Santa Barbara Launches ‘Choose to Reuse’ Pilot with Dune Coffee Roasters

The City of Santa Barbara, in partnership with Dune Coffee Roasters, has launched a new summer pilot program aimed at reducing single-use coffee cup waste one reusable cup at a time. The “Choose to Reuse” campaign, led by the City’s Clean Community Division, rewards customers who bring their own reusable cups or opt for a “for here” cup with a $1 discount on their beverage.

Running now through August 31 at Dune Coffee's downtown Santa Barbara locations (528 Anacapa Street and 1101 State Street), the program doubles Dune’s existing 50¢ incentive, thanks to a matching contribution from the City. In addition to the savings, customers can sip their coffee from a beautifully crafted, reusable clay cup made by GaeaStar, offered free of charge.

The campaign also features educational signage inside Dune coffee shops to inform customers about the environmental costs of disposable cups. In the U.S. alone, more than 80 billion disposable cups are used yearly. Most of these paper cups are lined with plastic, making them virtually impossible to recycle. Manufacturing them requires more than 6.5 million trees annually.

This pilot program is part of Santa Barbara’s broader strategy to minimize waste and inspire sustainable habits in everyday life. By making reuse easy, accessible, and even stylish, the City hopes to foster new habits one sip at a time.