Members of the Recycling Association of the Virgin Islands are urging Crucians to reduce waste one cup at a time.

RAVI kicked off the St. Croix Good.To.Go cup campaign last weekend at Reef Jam. The program has been designed to reward businesses, residents and visitors with economic incentives to reuse and refill rather than throw away beverage containers.

Karen McIntyre, a member of RAVI’s leadership team, says the insulated 16 oz. cups made in America of recycled products are good for business, good for consumers, and good for St. Croix, creating less litter and waste than disposable cups. McIntyre said her employer gave her a travel mug she uses all the time. She thought it was silly to get throwaway cups when it is easy to just carry a cup around and get refills.

Restaurants and bars will sell the cups and patrons can bring them back to be refilled and get a discount or some sort of special deal.

“The participating businesses will benefit with advertising and creating customer loyalty,” said Colleen Sullivan, also of the RAVI leadership team.

For now the group is focusing on the cup campaign because recycling of aluminum on St. Croix is at a standstill.

The group has been instrumental in trying to open the recycling center in Anna’s Hope, a project in partnership with the Boys and Girls Club. RAVI was awarded a $38,625 grant from VI Waste Management Authority and $35,000 from Diageo. The grants went towards a state of the art can crusher that is currently in storage, and $36,000 went for site renovations.

The first hold up was road construction in the area and a swale that had to be built. In the mean time a contractor backed out.

The Boys and Girls Club, which will get funds generated from the recycling, is working on a contract with another operator. Sullivan said she did not know when the center will begin operation but said to watch for a grand opening that RAVI is planning.

RAVI is a grassroots volunteer group begun in 2007 as a project of Virgin Islands Resource Conservation & Development Council. RAVI’s members meet the third Tuesday of every month at the AARP office in Estate Diamond.

The association’s hope is to see all residents and visitors engage in waste reduction practices by supporting and participating in recycling programs in the territory. The organization’s purpose is to educate, network and advocate.

AARP and Pinnacle are sponsors of the Good.To.Go cups.

Further information about RAVI and where to get Good.To.Go cups can be found online at www.StCroixRecycles.org.