On February 1, 2023, BU Dining Services launched \u201cChoose to Reuse<\/a>,\u201d a reusable to-go container program integrated into the ordering platform Grubhub, the University\u2019s contracted point of sale vendor. This program is designed to help the University achieve the goals of the Zero Waste Plan by reducing waste from disposable take-out containers. As a result, the University won the Gold Sustainability Award in Waste Management from NACUFS, the National Association of College & University Food Services.<\/p>\n Initially launched at seven dining concepts in the George Sherman Union Food Hall, the program expanded to Saxbys, Late Nite Cafe @ Warren Towers, Late Nite Cafe @ West Campus, Bay State Underground, and Night Kitchen Fenway in the fall 2023 semester.<\/p>\n Choose to Reuse incentivizes the community to choose <\/em>a reusable to-go container or the ‘Dine In’ option, where plated food is available. A fee is added to the order when a customer decides to have their food served in a disposable take-out container. Further, convenient ordering choices on the Grubhub app and multiple return locations demonstrate how a seamless Zero Waste program can be easily adopted into the culture of an institution like BU.<\/p>\n In November, the program reached the 100,000 <\/sup>containers used landmark. Through the end of 2023, the program has a 96% on-time return rate. The University continues to evaluate further campus locations to expand this award-winning program.<\/p>\n To help reach the University\u2019s Zero Waste goal, the University has expanded food waste diversion efforts through increased collection points and the roll-out of food waste collection in public-facing areas. Most notably, every waste sorting station in the Center for Computing & Data Sciences<\/a> has a food waste bin. In 2023, the University expanded access to food waste collection through residential pilot programs, improved management of event food waste, and the addition of new food waste pickup locations such as Chequers and at the Medical Student Residences (MSR) at the BU Medical Campus.<\/p>\n In addition to academic and dining areas, a residential food waste collection program was piloted in three buildings, MSR, 14 Buswell Street, and a portion of 10 Buick Street. Modeled after the City of Boston\u2019s residential food waste program, the pilot focused on apartment-style living and was designed to provide the resources necessary for residents to divert their kitchen food waste from the trash. The pilot program offered an opportunity for our team to understand the opportunities and challenges of running such a program within different residential areas and will inform the next phase of residential food waste diversion.<\/p>\nFood Waste Collection<\/h3>\n
University Waste Bin Standardization<\/h3>\n