Metz Offers Reusable Take-Out Trays

At the start of the Spring 2013 semester, Metz Dining Services replaced the disposable takeout trays in the cafeteria with reusable trays in order to better support LVC's sustainability initiatives, reduce the amount of waste generated by disposable trays, and decrease the cost of replacing disposable trays for both the college and the students themselves.

            "It's the right thing to do, sustainability-wise," says Bill Allman, Director of Metz.  "Obviously, we see the amount of waste that occurs using the disposable trays."  According to a study Metz conducted during the Fall 2012 semester, an average of 160 disposable takeout trays were used per meal.  At 19 meals a week, that means that 3,000 out of the 14,000 weekly meals served by Metz were takeouts, and that over that whole semester, 45,000 takeout trays were used and disposed of.  "We've been on the sustainability kick so long, we said to ourselves, 'This just isn't right.  We gotta do something here to address this.'"

            Allman also noted that it cost LVC a significant amount of money to buy disposable takeout trays each semester.  According to the aforementioned study, LVC would pay approximately $11,250 for 45,000 takeout trays for use throughout the semester.  "These costs all fall back on the students when you really think about it," Allman says.  "The higher the costs for these trays go, it affects the rate of what the meal plans cost."  Allman believed that by switching to reusable take-out boxes, Metz could reduce the "excessive costs" of buying disposable trays each semester for both the college and students.

            In the new takeout system, students are given a free reusable takeout tray the first time they scan their ID card for a meal to go.  The next time students want to get a meal to go at the cafeteria, they must return the reusable takeout tray they used last time, or else pay $5 to get another takeout tray.  If students do not return their old tray to the dish room for cleaning or pay for a new tray, they are not allowed to get a meal to go.  Allman realizes that this new system is more cumbersome in a way than the old takeout system was, but he says that despite the relative complexity of this new system, "I've got nothing but positives about how students are appreciative that we've done this and that it's the right thing to do.  And that's really great."

            Some students have expressed concerns that this new takeout system places more burden on the students when they want to get a meal to go.  "Personally, I find this system really inconvenient," says Rachel Snavely '14, "because if I want a box and I only decide when I'm halfway to the cafeteria and I left the box in my room, I'd have to come back for it to take it over there.  I mean, we're college students and we already have to be responsible for a lot of other things.  The last thing I want to worry about is where my lunch box is."

            Snavely says that she feels the system is helping the college to go green, but she still finds the system cumbersome because it's one more thing students have to think about that they didn't have to think about before.

            Other students feel that the introduction of reusable takeout trays do not make the process of getting a to-go meal inconvenient.  "I do feel that these trays are more eco-friendly," says Justin Radanovic '14, "and it feels like a simple system.  Take one out, return it, get one.  It doesn't seem that much different from the old system convenience-wise."

            "I don't think they'll be any more cumbersome," says Devan Glenny '14.  However, Glenny also says that the recyclable silverware that comes with the takeout boxes would still generate waste, so that should be taken into account when considering how much waste reduction has occurred with the introduction of the new takeout trays.

            Allman says that Metz is open to student suggestions, but that Metz wants to continue its green initiatives.  "Sustainability is so important to the future of the world, and we have to start somewhere," Allman says.  "I think this is a great start."

What do you think of the new to-go boxes, in terms of sustainability and usability?