The Town of Truckee is excited to announce a partnership with OKAPI Reusables to launch a new reusable coffee cup program aimed at reducing single-use waste and supporting local businesses in their shift toward sustainable practices. Did you know that single-use foodware makes up more than 68% of the town’s litter and that over 50 billion disposable cups are thrown away annually in the U.S.?
OKAPI Reusables has partnered with over 80 cafes nationwide. Their model offers insulated stainless steel and glass cups that customers can borrow and return. With an app-based system: customers join by paying a one-time $10 fee, then check out a cup by scanning a QR code when ordering. (Ask a staff member at any participating Truckee location for a $9-off discount code to join the program!) You then have two weeks to return the cup to any participating café. For those who forget to bring a reusable or don’t want to deal with washing their own, OKAPI makes reusables simple and accessible.
OKAPI offers a flexible, low-effort way to avoid disposable cup fees while reducing environmental impact. Instead of needing to remember and clean your own reusable cup, you can borrow a clean one from any participating café and drop it off when convenient. No washing, no hassle. The app tracks borrowed cups and sends reminders, making it easy to stay on top of returns. It’s a win-win: customers receive a high-quality, insulated cup for their coffee or tea, and can skip the $0.25 disposable cup fee. By choosing OKAPI, you can be part of a broader cultural shift toward reuse, one cup at a time!
This initiative builds on Truckee’s leadership in environmental sustainability, including the Single-Use Foodware Reduction Ordinance, the recent Single-Use Bottle Ordinance and the long-standing Greenbox reusable takeout container program. Three Truckee cafés, Wild Cherries and two Coffeebar locations, were already participating in OKAPI prior to the Town’s involvement, and their early success has helped encourage broader adoption. Now, with support from the Town, up to 12 additional cafes are eligible to receive funding to cover costs.
Are you a cafe owner? Email Sierra@Okapi-Reusables.com for more information.
Together, the Town of Truckee and OKAPI Reusables are making it easier and more accessible than ever for both residents and visitors to choose reuse, and help Keep Truckee Green. Interested in joining? Download the app today:
