Savannah/Chatham County, Georgia
We’d love to hear from you!
Please consider taking our virtual interactive survey, where you can learn about reuse, imagine how it would work for Savannah, and provide input to design a system that works for everyone in our community.
Every 1 in 10 participants will receive a $25 gift card to a place of their choice. The virtual workshop is currently available only in English but will soon be available in Spanish, Arabic, and Chinese.
Savannah at a Glance
Savannah is known as America's first planned city, and its parks, tree-lined boulevards, and historic buildings still enchant locals and visitors alike today. Known for its culture of hospitality, Savannah draws visitors from near and far for its food, culture, nightlife, and unique experiences such as the Savannah Bananas. Savannah is the county seat for Chatham County, which also includes other notable destinations such as Tybee Island and picturesque Thunderbolt. Situated on the northern Georgia coast, Chatham County is bordered by the Savannah River and the Ogeechee River and includes multiple barrier islands where marine debris accumulates and is regularly removed by community members.
Population: 147,000
Food Service Establishments: 600+
Educational Institutions: : Georgia Southern University-Armstrong Campus, Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah State University, South University, and the Savannah-Chatham County Public Schools
Local Water Bodies: Atlantic Ocean and located adjacent to Gray’s Reef National Marine Sanctuary
Other Commitments: City Council passed resolution to phase out single use plastics including plastic cups, utensils, and EPS takeout containers. (2021)
Local Partners
-
-
Tonya Bonitatibus
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR & RIVERKEEPER
Savannah Riverkeeper
-
Cloe Lemaire
REUSE SYSTEM LOCAL PROJECT MANAGER
Savannah Riverkeeper
Savannah Riverkeeper
Founded in 2001, Savannah Riverkeeper is the leading guardian for the Savannah River, actively restoring and protecting the entire basin through education, advocacy, and collaboration. Responsible for over 300 miles of river from North Carolina to the city of Savannah we are dedicated to ensuring a drinkable, swimmable, and fishable river. We are part of the Waterkeeper Alliance, a movement of more than 290 organizations worldwide who fight for drinkable, swimmable, and fishable waterways. Our unique brand of grassroots citizen advocacy allows us to advocate for the health and viability of the entire watershed.
Concentrating on ensuring a healthy river, we are enthusiastic about the opportunity to collaborate and wrap around the problems that plague our own communities. By Utilizing the reusable foodware system with water goat trash traps to filter debris from entering the river, our passion to restore the water quality and protect our natural resources. Litter is one of the biggest pollutants in urban waters today. We are excited to be taking a holistic approach to combating plastic pollution by partnering with Perpetual and having a team of staff regularly maintaining 8 trash traps located throughout Savannah.
Wrapping up Ecosystem Mapping and Engagement
Savannah, together with Chatham County, are in the early stages of exploring the development of a reusable cup and container program to serve the community. The first phase in this process is the Ecosystem Mapping and Engagement Phase, which includes:
Meeting with local nonprofits, local businesses, community groups, government officials, and other community members to test interest in moving toward a reusable foodware system.
Understanding the lived boundaries of Savannah and Chatham County and how people flow within them, to determine if most foodware circulates within them or goes beyond them.
Gathering data on the current challenges of waste and pollution from single-use foodware and packaging items.
Exploring the seasonal flows of tourists and students as well as weather and climate patterns.
Confirming one or more local partners to provide local leadership for this process.
The Perpetual team is working closely with leaders in Savannah and Chatham County to determine the timing of next steps and we are optimistic that we will be moving to the next stage of this process soon!
Want to get involved? Reach out to us at hello@perpetualuse.org.