- College campuses are seeing a surge in takeout containers as students increasingly rely on mobile ordering, delivery apps and grab-and-go dining
- Universities like Michigan State University and the University of Michigan are struggling to reduce single-use waste while adapting to those convenience-driven eating habits
- Officials say the growth of disposable packaging is outpacing current sustainability efforts
As takeout containers pile up across college campuses, universities are struggling to balance sustainability goals with a growing culture of convenience.
“It’s all a nightmare,” said Carla Iansiti, Student Life and Engagement sustainability officer at Michigan State University. “The ever-growing retail and food pickup combinations — the Sparty’s, the Starbucks on campus, the Grubhub — that’s a culture shift.”
Students turned to takeout dining during the COVID-19 pandemic because dining halls closed or limited indoor seating, but many students kept those habits after restrictions ended, Iansiti said. The reliance on grab-and-go meals, mobile ordering and food delivery apps has led to more single-use containers ending up in trash bins instead of recycling streams, creating new challenges for schools like Michigan State University and the University of Michigan as they try to reduce waste without disrupting student routines…