We encourage Ithacans to Bring Your Own. Our goal is to make BYO our new cultural norm by turning individual actions into a collective effort. We believe that community-wide BYO practices will play a crucial role in raising awareness about the impact of single-use plastics and driving systemic change.
While it’s important to hold corporations accountable at the upstream level, we must also acknowledge our own role in the ecological crisis of climate change and solid waste. Recognizing the need for a significant cultural and behavioral shift is the first step in addressing public health and environmental justice crises.
It all starts with our commitment to the simple act of bringing our own containers to businesses and reject single-use plastics and bioplastics. Please join us!
How It Works
The idea is simple. Businesses that accept BYO containers put our sticker on their window, letting their customers know they can shop with their own containers, hassle-free. We also list the businesses here.
Find Business
Looking for a local café, restaurant or bulk store that allows you to use your own containers? View the list and map here. If you know of a BYO business that you don’t see listed, please contact us.
Get Involved
Ithaca / Finger Lakes Reduces needs you! Individuals can help us add more businesses to our listings and get the word out. Businesses can get involved by contacting us. We would love to have you on board!
We simply ask local food establishments to place our green sticker at their storefront, letting them know they welcome BYO – and that the customers can bring their own clean reusable cups, containers and utensils to use and fill.
💰 Businesses will save money and reduce their reliance on the amount of single-use disposable foodware.🌟 Please see the saving calculation from ReThink Disposable.
👍 BYO is a Win-Win both for small businesses and for the environment! 🌎
Common Questions:
Not sure if BYO is allowed by Tompkins County Health Department?
– Yes! It is allowed for beverages, and dry goods from dispensers, as well as to pack out leftovers. We are working with NYS legislators to expand the BYO rights for New Yorkers. Sign the petition here!
Have doubts about safety of BYO practice?
– Have no fear! BYO is very safe under proper hygiene protocols. In California and Maine, and many other countries around the globe, BYO are allowed by law and actively supported by governments. Southern Australia even removed liability from retailers from BYO practice in July 2022. Learn more about safety of reusables.
Want to help but not sure where to start?
– Get in touch with us at info@zerowasteithaca.org. Find our two pdf flyers for community and businesses to share with your friends and favorite businesses.
Are you interested in talking to businesses in small hamlets outside Ithaca?
– We have Finger Lakes Reduces sticker!
Know of a great non-food business doing a lot for the environment?
– We can honor them with Circular Economy sticker!
What sort of container is acceptable to businesses?
– Clean reusable containers that are proportional to the size of your order. You can look through your kitchen cabinets and you will likely find one. It’s up to the discretion of each business and they can refuse the containers if they don’t meet their standard of cleanliness upon visual inspection.
Where can I get these containers?
– We do not expect you to purchase new containers. Rethink, reduce, reuse! Tupperwares, jars, etc. in your kitchen cabinets with lids are fine, as long as they are washed and clean.
How do I get a container to a business if I am ordering online?
– It will be generally difficult for businesses to accept BYO on phone and online orders at this time. We assume customers go to the restaurant locations with their containers and wait while they prepare foods and fill your containers. We would like you to have conversations and build relationships with small local restaurants through BYO.
More questions? Please get in touch!
Our BYO Reduces program was inspired by the Canada Reduces program. We are a proud founding member of the North American BYO – US Reduces network.
Updated: 1/19/2024
