On many college campuses, takeout is a convenient option for busy students, but we all know that ordering takeout, unfortunately, creates a lot of waste. But, wouldn’t it be great if students could have the convenience of takeout without the waste?

This fall, Union College is doing exactly that.

In September 2023, Union College launched a new partnership with USEFULL. Through this partnership, Union now provides students with stainless steel, plastic-free takeout containers free of charge. USEFULL is as easy to check out as a library book! Students simply download USEFULL’s free app (for iOS and Android) which allows them to check out a container and return it at a convenient location within the residential area, creating a culture of sustainability on campus. Takeout, minus the single-use waste.

Before partnering with USEFULL, Union had already implemented several programs to ensure they have a positive impact on the environment. Union has a Presidential Green Grant program, which has supported many projects over the years, including facilities efficiency projects and reduction of plastic bag usage.

To take the next step of bringing reusables to campus, Haily Stoltenberg, 2022-23 Student Forum Vice President for Sustainability, worked with Union’s Dining Director Tim Forte, and Dean of Students Matt Milless. “As a student involved in sustainability on campus, one of my main concerns was our reliance on single-use containers following COVID,” Hailey said. “What really makes USEFULL stand out from other reusable container solutions for college campuses is that the containers are stainless steel while most other options are plastic, and it’s a trackable system, so students can be held accountable if they don’t return the bowl and also see their impact on the environment in the app.”

While Tim Forte and Matt Milless were almost immediately on board, Hailey wanted to bring USEFULL up to Student Forum, Union’s student government. “Obviously, being a part of several sustainability groups on campus, I had a vested interest in having USEFULL succeed,” Hailey said. “I didn’t necessarily expect other students to share the same enthusiasm, but I was thrilled when Student Forum voted unanimously to bring USEFULL to campus.”

This partnership marks an exciting new chapter which will keep over 125,000 single-use containers out of Union’s trash bins and over 14 tons of CO2 emissions out of the air each year. We can’t wait to see the waste and emissions savings pile up at Union!

Union College partners with USEFULL to reduce campus waste