The City of Victoria has initiated a month-long contest aimed at significantly cutting down the thousands of disposable coffee cups that end up in local waste bins daily. Coffee drinkers are encouraged to bring their own reusable cups to 22 participating cafés for a chance to win one of five $100 prizes.
“The most sustainable cup is the one you already own,” said Rory Tooke, Victoria’s manager of sustainability. “Cups continue to be the most prolific single-use item in the city’s garbage. With that in mind, we’re partnering with local businesses to normalize reusable to-go mugs, using this friendly contest to foster long-term habits.”
From September 17 to October 18, residents can pick up a wallet-sized stamp card from city hall and earn a stamp each time they use a reusable cup at participating cafés. Every stamp enters them into a draw to win one of five zero-waste kits, which include gift cards and reusable products designed to help people reduce their daily waste.
Victoria’s push comes as the city reports an average of 7,000 single-use coffee cups are tossed into public waste bins each day. The contest is part of a broader initiative, designed in collaboration with local businesses, to encourage sustainable practices.
“This initiative merges two key goals: supporting local businesses and caring for our environment,” said Shane Devereaux, owner of Habit Coffee, in a city press release. “Residents have already embraced bringing their own bags, and now it’s time to shift away from disposable cups.”
Alongside the contest, Victoria has also adopted a new bylaw aimed at reducing single-use items. Starting in December, businesses will only provide single-use food accessories upon request. By March 2026, restaurants and cafés will be required to use reusable dishware for customers dining on-site.
For more information on the contest and a list of participating cafés, visit the city’s waste reduction webpage.