Published on January 10, 2025
In 2024, we did something big — like, rhino big. By introducing reusable dishware at the Farmers Market and beyond, we saved 147,794 disposable items from becoming waste. That’s a whopping 3,883.3 pounds, roughly the weight of an adult rhinoceros, of single-use trash that never saw a landfill.
It started with a simple idea: why not treat the farmers market like a restaurant, offering reusable plates, cups, and cutlery instead of disposables? What began as a small experiment has grown into a game-changing program now supporting sustainable practices across everything from markets to festivals at Evergreen Brick Works.
Evergreen staff conducting a waste audit after the farmers market. Photo credit: Al Yoshiki
In 2023, we decided to dig deep — literally — into our waste bins. A waste audit revealed that the majority of trash came from prepared food packaging. Most of these single-use items weren’t making it home; they were tossed on-site. This told us one thing loud and clear: people love eating at the farmers market, but the waste generated wasn’t sustainable.
Enter the Reusable Dishware Program, which launched in winter 2023 as a pilot with our incredible partner, Muuse. Visitors dining at our year-round Farmers Market were offered reusable plates, bowls, cups and cutlery, and the results were immediate: less waste, cleaner spaces and a community that rallied around the idea. A recent customer survey showed that over 90% of visitors appreciated the program, noting how it made their market experience more enjoyable and aligned with their environmental values. Many shared that they felt proud to participate in a program actively reducing waste.
This past year, the Reusable Dishware Program was turning heads at some of Evergreen’s biggest events. From the Evergreen Conference, to the Good Mourning Festival and our magical Winter Market, the program became a staple of how we do things at Evergreen.
We couldn’t have achieved this without the incredible support of the City of Toronto’s Circular Food Innovators Fund. This grant gave us the resources to dream big, refine the program and expand beyond the farmers market to include other site-wide events.
Visitors loved it, vendors embraced it and the impact was undeniable. Each event showed that sustainability doesn’t have to be complicated — it just takes a commitment to doing things differently. Our goal? To make reusables the norm, not the exception.
A visitor returns their used dishes to a return bin at the Good Mourning festival. Photo credit: Arjie de Chavez
The success of the program boils down to one word: teamwork. Vendors stepped up, embracing the challenge of ditching disposables. Visitors quickly got on board, proving that a little change in routine can make a big difference. And let’s not forget our Zero Waste Ambassadors, who became the face of the program, helping visitors understand how and why we’re doing this.
“I come to the Farmers Market every week, and the reusable dishware program is one of the reasons I love it here. It feels good to enjoy great food without adding to the waste problem,” shared one regular market-goer.
A vendor serves food on a reusable plate at the Tastes of Home festival. Photo credit: Al Yoshiki
This program isn’t just about reducing waste; it’s about building a community that cares. Every plate returned, every fork reused, and every coffee cup washed is a step toward a greener future. And we couldn’t have done it without you!
Want to get involved? Stop by the Farmers Market, join our Zero Waste Ambassador program, or simply spread the word. Together, we’re proving that sustainability isn’t just possible — it’s powerful.
Here’s to making 2025 even greener. Let’s keep achieving impactful change (and protecting the planet) one plate at a time.
This project is supported by the City of Toronto through the Circular Food Innovators Fund. The views expressed in the material are the views of Evergreen and do not necessarily reflect those of the City of Toronto.
