Zero Waste Ithaca is asking visitors to bring reusable cups, bags and other items to the Downtown Ithaca Apple Harvest Festival this weekend, part of the group's campaign to reduce single-use waste at community events.
The group will have a table at the festival where visitors can pick up a limited-edition “I Brought My Own to Apple Fest 2026” sticker. The stickers are intended for people who bring their own reusable items, according to the organization's announcement.
Festivalgoers can bring a cup, mug or water bottle for drinks; a container for leftovers; utensils and a napkin for food; and a bag for purchases. The group said those small choices can reduce the amount of disposable packaging used during the three-day event.
Apple Harvest runs Friday, Sept. 25, from noon to 8 p.m.; Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Sunday, Sept. 27, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. in downtown Ithaca.
At its table, Zero Waste Ithaca plans to talk with visitors about its Bring Your Own initiative. Attendees can also learn about the group's other campaigns, meet volunteers and sign petitions, the announcement said.
Amina Mohamed, the organization's board secretary, said reuse can be convenient and satisfying for festival visitors. She said preventing disposable waste is more effective than relying on recycling after single-use items are discarded. The Apple Harvest campaign is part of the group's broader effort to make bringing reusable items an everyday habit.
The announcement also raises concerns about plastic pollution and microplastics. Zero Waste Ithaca says its broader Bring Your Own work includes policy advocacy, petitions and efforts to change legal and institutional barriers to reuse in New York, alongside encouraging people to bring reusable items to events.
Visitors who want the festival sticker can stop by the Zero Waste Ithaca table while supplies last, the organization said.
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