The Indisposable Podcast®

How do just transition principles apply to policymaking? Brian Loma of GreenLatinos Colorado and Upstream’s Sydney Harris get real about the policymaking process in a just transition to a reuse economy. They discuss everything from community stakeholder involvement; to capacity, budget, and messaging challenges; to modeling the values of reuse, and more. Stay tuned to the end for some excellent tips on messaging and education. Brian and Sydney close this rich conversation with an invitation to think of policy as a way to create multigenerational wealth and health in our communities. Resources: GreenLatinos websiteUpstream Series: The Role Of Reuse In A Just TransitionDiscussion Paper: The Belem Action Mechanism For A Global Just Transition (Bam) Why And HowClimate Action Network International: COP30 takes a hopeful step towards Justice, but does not go far enoughResources for policy engagement: For NGOs: Bolder AdvocacyFor understanding federal policy: Government 101For building grassroots power for local policy: Building Grassroots PowerAbout EPR for packagingGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

Earlier this year, Washington became the seventh state in the US to pass an Extended Producer Responsibility Bill for packaging. The bill, SB 5284—The Recycling Reform Act—was supported by Upstream and civic and elected partners around Washington state, and includes something rarely featured in EPR bills: best practices for reuse. In this episode, host Brooking Gatewood digs in with WA State Representative Liz Berry and McKenna Morrigan of the city of Seattle on how this bill got passed, what it means for recycling and reuse systems incentives in Washington State, and what other states can learn from it to start standardizing EPR and normalizing reuse requirements. Resources: WA EPR bill Minnesota EPR bill Seven Laws in, How is Reuse Faring in US Packaging EPR?The State of EPR Policy in the USEmbracing Reuse in U.S. Packaging EPR ProgramsGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

A conversation with Doug Calem and Dan Barash from the Central Ohio Reuse Coalition, Emily Alfred from Reusable Toronto, and Maddie Kaufman from Zero Waste Miami about the on-the-ground work they are doing in their different communities. From fundraising and business collaboration, to work with reuse at venues and businesses, to bridging the gap between all local reuse sectors, these leaders share insights and learnings other community groups can leverage for their own success.Resources: CORC presentation deckReusable Toronto presentation deckZero Waste Miami presentation deckGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

Upstream’s Sydney Harris is joined by the US Plastics Pact’s Olivia Merritt Fitzgerald and Sustainable Packaging Coalition’s Olga Kachook to discuss the growing drive for reuse among consumer brands. They share the details of two recent reports that map a path for bringing reuse to the retail setting and which product lines are best poised for the switch—plus the USPP’s initiative to turn these findings into action. The key to success? Standardization and pre-competitive collaboration—both of which, our guests are happy to report, are in the works.Resources: Sustainable Packaging Coalition: Framework for Scaling ReuseClosed Loop Partners & US Plastics Pact: Getting Ready for Reuse in RetailUSPP Retail Reuse Initiative one-pagerListeners interested in participating in the US Plastic Pact’s retail reuse initiative should contact Olivia Merritt Fitzgerald: [email protected] Listeners interested in exploring refill models should contact Olga Kachook: [email protected] Upstream: Embracing Reuse in U.S. Packaging EPR ProgramsPR3 StandardsEpisode 88: Setting the Standard for Reuse with PR3Episode 180: The Quest for a Universal Reuse SymbolGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

A perennial hot topic in the world of reuse advocacy is reuse and refill in food codes. At a recent meeting of the Reuse Solutions Network (RSN), we tapped some folks with direct experience in the field to share insights about key updates to the federal food code, plus strategies to both update your own state's code—including collaboration, coalition building, education, and stakeholder engagement. Tune into this deep-dive with Kelley Dennings of the Center for Biological Diversity, Charlie Plybon of Surfrider, and Heather Billings of the Center for EcoTechnology, shared with permission here for our broader podcast audience—and check out the link below if you’d like to join the next RSN conversation yourself.Resources: Kelley Dennings’ Slide PresentationHeather Billings’ Slide PresentationLinks mentioned in the presentationsGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

Switching schools to reusable foodware reduces waste and helps teach the next generation that there’s a better way than throw-away — but our team’s research shows dishwasher funding as the #1 one hurdle to transitioning schools. In this episode, we learn how it can be done, with parents, principals, key partners, and in this case, a little policy-making magic, too. Join Monica Campagna of the Glendale Environmental Coalition for this wild story of how one elementary school helped over 300 schools across California get funding to transition to reuse. Resources: Glendale Environmental Commission (GEC) - SB 1255Commercial dishwashing grant info (2024)Plastic Free Restaurants Green Lunchroom Facebook group California Environmental voters Get involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

