Single-Use Bottle Reduction
Single-use beverage bottles make up a large percentage of waste and litter in the Tahoe-Truckee area, creating an environmental threat to our region. The Town of Truckee is taking steps to reduce the proliferation of disposable items such as single-use water bottles in our community and encourage a shift to reuse. This includes the recently adopted Single-Use Plastic Bottle and Paper Carton Ordinance, which prohibits the sale and commercial distribution of unflavored, non-carbonated water in single-use plastic bottles and paper cartons under a gallon in size beginning April 22, 2025.
Click on the tabs above or scroll down to find out more about the Town of Truckee’s policies and programs to help residents and visitors ditch single-use plastic bottles!
Truckee Mountain Filtered tap water is clean, cold and delicious, naturally filtered by the same rugged mountains the area is known for. Find out more about what makes our water so special at TruckeeMountainFiltered.org
Find a place to fill up: Whether you’re shopping downtown or headed out on a hike, it’s easy to find a place to fill up wherever you go. Just check out the online filling station map. Heading over to Lake Tahoe? Good news: high-quality, delicious tap water doesn’t stop at the Truckee border. The online map includes plenty of spots where you can fill up with Tahoe Tap, too.
Mobile filling stations are available at most events in Truckee to help provide easy, free access to water. If you’re planning a special event in Truckee, make sure to reserve one of the FREE mobile filling stations or 5-gallon water dispensers!
Filling Station Grant Program: Now open for applications! The Town of Truckee is offering grants of 50% of the cost of new, publicly-accessible filling stations up to $2,500 each. Click here for more details and the program application.
Why the focus on single-use bottles?
While many people reach for single-use plastic water bottles to stay hydrated, their convenience comes at a cost. Plastic bottles are among the top five types of litter found in the Tahoe Basin. In a 2023 litter audit, Town of Truckee staff discovered that half of littered plastic bottles were water bottles, showing the large impact of this single product on waste and litter in our community. When these bottles are littered they don’t decompose and instead break down into smaller and smaller pieces of plastic, which can pollute water and harm wildlife.
Reusable water bottles are a fantastic way to reduce environmental impacts and an even better way to express who you are! Bring your bottle wherever you go, fill it up with Truckee Mountain Filtered tap water, and decorate it with stickers from all the adventures you’ve had.