an easy yes for us. We see it every morning—neighbors stopping in with their favorite mugs, sharing stories, and fueling up for the day. Encouraging folks to bring their own cups has always been part of what we do, and now we’re adding an extra $0.25 discount to keep that momentum going. Being part of a local push to cut down on single-use plastic just feels right. It’s another way we’re showing up for this community we love—one cup at a time." Jason Berg, the monkey in charge of bananas, Peoples Coffee

Waste Free Santa Cruz is calling on the entire community to get involved by adopting simple, sustainable habits. Together, we can brew a waste-free future for Santa Cruz!

Timeline:

·        Pre-launch (January 1 - 17, 2025): Partnership development and distribution of campaign materials.

·        Launch (January 18, 2025): Kickoff event tabling at Westside Farmers Market and start of the social media campaign.

·        Campaign (January 18 – April 18, 2025): Ongoing events and community engagement.

·        Post-Campaign (April 2025): Results will be shared on Earth Day 2025, highlighting the campaign’s impact and celebrating community milestones.

For more information about the campaign, visit wastefreesantacruz.org, follow us on Instagram @wastefree_santacruz and Facebook at Waste Free Santa Cruz.

About Waste Free Santa Cruz

Waste Free Santa Cruz is dedicated to creating a more sustainable and thriving community by reducing single-use waste, fostering local partnerships, and advocating for policies that protect our environment. As an affiliate of Beyond Plastics, we are part of a growing movement to eliminate plastic pollution and advance waste-free solutions. Through education, collaboration, and community-driven campaigns, we inspire individuals, businesses, and policymakers to take meaningful action in reducing waste and preserving the natural beauty of Santa Cruz.