Ovede Lobel, a junior Russian major, uses an OZZI machine. Officials said students used more than 3,000 of the reusable containers in fall 2013.
More than two years after Dining Services introduced a reusable takeout container, more students than ever are choosing the more sustainable option instead of the standard white disposable containers.
In fall 2013, students used between 3,000 and 3,600 OZZI reusable containers a week — a number that’s grown every semester since the box’s debut in fall 2011, when Dining Services officials ordered 1,000 containers. But that barely puts a dent in the roughly 1 million disposable white containers students use every year, said Allison Lilly, Dining Services sustainability and wellness coordinator.
It’s difficult to tell what kind of effect the OZZI boxes have on reducing waste, Lilly said, but she’s optimistic about the progress.
The reusable polypropylene containers are part of a larger push by Dining Services to reduce waste and increase sustainability. Rather than pay 0.25 dining points to use a disposable takeout box, for 5 points, students can purchase an OZZI box, which they can then exchange and reuse as often as they like, free of charge.
“The thing about the program that makes me smile is getting to see the change,” Lilly said. “Now the program is getting to a place where even though there’s a lot of room to grow, you can see that students are using [the containers].”
Lilly said some institutions with similar sustainability programs tend to see a plateau of student interest after a while, “but we haven’t seen that yet.” She expects the numbers to spike this semester with the addition of 251 Express, a carryout station at 251 North set to open next week that will exclusively use OZZI boxes.
Students such as Zhane Rice, a freshman bioengineering major, said she hasn’t tried using the boxes yet, though she might when 251 Express opens.
“It’s not really a priority of mine,” she said. “I don’t mind spending the extra points because I have a lot of points. It’s not really a big deal to me. I think it just really depends on the person.”
As the program continues, Lilly said she plans to address a few concerns. Students at the North Campus Dining Hall, she said, use the OZZI boxes far more often than students at the South Campus Dining Hall do. During a peak week last semester, 3,100 North Campus Dining Hall patrons used the containers, compared to 500 students in the South Campus Dining Hall. The North Campus Dining Hall is bigger, Lilly said, but not so much bigger as to account for the entire disparity.
Freshman Zoe Spiliadis said the machines that accept the used containers can be difficult to use, especially when they get full.
“[But] they reduce waste, and that’s a good thing to do,” the public health major said.
Lilly said some students have requested an entirely virtual exchange process, so they don’t have to risk losing the small coin necessary to turn in a used container. Aside from the complaints she’s heard, Lilly said, the OZZI program continues to steadily increase.
“I’ve been really thrilled to see it grow,” Lilly said. “That’s really exciting.”
