In 2021, our founder, Maya Faulstich, noticed all the waste generated from her high school cross-country team dinners: around 50 plates, bowls, cups, forks, and spoons each week! She convinced her family to buy a set of reusable plates, bowls, cups, and silverware and began providing all the tableware for future XC dinners. Eventually, the Environmental Action Club spread the dishes to more and more sports teams, lined up some additional volunteers, and Dishes on Demand was born! Now, Dishes on Demand serves community events, organizations, and clubs as well as sports teams.

In the Spring of 2022, Dishes on Demand was one of 15 finalists from over 1800 entrants in National Geographic's first annual Slingshot Challenge, which recognizes young leaders who create solutions to environmental challenges.

In 2024, Dishes on Demand was recognized by the Natural Resources Council of Maine as a "great example of how Mainers are turning individual action into systemic changes that will make a difference for the health of our people and environment!"

Dishes on Demand has set the following goals for the next 12 months:

• Expand to beyond the high school Environmental Action Club and bring in adults and other students as volunteers

• Establish a formal leadership team and volunteer coordination process

• Either become a non-profit or affiliate with one so that donors can contribute tax-free.

Interested in helping us achieve these goals? Fill out our volunteer form!

Many similar programs have inspired the development of Dishes on Demand and got Maya thinking about what she could start in her own community to help address the multi-faceted problems created by single-use plastics. Some of these other programs include Don't Waste Durham's Green To Go program in North Carolina, Just Zero, and rCup. Read more about our partners and friends.