The City of Courtenay is once again teaming up with the Downtown Courtenay Business Improvement Association to encourage residents to cut down on waste and support local businesses.

The Bring Your Own Cup initiative runs from March 29 to April 26, inviting customers to bring a reusable cup when purchasing drinks at participating downtown coffee shops.

Each time a reusable cup is used, customers receive a stamp, with more stamps increasing their chances of winning gift cards from local businesses.

Participating locations include Bigfoot Donuts, Frankie Jo’s Bakery Café, Freyja – The Croissant Story, Gladstone Brewing Company, Hot Chocolates, Mignon and Kie Café and Eatery, Mudsharks Coffee Bar, and The Twisted Mint Café.

The City says the initiative is aimed at reducing single-use waste, noting Canadians throw away an estimated 1.5-billion disposable cups each year, with only a small percentage recycled.

The campaign also ties in with the City’s broader waste reduction efforts and comes just ahead of a community clean-up event planned for April 25th, just after Earth Day.

To learn more, visit City of Courtenay.