From 2007 to spring 2010, Dining Services attempted to reduce plastic-foam and paper waste across the campus by providing reusable mugs and bottles to students with dining plans. This year, however, the department has discontinued the program because of lack of use.

Dining Services first began the program in 2007 when it distributed plastic mugs, but interest waned shortly after the mugs were given out. In subsequent years, the Resident Life department partnered with Dining Services to pay half the cost of sportier reusable water bottles, and 5,000 bottles were purchased and distributed to students in the dining halls throughout Community Involvement Week.

But after the program’s introductory year, 2008, Resident Life decided to cease participation.

“What happened the second year is that Resident Life did not see the bottles in use, so they didn’t think that they were being widely used, which is why they stepped back from the program,” said Bart Hipple, assistant director of communications for Dining Services.

A year later, Dining Services’ decision to discontinue the program reflects a similar sentiment.

“We believe … students are getting water bottles from a variety of places as they start their campus careers,” Hipple said. “The [University] Health Center gives them out; the Stamp Student Union gives them out; various colleges give them out; students are getting many, many more water bottles than they did, and this is simply another one.

“We decided we would take a year off and see what students thought,” he added.

Hipple said he did not know why students did not reuse the bottles. They were similar in style to the popular Nalgene water bottles, and students could get a 20-cent discount on fountain drinks and coffee if they used the bottle at the university’s dining halls, shops and cafes.

Senior Temi Fakinlede said she only used the bottle once.

“When I was trying to wash it out, the top of it actually popped out, and it didn’t pop back in, so I was like, ‘I can’t use that anymore,’ so I never used it after that.”

Matthieu Drotar said he used the bottle a handful of times but eventually stopped.

“I just have other ones, and then at one point I think I might have put it in the dishwasher, and it melted, which was a bad idea,” the sophomore said.

Dining Services did give consideration to designs, Hipple said. After problems with the first year’s bottle were pointed out, Dining Services’ student employees were consulted to help select a new design.

But others said students’ lack of use of the bottles stemmed not from the design but from a more fundamental issue: having to bring the bottles to dining halls.

“People don’t use them. People use whatever is right there in front of them,” Fakinlede said. “Even the glass cups aren’t being used as much as the paper cups that [the dining halls have].”

Sophomore Taylor Becker added: “I feel as if it wasn’t because a lot of people didn’t use them. … I saw them thrown away in the trash.”

Hipple said Dining Services did not see the bottles getting a lot of use and subsequently discontinued the program. The department has not yet heard complaints from students but is waiting for feedback.

“I do not think it was a hugely successful program,” he said.

news at umdbk dot com