We have the information we need to make positive change—including implementing reuse systems. So how do we get people to act? Host Brooking Gatewood takes a deep dive into the psychology of normalizing reuse and influencing behavior change with experts Jennifer Carrigan and Katie Patrick. From emphasizing the importance of making reuse the default option, to highlighting the power of gamification and social comparison, they discuss how systemic changes influence individual action.Resources: katiepatrick.comKatie’s 4 part podcast series to dig a little deeper TED Talk by Alex Laskey of OPowerClimate Action Design SchoolGrand Canyon ProjectGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

Last Fall, Upstream kicked off one of the most exciting reuse projects in the country right now, transforming concessions in the South Rim of the Grand Canyon to create the largest reuse system in the US and the first at a national park. Tune in to learn more from Upstream’s Jennifer Carrigan and Madhavi Trikha about this in-process model for open-loop reuse for national parks—and beyond.Resources: About the Grand Canyon ProjectRebrand Reuse & Design StandardsGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

2025 will go down in history as the year the universal Reuse symbol was born. PR3’s Amy Larkin and design expert Cybelle Jones talk about the power of symbols and the current design initiative calling on creatives to develop a symbol that will help catalyze a cultural shift and normalize reuse around the world. Applications are due May 31 for this chance to be part of history—and part of the PR3 Reuse Standards development process. Resources: The Rebrand Reuse InitiativePR3 StandardsCybelle Jones — SEGDEpisode 88: Setting the Standard for Reuse with Claudette Juska and Amy LarkinKansas city soccer stadium reusable cup programGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

In this conversation, we dig into how reuse contributes to workforce development and economic opportunity - now and for future generations. Host Brooking Gatewood sits down with Matthew Luisier of r.World, a fast-growing reuse service provider, and Natasha Wayne with Reaching All Minds Academy, a charter school that has taken on the challenge of switching back to reusables as part of its STEM through sustainability educational mission. With recent data showing that reuse creates more and safer jobs than landfills and recycling — we ground this data in the stories of two people helping manage the shift to a reuse economy in very different ways.Resources: r.WorldReaching All Minds AcademyThe Role of Reuse in a Just TransitionReuse vs Single-use: EconomicsGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

In the last few years, we’ve seen a big step-up from sports & entertainment venue leaders around the US to build reuse programs for arena and stadium concessions. Christy Briggs, Sustainability Manager for Lumen Field & the Seattle Seahawks and Mary McCarthy, VP of Sustainability for Levy Restaurants – hospitality provider to 350+ major venues – discuss some of the latest developments, next steps, and ongoing challenges when it comes to building a world of entertainment without the waste. Resources: Episode 159: A reuse playbook for stadiumsUpstream’s Wash Hub MapGet involved:Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

Host Brooking Gatewood sits down with Isabel Mack, creator of Party Kit Network, and Toni Mason with Bull City Boomerang Bags to talk about the power of community-focused, non-policy reuse initiatives. Especially for those living in areas where it is difficult to enact policy, there’s still plenty you can do to engage in local change-making. Listen in for some stories of the challenges and joys of turning good ideas into organized local waste-reducing endeavors, and leave inspired to turn your own good ideas into meaningful action. Resources: Party Kit NetworkBull City Boomerang BagsJoin the REAL sharing economy with a Library of ThingsEpisode 7: The Creative Power of Limits Grounds Krewe for Mardi GrasGet Involved: Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

As packaging extended producer responsibility (EPR) gets off the ground across the US, the time is right to shine a spotlight on reuse. Upstream’s newest position paper breaks down exactly what to expect of a best-in-class producer responsibility organization (PRO) when it comes to supporting and planning for a transition to reusable packaging systems within EPR programs. This rebroadcast of a recent livestream covers key points from the paper and features a lively discussion with public policy expert Elizabeth Balkan, plus Emmaneulle Bautista and Valentin Fournel, special guests from Citeo—a French packaging PRO poised to launch a large-scale reusable packaging program with its member brands. Resources: Position Paper: Embracing reuse in EPR packaging programsLivestream recordingUpstream’s presentation deckCITEO’s presentation deck More information about CITEO’s programThe state of EPR policy in the USDefining “reuse” in the policy contextReuse service providers in the US & CanadaZero Waste Europe: European Reuse BarometerGet Involved: Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkSupport Upstream to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow — thank you!

