Dear Friends of Sustainable Westport,

We are proud to partner with the Town of Westport, The Westport Farmers Market, the Westport Downtown Association, and the Westport/Weston Chamber of Commerce to encourage our community to #SkipTheStuff to reduce unnecessary takeout waste from our favorite local restaurants. 

What is #SkipTheStuff? #SkipTheStuff is a national policy campaign that aims to enact legislation requiring restaurants to “ask first” before adding unnecessary “stuff” to orders. Believe it or not, Westport actually already has an ordinance in place that prohibits food service establishments from including “stuff” in orders without request.  

The Town of Westport, as represented by the Conservation Department, reintroduced the 2019 Single-Use Plastics Ordinance in January 2024 to encourage both food service establishments and residents to support its efforts. 

Westport, we can eliminate unnecessary waste by participating in this simple yet effective nationwide program. How do you #SkipTheStuff?

Only Ask for What You Need: When ordering, let the restaurant know you support #SkipTheStuff, and only ask for the single-use or disposables you truly need. At the same time, don’t expect food service establishments to provide you with “extras” or “stuff” – legally, they should not be included in your order!

Invest in Reusables: Knowing that food service establishments will no longer provide disposable items like utensils, invest in reusable travel utensils to bring with you.

We are thrilled to participate in a campaign that will help reduce waste and promote sustainable habits in our community. Be sure to read through the rest of the newsletter for additional tips on how to ensure your positive impact doesn't go to waste.

For more information about #SkipTheStuff, visit our website.

Best,

Gately Ross & Johanna Martell

Co-Directors, Sustainable Westport

Environmental Summit: Sustainable Westport Co-Directors Gately Ross and Johanna Martell with Connecticut State Representative Jonathan Steinber (136th House District in Westport) at the CT League of Conservation Voters Environmental Summit in Hartford. At the conference, environmental leaders/lawmakers shared priorities and challenges for the 2024 legislative session.

One Small Change in 2024 [Video Series]: Small changes matter. When we make small, incremental changes in our daily routines, we become catalysts for a more sustainable future. 

Recycling More Efficiently – For Your Wallet and the Planet: Did you hear that the CT Bottle Bill increased its bottle and can deposit to ten cents? 

Residential Energy Learning Series: Going Geothermal: Check out materials from the presentation on how geothermal works, how it helps make healthier homes, and why it’s so effective at saving energy (and money!).