Universities and to go containers.

married_eg

Yay to Austin College (where I did my undergraduate degree) for thinking of this:

Reusable food containers in the cafeteria

I wish the university I work for would do something like this--I shudder when I see all of the Styrofoam leaving the cafeterias!

xnickerx

It sounds like a great arrangement. I love this part:

At the end of the semester, the diner can keep the container return it for a redemption card to be used for a new container in the next semester. Graduating students are encouraged to gift their redemption cards to classmates. 

It is so refreshing for them to see the goal is for re-use, not to make a profit. Way to go Austin College!

pixieprincss

That is very cool!

CDMay2006

It is really cool!  It looks like the campus catering company (aramark) started the program a couple years at several colleges and it's working out well at Austin and elsewhere.

derky17

Wow!  That's a great idea--hopefully Aramark will consider making this move at some other colleges/universities as well.  Thanks for sharing the article.

MsJeshka

Gustavus Adolphus in MN started this as well, they started it in August 2008 - here is an article posted when they started the program.

http://news.blog.gustavus.edu/2008/08/07/gustavus-introduces-reusable-take-out-containers/

pfal6

I work in a middle school and we use throw away trays for the kids and adult to use. (there is no take out). But I do see all the trays being thrown away in the trash. I wonder what we could use instead? I know the caf. ladies will be all pissy b/c they won't want to clean them...but it's ridiculous how much is just tossed in the garbage!

RockysLove

This is awesome!  There are so many offices that use Aramark too that could benefit from this.  Personally, I've always wanted to take my own reusable container to a restaurant for my leftovers, but always forget to take one.  DH claims he'd disown me, but I think he'd get over it.