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Eco-Takeover... How Eckerd is Changing the Way Students Eat
The life of a college student can be hectic, and between class, school activities, homework, and jobs there seems to be no time for even sitting down in the cafeteria for a few minutes to enjoy a meal. Many students opt for takeout, most commonly from their school’s cafeteria. But how are they transporting this time saver around? One very dirty word--Styrofoam.
These styrofoam containers are ending up in the trash and eventually the landfill, where they will take centuries to decompose--if they decompose at all. It is a problem because American's are tossing 1,600 pounds of trash away each year as it is. We all realize that this practice is environmentally irresponsible, yet students must eat, and takeout must be an option.
That's where Eco-Takeouts are stepping in. Eckerd college was inspired by former student Audrey Copeland's idea to use as an alternative. The concept is simple. Students pay a 5 dollar fee to use the . They can take the container with them, and the next time they enter the cafeteria for food, they simply toss the dirty container in a bin and trade for a clean one.
Is it working? Yes. According to Eckerd, they have reduced styrofoam use by 25% each week. Copeland sums it up best, "Our society values convenience. In a college cafeteria, convenience is translated to disposable takeout containers. The outcome? Tons of unnecessary landfill waste. Eckerd's EcoClam shell offers a recycling system that is cost-efficient, sanitary, environmentally friendly and … convenient."
Although Eckerd started this program, the University of Alabama in Tuscaloosa and Duke University have quickly followed in their footsteps. The University of Alabama even had their logo printed on each container by GET. Eco-Takeouts and Audrey Copeland's great idea may have paved the way for revolutionizing the way students eat in the cafeteria.
The Eco-Clam shell is being used in the aforementioned school cafeterias, but Eco-Takeouts come in different varieties as well, making them practical for school cafeterias, hospital cafeterias, and restaurants alike. Restaurants, schools, and hospitals can show their environmental compassion with choices of a soup container, Chinese takeout container, or the traditional compartment style container.
For more information on , contact a trained professional at KaTom. 1-800-541-8683 or start a live chat with us now.
