Wake Green Restaurant Support

For dining indoors or outdoors, reusable dishes, cups, and utensils are safe, as long as they are smooth and free of breaks, open seams, cracks, chips, and similar imperfections. They should also be properly washed, sanitized, dried, and stored before use.

You may safely refill customer-provided reusable beverage containers, such as coffee mugs and reusable tumblers, using a simple contamination-free process.

• In order to safely refill a container, customers should remove and retain their lid/straw and provide the container to the employee of the food establishment. Then the employee must prepare, pour or dispense the beverage, preventing contact with the lip-contact surface of the customer’s reusable container.

Adopt a “By Request Only” procedure for take-out accessories including single-use bags, utensils, napkins, stirrers, condiment packets, straws, etc. Many takeout customers are heading home with their orders where they have reusable utensils and even multi-use condiments. An Opt-In policy not only helps reduce waste, but can save you money! Encourage customers to hand-carry their to-go orders without a bag or to use their own reusable bags.

The Wake County Department of Public Health – Environmental Health & Safety Division allows the use of properly constructed and designed reusable utensils, containers, and other foodware when appropriately sanitized and cleaned in accordance with the NC Food Code 2017.

Wake County Waste Reduction Grants

Waste Reduction Partners

• This is a team of highly experienced staff and volunteer retired engineers, architects and scientists, who provide North Carolina businesses and institutions with waste and energy reduction assessments and technical assistance.
• WRP services are typically grant-sponsored or supported through technical service contracts to provide technical assistance to its clients at no cost. All services are nonregulatory and confidential. The WRP mission is to work for a sustainable economy, healthy environment, and better quality of life throughout North Carolina.”

Government Support Page

See how restaurants in different states are are working to reduce waste

• Michigan
• Los Angeles
• Orange County. NC