Group Reduces Waste One Mug At A Time
Friends Launch Mug Project
POSTED: 1:04 pm EST March 4,
2008
UPDATED: 5:33 pm EST March 4,
2008
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BOSTON -- More than 14 billion paper cups are thrown away each year by Americans, according to International Paper. Two local men are trying to reduce this waste one mug at a time.Every sip of coffee that Jamaica Plain residents Joseph Porcelli and Dan Goldsbury take is making a difference. The two friends are on a mission to get rid of paper cups.
Video: Mugs Help Reduce WasteThey drink from mugs tagged with stickers that say, "Ask Me About My Mug." Launching a neighborhood movement called the Mug Project, they are trying to reduce waste by changing a simple behavior."On a daily basis when you go to the water bubbler, bring your mug. When you go get that coffee, bring your mug. And I think that's something that people are like, 'Oh. I can do that," said Goldsbury."It took me a little while to remember to bring my mug. When I first started it took me like three weeks, and now it's second nature. I grab my cell phone. I grab my keys, and I grab my mug," Porcelli said.They have grabbed the attention of local businesses. Finagle now has information at the counter about the Mug Project, even offering discounts when you use a mug."We realized we used 1 million cups last year, and we started thinking how many cups get used worldwide. If we can do our small part to help reduce waste, then all the better for us," said Laura Trust, CEO of Finagle.On MugProject.com, you'll find user profiles and forums discussing mug use. You'll even find a section of mug shots and a funny video narrated by a mug that is shocked to find paper cups in the apartment.
Video: Mugs Help Reduce WasteThey drink from mugs tagged with stickers that say, "Ask Me About My Mug." Launching a neighborhood movement called the Mug Project, they are trying to reduce waste by changing a simple behavior."On a daily basis when you go to the water bubbler, bring your mug. When you go get that coffee, bring your mug. And I think that's something that people are like, 'Oh. I can do that," said Goldsbury."It took me a little while to remember to bring my mug. When I first started it took me like three weeks, and now it's second nature. I grab my cell phone. I grab my keys, and I grab my mug," Porcelli said.They have grabbed the attention of local businesses. Finagle now has information at the counter about the Mug Project, even offering discounts when you use a mug."We realized we used 1 million cups last year, and we started thinking how many cups get used worldwide. If we can do our small part to help reduce waste, then all the better for us," said Laura Trust, CEO of Finagle.On MugProject.com, you'll find user profiles and forums discussing mug use. You'll even find a section of mug shots and a funny video narrated by a mug that is shocked to find paper cups in the apartment. Copyright 2008 by TheBostonChannel.com. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
