CARE for the Cape & Islands and WHOI Sea Grant Funded to Reduce Single-Use Plastic

Cape Cod Coalition to Aid Tourism Business Shift to Sustainable Serviceware 

CARE for the Cape & Islands and WHOI Sea Grant have been awarded a $299,999 grant to address the problem of single-use plastics used in tourism-based food and hospitality businesses on Cape Cod that contribute to marine debris. The grant is part of the NOAA Sea Grant Program’s Marine Debris Community Action Coalitions competition supported by the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Inflation Reduction Act.

“We’re very pleased to have been selected to receive this funding, which will raise awareness of the need to transition to renewables and more sustainable alternatives,” said WHOI Sea Grant Director Matt Charette. “We believe the project will also help businesses prepare for potential future regulations of single-use plastics.”

The three-year project will be led by CARE for the Cape & Islands in partnership with WHOI Sea Grant. Building on CARE’s well-established network of community and municipal partnerships, the project will develop an action-based coalition of businesses, chambers of commerce, local governments, NGOs, educational entities, Mashpee Wampanoag representatives and others to expand the use of sustainable alternatives to single-use food- and serviceware, including exploring the potential for a reusable serviceware program to transition businesses away from single-use plastics.

The work leverages and expands upon previous partnerships with WHOI Sea Grant and the Wellfleet Recycling Committee which created an Alternative Serviceware Guide to provide restaurants and food service businesses with resources to find reusable and more environmentally-friendly take out containers and serviceware products.

“Addressing the problems created by single-use plastic serviceware has been a goal of CARE for some time, especially given a significant increase in take out and single-use plastic use since COVID,” CARE Executive Director Jill Talladay explained. “We couldn’t be more excited to continue our collaborative work with WHOI Sea Grant and community partners on this project to help reduce plastic in the environment.”

Cape Cod’s vibrant tourism economy has many economic and cultural benefits; however, there are also significant negative environmental impacts, including the reliance on the speed and convenience of disposable food serviceware, beverage bottles, cutlery, containers, and bags to serve the large influx of visitors. When disposed of improperly, these items can make their way to the ocean, contributing to the marine debris problem. In fact, among the top debris items collected on Cape beaches in 2022 were food wrappers, plastic bottle caps, and foam cup pieces. Transitioning to reusable and compostable serviceware products will help prevent debris from entering the ocean and preserve the Cape’s valuable natural and economic resources.

“Many small businesses do not have the resources to research and make the transition away from plastic on their own,” said Charette. “Redesigning convenient food serviceware systems so they are more sustainable takes research, collaboration, and funding. We also need to test alternative systems and solutions to make sure they will work within the unique constraints and requirements of this region.”

» Read the NOAA Sea Grant Press Announcement to learn about all the national projects funded through the Marine Debris Funding Opportunity.

» Contact: Jill Talladay, CARE for the Cape and Islands
P: 508-760-8187
E: jill@careforthecapeandislands.org

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About WHOI Sea Grant

Based at Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the WHOI Sea Grant program encourages environmental stewardship, long-term economic development, and responsible use of the nation’s coastal and ocean resources. The program supports research and education, and an extension program in collaboration with the Cape Cod Cooperative Extension. It is part of the NOAA-funded National Sea Grant College Program, a network of 34 individual programs located in each of the coastal and Great Lakes states. More information can be found at seagrant.whoi.edu.

About CARE for the Cape & Islands

Founded in 2012, CARE seeks to encourage, support, and create opportunities for visitors and residents to donate their time, talent, and treasure to help preserve and protect our region’s exquisite natural beauty, plant and wildlife habitats, Cape & Islands culture, and history.