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Reusable container program continues in Marketplace

GreenToGo participation remains low after pilot period

By Lauren Reeves

Posted on Oct. 27, 2011, at 1:15 a.m.

Since March of last semester, Black Bear Dining has been offering GreenToGo, a reusable container that is 100 percent BPA-free and environmentally friendly. GreenToGo is still offered at the Marketplace in the Memorial Union.

Although the program promotes sustainability, not many students are jumping at the opportunity to save the planet.

These containers could potentially save the University of Maine money by not using as many disposable containers and paper plates. Due to lack of participation and advertising, the program remains in its infancy.

GreenToGo containers were introduced through a pilot program held from March to May. The program was designed to gauge whether reusable containers were feasible for dining services to offer.

Kathy Kittridge, director of dining operations for Black Bear Dining said the program was piloted because some logistics would need to be worked out if the containers became increasingly popular and a high-volume product.

That didn’t happen.

While the initial plan was for pilot participants to complete a survey and provide feedback, none was ever provided.

Since GreenToGo has not become highly popular, the program has continued without surveys and without much advertising. According to Kittridge, the pilot program “seemed to go pretty well.”

Kittredge told The Maine Campus last year she expected as many as 200 participants to take part in the GreenToGo program but now says only about 50 people did.

Though there are no solid participation measurements or results stemming from last semester, the program is still offered.

Students sign up through the cashiers at the Memorial Union to use the GreenToGo containers by making a deposit of $5. The deposit is returned at the end of the semester.

When eating at the Union with GreenToGo containers, students must first return the dirty, used container so it can be cleaned to Black Bear Dining’s standards. Ordering food is no different, but a GreenToGo voucher must be shown in order to be served food in reusable containers.

Small details of the program may be preventing more students from using the green containers.

“It seems inconvenient,” said Sarah Sullivan, a third-year communication student frequent visitor to the Marketplace. Sullivan lives on campus and does not feel the need to make a deposit on a reusable container.

“When I go, I just use a paper bag because I can just recycle it or throw it away, and I don’t have to carry it around once I’m finished,” she said. “I’d like a bag rather than a box because it’s easier to carry and store.”

There is some concern about mixing salad bar items with other venues’ items. Mixing these items would inhibit cashiers from ringing students up properly due to the fact that salad bar items are purchased by weight while others are à la carte.

Black Bear Dining targeted commuters for this slow-to-start program with a recent promotion during Commuter Week.

“They are our target audience,” Kittridge said, adding that they would be more likely to use the containers.

This entry was posted on Thursday, October 27th, 2011, 1:15 am. You can follow any responses to this article through the RSS feed.