7:15 a.m.: a to-go coffee cup on the way to the train. 12:30 p.m.: a takeout salad with a plastic fork and a little plastic cup of dressing. 5:00 p.m.: a bottled sports drink handed out at practice pickup. None of it feels like much in the moment, but by dinnertime an ordinary Westport day can leave behind a trail of single-use plastic.

The good news is that on-the-go plastic is some of the easiest to skip. Most of it is handed to us by default, so a little planning and a few words at the counter go a long way.

And when enough of us bring our own, local cafés and lunch spots notice. Reuse starts to feel like the easy choice, not the exception.

The trick is keeping your reusables within reach. 

Below, you’ll find simple swaps organized by who you are and how you move through your day. Start with the section that sounds most like you, then borrow ideas from the rest.

Between school pickup, practice and the snack run in between, parents hand out a lot of single-use plastic without meaning to. The fix is to make the reusable option the one that’s already in the car.

Keep an on-the-go bag in the car. Instead of grabbing plastic forks and juice boxes on the fly, keep a small bag with reusable utensils, a cloth napkin or two, and a reusable container for leftovers. Restock it when you unload the dishwasher and place the bag back in the car, the same way you keep reusable bags in the trunk for the grocery store.

One refillable bottle per kid. Instead of a case of plastic water bottles or sports drinks for the team, send everyone with their own refillable bottle, labeled with their name. 

Skip the kids’ meal extras. Instead of accepting the plastic toy, straw and utensils that come with takeout, ask for “no extras, please” when you order. Your kids might not even notice.

Watch out for “compostable” utensils. They sound like a good swap, but they’re still made to be used once and thrown away, and many can’t actually be composted locally. Reusable beats compostable every time.

Looking for lunchbox ideas too? See our Sustainable Swaps: School Lunch & Snack Containers guide.

Between classes, practice and hanging out downtown, students buy a lot of drinks and snacks on the move. A few habits can cut most of that plastic.

Carry a bottle you actually like. Instead of buying a bottle of water between classes, carry a refillable one you’re happy to be seen with. Refill it at school, at home, or at the UnPlastic Westport hydration stations at Compo Beach and Winslow Dog Park.

Keep a fork in your backpack. Instead of taking plastic utensils with takeout, keep a lightweight reusable set in your bag.

Whether you’re catching Metro-North at Saugatuck or Greens Farms or driving to the office, commuting is where the small stuff piles up. Lids, straws, stirrers, napkins, condiment packets and utensils often come by default, whether you need them or not.

Say “just the drink, please.” Instead of accepting every extra, get in the habit of declining what you won’t use. It’s the idea behind our #SkipTheStuff campaign: the easiest plastic to avoid is the plastic you never take.

Opt out when you order ahead. Instead of letting the app decide, look for the “no utensils” or “no napkins” box when you order lunch or coffee online. Many apps now let you opt out with one tap.

Pack a desk kit. Instead of taking a plastic fork with every lunch out, keep a real fork, spoon, mug and cloth napkin at your desk. Everything tastes better when you choose reusable.

Bring your bottle on the train. Instead of buying a bottle of water on the way to the platform, fill a reusable bottle before you leave the office.

Your daily coffee or tea might be the most repeated plastic habit you have, which also makes it one of the most impactful to change.

Bring your own mug. Most paper coffee cups aren’t just paper. They’re lined with a thin layer of plastic to keep them from leaking, which also makes them hard to recycle. Researchers have found that these linings can shed tiny plastic particles into hot drinks. Instead of a paper cup, bring a mug or travel cup made of stainless steel, ceramic or glass. Many local cafés are happy to fill your own cup, so just ask.

Take a second look at your tea bag. Some tea bags, especially the silky, pyramid-shaped kind, are made of plastic mesh like nylon or PET. Instead of plastic mesh bags, choose loose-leaf tea in a stainless steel infuser, or a brand that makes its bags without plastic.

Order it for here. Instead of a to-go cup when you’re staying put, ask for a real mug. It’s a small shift that makes a café visit feel a little slower and more enjoyable.

Whatever your day looks like, a small go bag makes reuse the easy choice. Keep it by the door, in your car or in your commuter bag.

• Refillable water bottle
• Travel mug 
• Reusable utensil set 
• Cloth napkin
• Reusable straw, if you use one
• Small reusable container for leftovers or snacks
• Loose-leaf tea and a small infuser, for tea drinkers

You don’t need to overhaul your whole routine. Pick the one swap that fits your day best, try it for a week, and let it become a habit. Then add the next.

We’d love to see how you’re UnPlasticking on the go. Share your go bag, favorite bottle or morning mug with #UnPlasticWestport on Instagram.

And if you want to help more Westporters refill instead of buy, support our hydration stations.