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Town backs Okapi reusable-cup pilot, offers startup grants for cafes and dishwashing
Summary
The council approved a town-funded launch package to bring Okapi's reusable drinkware network to Truckee, subsidizing initial startup costs for participating cafes and offering a dishwashing grant; councilors asked for reporting metrics after debate over the program's per-cup costs.
Truckee Town Council on Jan. 28 approved an initial package of funding to launch a reusable drinkware program operated by Okapi Reusables, including subsidies to participating cafes and a small grant program to upgrade dishwashing equipment.
The Council approved a plan staff proposed that would reimburse Okapi for onboarding, marketing and cup rebalancing work and, for each cafe that joins between March 2025 and March 2026, provide a startup subsidy of $24,100 to cover Okapi's initial operating support plus the nominal $100 in-cafe materials and the first three months of the $25 monthly service fee. Staff also recommended reimbursing existing local participants (Coffee Bar locations and Wild Cherries) on the same basis to encourage continued enrollment.
Town staff said the Okapi model relies on a $10 one-time membership fee from customers who download the app and can borrow up to two cups at a time, returning them to any participating cafe within the network; late or lost cups incur fees and Okapi issues reminders before charging for lost items. The Town's funding proposal also included a dishwashing grant: eligible Truckee cafes could apply for up to $1,000 to repurchase or install dishwashing equipment and up to $500 for chemicals.
"For customers, they pay a $10 one-time membership fee, and then download an app, and on the app they're able to borrow up to 2 cups at a time," the presentation said. Okapi will also provide data to the town on participating locations, containers used, single-use containers diverted and customer signups.
Councilors praised the program's potential to shift community norms around single-use containers but questioned the near-term value for dollars spent. Council member Henderson, among others, asked staff to provide clearer outcome metrics and said staff should return with results after the program has operated long enough for analysis.
Council voted unanimously to approve the Okapi launch package and the dishwashing grant program; staff said they would track adoption metrics and report back.
Why it matters: Reusable cup systems are increasingly used in high-tourism areas to reduce single-use waste. Council members said they wanted both pilot progress and follow-up data on actual single-use containers diverted.
What happens next: Staff will open the dishwashing grant in March 2025, work with Okapi on cafe onboarding through 2025, distribute promotional codes for reduced membership (including a small pool for residents without credit cards), and return reports with program metrics.
