Reusable Cup Contest Back for its Second Year

VICTORIA, B.C. — With over 30 participating cafés across the city and double the prizes to be won, the Reusable Cup Contest is back for its second year this October. This contest encourages residents to reduce single-use item waste in their daily routines by bringing their reusable cup for coffee.  

“It may seem like a small action, but building a habit like bringing your own cup can have ripple effects across the city,” says Rhiannon Moore, Circular Economy Specialist with the City of Victoria. “The more each of us do it, the more it will become the norm like bringing our own bags to the grocery store. One cup reused is one less in our landfill.” 

Residents can pick up a wallet-sized stamp card from any of the participating business locations or at City Hall. Each time they use a reusable cup at one of the participating locations this October, they earn a stamp on the card. Every stamp qualifies as an entry into the draw to win one of ten zero waste prize packs valued at $100 each. Prizes include gift cards and multiple high-quality locally sourced items to reduce waste including silicone snack bags, shampoo bars, beeswax wraps and more.  

“Our Victoria community has shown us that great coffee tastes even better when enjoyed sustainably,” says Gareth Edwards, General Manager of Cafe Fantastico. “We’re proud to recognize the many customers who have made their favourite travel mug a part of their daily ritual. This initiative is an invitation to a wider movement towards zero waste, while celebrating those who have led the way – neighbours, friends and families who've built a strong culture of reuse in our city.” 

During the 2024 contest, residents in Victoria kept over 850 disposable cups out of the landfill. This year’s challenge is to beat those numbers and continue to make reuse the norm.  

This contest supports the next phase of the Single-use Items Reduction Bylaw, which requires restaurants to service customers dining on-site with reusable food service ware by March 2026. 

For more information about the City’s reusable cup contest, including a list of participating businesses, please visit victoria.ca/reuse.

Media Contact:  
Colleen Mycroft  
Manager, Intergovernmental and Media Relations  
250.896.5325 | cmycroft@victoria.ca