Photo Courtesy of Maya Yngve
By Maya Yngve
Between rushing from class to class, underclassmen grabbing a quick meal from campus dining services often utilize a familiar accessory: a disposable to-go box. At the University of Tampa, students have the option to make a more environmentally conscious choice; with convenience shaping college habits, is reusable really the way to-go?
Utampa launched its reusable to-go container program at Ultimate Dining on September 14, 2024, through a program called ReusePass. Students sign up on the Grub Hub app for free using their MyUTampa credentials and select the ReusePass option. When students arrive at the dining hall, they swipe for their meal as usual and show the cashier their ReusePass QR code to receive a reusable container.
This container must be returned to the designated bin in Vaughn Center within three days or there is a five dollar fee.
While these containers are not microwave safe, they aim to help reduce emissions and cut back on single use plastics.
In partnership with Sodexo, UTampa has prioritized sustainability by no longer offering single-use plastic straws and stirrers, replacing styrofoam and plastic cups with cups fabricated in 100 percent compostable material, and packaging meals in biodegradable clamshell to-go containers that are microwavable and refrigerator safe, along with soak proof and oil resistant.
Emily Willey, Field Marketing Coordinator for Sodexo, explained, “2,000-3,000 to-go boxes are usually ordered for Ultimate Dining at once, and this supply can last anywhere from 5-10 days depending on demand. This comes out anywhere from 200-600 boxes per day during busy periods.”
With classic to-go containers being frequently used, what is motivating students to use the Reuse Pass option and do undergraduates even know about these reusable containers?
As of October 7, 2026, 662 people have signed up for the ReusePass program. UTampa has almost 3,000 first year students and 93% of freshmen live on campus. According to Utampa’s Campus Living Policies, “All residential students are required to participate in the University’s meal plan.”
Approximately 22% of freshman residents are utilizing the ReusePass program. Even with no direct incentive, students are given the choice to use a more sustainable option.
Professor Robin Glenn of the Environmental Studies department is excited about this program because it helps reduce food and garbage waste.
“For college students who may purchase meals on campus several times each week, choosing a reusable container is a relatively small behavioral change that, when repeated across an entire campus community, can help conserve resources, reduce waste, and encourage students to think more intentionally about their ecological footprint and their impact on future generations.”
With 29 dining stations and venues available across campus, there are a variety of options to choose from for every meal. To-go container policies are strict at Ultimate Dining, turning students away from traditional college dining with ceramic plates and silverware to the other 28 options with meals already prepared in to-go containers.
Freshman Malia Schuster has mixed thoughts on the dining hall. “I really like the food and how the menu changes daily but it is not that convenient when you are in a rush. Plus, the workers are really strict when it comes to giving out to-go boxes.”
Individuals that enter Ultimate Dining are required to swipe their Spartan ID Card, regardless of whether they are consuming food or not. This rule deters groups of friends from entering the Dining Hall to avoid wasting meal swipes, especially if they do not want food. At other venues, students can sit at tables without ordering food and using a meal swipe, making these places more accessible.
Freshman roommates Anna Gallante and Mia Gavin are residents of Morsani Hall. For on campus dining, they prefer eating in Morsani not only because it is right downstairs from their dorm. They have more flexibility to socialize with other students just passing through or eating at the nine dining options.
Gallante said, “We definitely eat in Morsani more than the dining hall in Vaughn.”
Ultimately, ReusePass offers UTampa students a simple way to reduce waste but its success depends on whether sustainability can fit into the convenience of everyday college life.