About

We are Ithaca’s Zero Waste enthusiasts.

We are a grassroots nonprofit in Ithaca, New York, founded in 2018 to advance zero waste as a climate justice goal. We work to stop waste at its source, build reuse systems, and confront industry-driven false solutions that deepen the plastics and toxics crisis.

Zero waste is also a way to bring people together across differences. We invite our neighbors to join us in this work—reducing waste through bring-your-own foodware, buy-nothing exchanges, and community cleanups. Each of these actions, small or large, helps build the just and sustainable future we need.

Our flagship program, BYO – Ithaca Reduces, has signed up more than 100 local businesses and organizations that welcome customers to bring their own containers. Together, we are pushing to make BYO a legal right in New York State as part of the US Reduces network, while working alongside local partners in Ithaca, statewide allies across New York, and global movements such as GAIA and Break Free From Plastic.