How it works
BYOU.S. ReducesContactThe Bring Your Own - U.S. Reduces Network, powered by volunteers
BYO is simple.
Bring what you already own.
BYO - US Reduces is a nationwide grassroots network promoting the right to bring and use your own clean containers, mugs, utensils, jars, bags, and other reusables. We support local organizing, self-reliance, and policies that make customer-owned reuse easier.
Stay connected
National BYO Gathering
Join us online every other month for an enjoyable, educational gathering with speakers, discussion, and practical ideas from across the BYO network. Subscribe for announcements and the Zoom link.
Subscribe by emailIf you don’t see the confirmation email, check spam or Promotions. To help future BYO emails reach your inbox, add us to your contacts or safe-sender list.
The simplest reuse system already exists: people already own reusable containers. BYO makes their use practical and welcoming, while local organizing and policy advocacy work to remove legal and institutional barriers.
Bimonthly gathering
Join the National BYO Gathering
Our online gathering takes place every other month and is open to everyone. Meet other BYO supporters, hear from guest speakers, and exchange practical ideas.Subscribe for UpdatesLocal groups
Start a Local BYO Group
No local group in your area? Start one! You don't need a whole team to begin. We provide resources and connections to help you get started.Get StartedSupport the national network
Help Keep the National BYO Network Going
Our volunteer-powered network needs people with digital skills, especially website development and maintenance, website security, Canva design, social media management, YouTube video editing, and Zoom meeting support. If you have these skills and would like to contribute to grassroots reuse, please get in touch and tell us a little about your experience.
BYO in action
When BYO Is Encouraged, People Respond.
80%of surveyed Paris 2024 spectators brought their own water bottles.
30%said Paris 2024 communications prompted them to bring one.
Paris 2024 shows how widespread BYO participation can be when organizers actively encourage people to bring their own. Reuse does not always require a separate container-return system.
Paris 2024, Post-Games Sustainability and Legacy Report, p. 23 (spectator survey).
Read the Paris 2024 ReportLocal groups
See What Local Groups Are Doing
From business outreach and BYO stickers to community events and local campaigns, groups are finding ways to make BYO work in their communities.
Explore the Local NetworkIthaca ReducesDC ReducesColumbia County ReducesSilicon Valley ReducesNYC ReducesSEMI ReducesOregon ReducesAustin ReducesSouthern Tier Reducesand more
The case for BYO
BYO is low-tech, people-powered reuse.
BYO does not require a proprietary app, membership, deposit, special container, or centralized washing system. People use what they already own. It is a simple, locally adaptable form of reuse that can reduce dependence on disposable packaging, and policy and business practices should make it easier, not harder.
The Case for BYO
Why visible BYO participation matters for culture, policy, and the future of reuse.
Right to BYO
BYO laws and guidance in the U.S. and around the world, including state policies, food codes, and efforts to expand the right to bring your own.
Safety
Evidence and guidance on the safe use of reusable containers and foodware.
The cost of disposables
Disposable foodware adds up.
Businesses continually pay for cups, lids, containers, utensils, bags, and other items designed to be used once. A 2018 Clean Water Action fact sheet found that disposable packaging for several typical takeout orders cost roughly 25¢ to 85¢ per order at that time. Current costs vary by product, supplier, and purchase volume, and are likely higher today. When a customer’s own reusable item replaces a disposable one, that recurring purchase can be avoided.
Clean Water Action also documented substantial annual savings when restaurants replaced disposable dine-in foodware with reusable alternatives. Those examples are broader reuse evidence, not BYO-specific data.
See the cost evidenceKeep BYO - US Reduces going
Donate to support the grassroots network.
Donations help with the shared website, resources, outreach, gatherings, and the behind-the-scenes maintenance that keeps local BYO work connected.
