We all love convenience. College students are no exception. When they dash into a dining hall or on-campus coffee shop between classes, they prefer to grab and go, making reusable stainless steel takeout containers the perfect alternative to single-use plastic ones. Typically, those cups and containers are disposable plastics, adding to a growing waste problem for the environment and human health. The University of Pittsburgh is among the schools across the United States shifting students away from disposables and towards reusable containers. As a result, colleges are preventing tons of trash from going to landfills.

University of Pittsburgh, commonly referred to as Pitt, introduced a reusable takeout option using stainless steel containers from reuse company Usefull in two dining halls earlier this year. It’s part of the school’s commitment to reduce landfill waste by 25 percent by the end of this decade. Now, 10 months later, some 7,000 reusable containers have been checked out, diverting over 670 pounds of waste from the landfill.

Every Usefull container is equipped with a QR code linked to an app that’s scanned when a student leaves the dining facility — just like taking out a library book. The app manages check outs, sends return reminders and ensures smooth tracking. Like a library system, students are charged a small fee if they don’t return their containers on time.

The approach is working, said Alison Cove, Usefull founder and CEO. The company reports industry-leading return rates of more than 99 percent at the 20 college campuses across the U.S. where the program is in place.

“Students love it,” she said. “It keeps these containers in circulation, reducing waste and enhancing the takeout experience for students.”

Students Are Hungry for Change

“We landed on Usefull as a solution for our waste reduction goals because of its cool tracking abilities and the unique container,” said Emmy Ray, the sustainability director for Pitt Eats. “The containers keep the food hot for at least four to five hours. So if students have to wait until after class to eat, it’s still hot.”

Beyond the convenience, students like knowing they’re making a real difference for the environment. “A plastic-free option for to-go containers at our dining hall has been a huge ask from students in our student surveys as a way to improve the campus dining experience,” Ray said.

Read the full article about reusable takeout containers on campus by Amy Brown at TriplePundit.