Skip the Stuff is both a community campaign and a policy initiative. Many local businesses already take part by displaying the Skip the Stuff sticker, which signals that they only provide utensils, napkins, condiments, and other extras upon request. This helps customers know they can expect a lower-waste experience when they shop there. At the same time, we are working to make Skip the Stuff a city and countywide law, so that this common-sense practice becomes the standard everywhere—not just in participating businesses.
Skip the Stuff is one piece of a broader single-use package reduction ordinance we are pursuing in Ithaca and Tompkins County. Alongside this campaign, we support policies that advance on-site reuse, bring-your-own (BYO) rights, bans on balloon release, and other measures that move our community toward true zero waste.
Watch: Legislative Testimony
On June 22, 2023, Raine Manley of NRDC spoke at the Tompkins County Legislature’s PEEQ Committee about the successful Skip the Stuff campaign she led in New York City. Our goal is to bring the same commonsense legislation to Tompkins County as part of a statewide effort.
Join the Program!
We invite businesses to join Zero Waste Ithaca’s voluntary Skip the Stuff program—no need to wait for local government action. By displaying a “Skip the Stuff” sticker, your business shows customers you only provide utensils, napkins, and condiments upon request, cutting waste and saving money.
Look for Skip the Stuff – Ithaca Reduces stickers for participating businesses, designed by a local artist, Susanne Jensen.
Participating businesses are featured on our social media, added to the Ithaca Reduces map, and supported on their journey toward zero waste. The first Skip the Stuff business in Ithaca is Forty Weight Coffee Roasters at GreenStar Cascadilla.
If you are interested in joining the program, contact us at info@zerowasteithaca.org.
Community members can also support Skip the Stuff legislation by reaching out to their local representatives.
- Find the contact information of the City of Ithaca Common Council representatives here.
- Find the contact information of the Tompkin County representatives here .
Survey Results
In December 2023–January 2024, Zero Waste Ithaca surveyed local businesses with support from Chart Reuse (Upstream Solutions) and Cornell student Reid Fleishmann. The results show the scale of waste from single-use accessories in Tompkins County:
- Businesses spend roughly $820,000 per year on these items—about $3,000 per business.
- About 54 million single-use utensils, napkins, condiments, and straws are used every year.
- This creates 650 tons of CO₂e emissions annually and sends nearly 350 tons of material to the landfill.
We modeled potential impact if accessories are only given upon request:
- 100% adoption: 650 tons CO₂e avoided per year.
- 25% adoption: 486 tons CO₂e avoided, equal to carbon sequestered by 7,292 tree seedlings grown for 10 years.
These numbers make clear that a simple change—providing accessories only when requested—can save money and cut climate pollution.
Special thanks to Ithaca Beer Co., Tacos CDMX, Khmer Angkor, Forty Weight Coffee Roasters, and Cup O Jo Café for providing data. Their input reflects patterns across 289 businesses countywide.
Policy & Media
Policy Brief
Read our Skip the Stuff policy brief, created with the support from Chart Reuse and Upstream Solutions.
Media Coverage
- Op-ed in Tompkins Weekly, December 11, 2024
- Letter to the Editor in Ithaca Times, October 9, 2024
Podcast
Hear the latest update on our Skip the Stuff initiative in this episode of Indisposable Podcast (August 22, 2024).
Updated: September 10, 2025