Green box, greener campus

Dining Services implements reusable to-go boxes in the SLP to improve sustainability

Catherine Silvey / Feature Editor / The USD Vista
Mayella Vasquez / Asst. Feature Editor / The USD Vista

University of San Diego students dining at the Student Life Pavilion (SLP) this spring have started to notice green reusable containers take the place of familiar paper to-go boxes. 

Following initiatives such as replacing plastic straws with paper alternatives and developing more vegetarian options in campus eateries, the plastic containers are the latest attempt by Dining Services to make the University of San Diego a more eco-friendly campus.

USD Dining Services sent out an email halfway through the first week of school explaining that the green boxes were part of a new environmentally green program by the name of Ozzi.

The Ozzi cycle begins with a $5 campus cash deposit, after which students are given a plastic container in place of paper to-go boxes. After use, the containers are to be returned to the Ozzi kiosk at the SLP. The kiosk exchanges the box for a coin that can later be brought to the SLP cash registers for another container. This coin represents the $5 campus cash deposit, and can be returned for a refund.  

According to the Ozzi website, the O2GO containers are made from 100% sourced BPA-free plastic and are 100% recyclable. Additionally, the containers are quite durable — they are both leak-resistant and scratch-resistant, making them a sturdier and higher-quality alternative to disposable to-go boxes.

Many students, including junior Sydney Kitlowski, were initially taken aback and curious about the reason for this change. 

“After coming back from abroad, I was surprised to see the changes that have been made to the to-go boxes at the SLP,” Kitlowski said. “I believe this is a good way to help the environment, but I am unsure of the effectiveness of the program.”

Assistant Director of Operations for Dining Services Charles Ramos explained that the idea to implement Ozzi came from within Dining Services as a way to combat wastefulness and promote sustainability.

“Auxiliary Services is self-funded,” Ramos said. “Implementing Ozzi containers was our own attempt to contribute to USD’s goals for sustainability.”

While determination to make student dining more environmentally conscious primarily motivated the enforcement of Ozzi, Ramos also cited a desire to follow California waste management regulations imposed on large institutions. 

“In addition to contributing to waste reduction at USD, these containers are an effort to comply with California state law,” Ramos said. 

According to the California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery website, all state agencies and large state facilities must divert at least 50% of their solid waste from disposal facilities. Entities can increase their diversion rate by reducing the creation of solid waste.

While the Ozzi program is a promising initiative, the underlying concern of students simply taking plates home and never returning them instead of paying for the Ozzi box deposit remains. Ramos addressed this, noting that students using the Ozzi system is much preferred by Dining Services than them taking plates home.

“There is more accountability with these containers,” Ramos said. “Ideally containers will be taken to the dorms rather than plates.”

Junior Chelsea Dalgado agreed with Ramos, noting that the boxes had the power to create a more environmentally-conscious dining experience. 

“I think the Ozzi box is a great initiative because the regular to-go boxes are quite wasteful,” Dalgado said. “The token program will hold students accountable. It’s a step in the right direction for USD in order to become a more sustainable campus.”

Sophomore Grace Turney expressed enthusiasm in regard to the new program and its focus on environmentalism.

“I think it’s a really cool initiative to make our campus more sustainable,” Turney said. “I’m really excited to start using them.” 

While the Ozzi boxes certainly present a change in routine for students, the hope of Dining Services is that students will embrace the sustainable initiative by participating in the Ozzi program.