Switching K-12 schools to reusables in their cafeterias is a focus for many in the reuse movement: it’s a win-win-win for improving children’s health, educating and empowering the community around sustainability issues, and providing an impressive ROI for school administrators. That said, no change is easy, and barriers such as up-front funding, dishwashing, and staffing are real challenges. Thankfully, Amber Schmidt from ReThink Disposable and Ben Schleifer from Center for Environmental Health have hands-on experience in surmounting these barriers, and in this discussion they share some key insights for getting reuse into schools.Enjoy this recording of the January Reuse Solutions Network meeting, and check out the resources below if you’d like to join the RSN yourself.Resources: Join the Reuse Solutions NetworkReThink DisposableCenter for Environmental HealthWashington Post: Most US schoolchildren toss their lunch trays every dayCase studies on reuse in schoolsMore Indisposable Podcast episodes about reuse in schoolsThe Indisposable Podcast is brought to you by Upstream, which is a non-governmental organization. Please consider a tax-deductible donation to make sure these stories continue to be heard and the reuse economy continues to grow.

As Dr. Manasa Mantravadi, pediatrician and founder of the reusable foodware company Ahimsa®, points out—schools need data to make decisions. The Conscious Cafeteria Report, produced by Upstream and Ahimsa, is the latest evidence-based study projecting the environmental and financial impact of switching to reuse in K-12 schools, while robustly making the case for transitioning away from single-use foodware to protect children's health. Upstream’s Macy Zander sits down with Dr. Mantravadi and Data Science Specialist Madhavi Trikha to break down the findings of the report as well as challenges and opportunities inherent in switching to reuse for schools. Spoiler alert: across geographies, demographics, and school set-ups—reuse wins, every time. Resources: The Conscious Cafeteria Reportahimsaschools.com ReThink Disposable Case Study: Palo Alto School DistrictCenter for Environmental Health (CEH)StopWaste Plastic Free RestaurantsReuse for Onsite Dining LibraryReuse Solutions Network (RSN)

Innovation in healthcare is no easy feat, as we learn in this conversation with Russell Gong, Co-founder and President of Cabinet Health. The fast-growing B-Corp on a mission to eliminate single-use plastic in medicine is starting by confronting the challenge of billions of disposable plastic pill bottles used annually in this country, with first-in-class models for reusable and refillable bottles. Russ and Brooking talk shop about the challenges, opportunities, metrics and more for getting plastic out of medicine.Resources:cabinethealth.com

Plastic Free MKE (Milwaukee) leaders Leah Holloway of Milwaukee Riverkeeper and Meenal Atre of the Urban Ecology Center share the story of this city-level coalition’s success in reducing plastic pollution in a state that doesn’t allow for policies banning “auxiliary containers” (e.g. plastic packaging). From loophole-focused policy wins to a Lake Friendly dining program, the insights from our guests are a great primer for anyone interested in starting a reuse coalition in their community. Resources: Plastic-Free MKEEpisode 171: Bans on BansThe ReusiesJoin or start a community coalition

The Conservative States & Provinces group—a subgroup of the Reuse Solutions Network— brings together advocates from areas where it is harder to pass policy so they can share and troubleshoot ways to advance reuse despite the obstacles. And one major barrier folks living in conservative states often face is preemption, aka “bans on bans.” If a town wants to pass a Skip the Stuff ordinance, for instance, a state with certain pre-emption laws could override it. This is a reality that impacts many living in more conservative jurisdictions and directly hinders the ability to pass local policy on plastics and packaging. This discussion from a recent meeting of the Conservative States & Provinces subgroup covers preemption more broadly and its implications for reuse policy; how it looks in different states; strategies for challenging it; and lessons learned from experienced panelists: Randy Moorman of Eco-Cycle in Colorado, Emma Haydocy of Surfrider in Florida, and Jeremy Drake of MT Plastic Free Missoula in Montana. Resources: Reuse Solutions NetworkEco-cycleSurfrider FloridaMT Plastic Free MissoulaUpstream’s Policy TrackerReuse Coalitions & Groups

Host Brooking Gatewood sits down with Jessica Gonzalez, founder of Happen Ventures, to talk about their creative reuse business logistics services that solve waste problems, support communities, and creates a new climate-conscious business niche in the circular economy. From redistributing truckloads of unused PPE headed for the trash to connecting amputees to single shoes from display windows, learn about some scrappy match-making between excess product and unexpected markets that has diverted over 80,000 tons of usable products from landfill to date.Resources:Happen Ventures Tax Savings Calculator

Hear the inspiring story of Maryland Department of Aging’s Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Reuse Program, one of the winners of the 2024 Reusies Community of the Year Award. Program director Ian Edwards sits down with host Brooking Gatewood to share their recipe for success in reusing wheelchairs, walkers, hospital beds and more in Maryland—and how other states can follow suit to improve lives while saving money, carbon, and landfill waste. Resources: aging.maryland.govthereusies.org