Students go green with UNC dining hall’s reusable containers

Since the beginning of September, 349 reusable plastic food containers have been sold in an effort to go green and help preserve the environment.

While efforts have shown success, dining services officials are still looking for ways to encourage people to use the reusable containers and decrease plastic foam use. One suggestion is a system that would keep students from having to carry the containers with them.

Now, students and others who buy the containers — sold at Rams Head and Top of Lenoir dining halls for $3.50 — can bring the dirty containers back and exchange them for clean ones.

Scott Myers, the director of food and vending, said the goal of the reusable containers is to keep plastic foam out of local landfills.

But even though Carolina Dining Services is on its third order for the containers, many people think the containers are too bulky and cumbersome to carry around campus throughout the day.

Myers said Dining Services is looking into a token system where students can bring their dirty containers to Lenoir or Rams Head and exchange them for a token.

Instead of carrying around the large container all day, they could keep the token and bring it back to the dining area and trade it in for a new, clean container. 

First-year Prasant Lokinendi, a biology major, said he thinks the containers are a good idea but said he isn’t planning on buying one since he does not eat out often and the containers are so large. 

“It’s inconvenient, but if everyone did it together as a whole, it could save a lot of trees, a lot of materials,” Lokinendi said.

Beka Wendt, a first-year studying environmental health, saw an advertisement for the container at Lenoir and bought it the next time she ate there.

She said she is pleased with its convenience. 

“It fits in my backpack, and I only take it with me when I know I’m going to use it,” Wendt said. 

Wendt said she is also trying to be more environmentally conscious and appreciates the effect the container has on the environment.

“I know that Styrofoam takes a really long time to decompose so I didn’t want stuff to sit in a landfill if I could avoid it,” Wendt said.

B.J. Tipton, director of the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling, said she has been impressed with the steps Carolina Dining Services has taken to reduce solid waste and improve recycling.

Tipton said they are looking to provide an alternative to completely eliminate plastic foam, such as paper containers, but cost is an issue.

She said although many students are still unaware of the reusable containers, she is happy with the response.

“I think people have been pretty receptive,” Tipton said.



Contact the University Editor at udesk@unc.edu.