New Zero Waste Campaign Cuts Single-Use Plastics In Arlington Eateries

ARLINGTON, MA – Arlington’s Zero Waste committee has launched a no plastics campaign in partnership with local restaurants to reduce excess waste caused by single-use plastics.

Through the “No Plastic, Please!” initiative, restaurants provide reusable tableware for customers dining in-house and only provide takeout utensils, straws, napkins and condiment packets to customers who request them.

“How many of us have a stash of takeout utensils, napkins and ketchup packets that we hold onto, hoping to use someday? Sometimes these items are needed, but more often, they are thrown away, wasted” Zero Waste Arlington committee member Emily Dertz said in a news release. “Restaurants are starting to change their default takeout model so that consumers now have to ask for these items. The results are mutually beneficial to both consumers and restaurants: reduce excess waste and save money.”

The committee’s objective is to bring individuals and restaurants together to support each other in the shared goal of reducing waste.

Six local Arlington eateries have already taken the active step to be certified as “No Plastic, Please!”: Roasted Granola, Szechuan's Dumpling, The Heights Pub, Punjab, Noodle Market, and Za.

“The MassDEP’s goal is to reduce waste by 30% by 2030 and 90% by 2050,” Arlington’s Recycling Coordinator Charlotte Milan said in the release. “These are aggressive goals and Zero Waste Arlington’s active leadership is crucial to meeting these targets.”

Co-owner of The Roasted Granola Sarah Short said she is “thrilled” to join the Zero Waste Arlington program.

“When we opened the cafe 5 years ago, we made a very conscious choice to minimize our waste and we take pride in being an ultra low waste cafe,” Short said in the release.

The ‘No Plastic, Please!’ campaign is the one of many of Zero Waste Arlington’s efforts to reduce plastic waste in our community. Other accomplishments include the 2022 single-use water bottle ban and establishment of the ‘Arlington on Tap’ initiative, and the 2019 polystyrene ban.

The town committee is also actively working to reduce textile and organic waste in Arlington. Arlington community members can learn more at www.zerowastearlington.org.