University Housing and Dining introduced the Fill it Forward program this semester, which allows students, faculty and staff to take meals out of any dining hall in a reusable container.
Anyone at the University can opt into the program by downloading the Fill It Forward app and paying a one-time $5 fee at one of the dining halls, according to the UHD website. After paying this fee, the price of taking a meal to go is the same as eating inside the dining halls, meaning people will be charged for one meal swipe or according to the UHD pricing chart.
“UHD implemented the program to offer students, faculty and staff a sustainable and convenient way to enjoy the dining hall meals wherever they please,” said Emily Shackleton, a registered dietitian with UHD.
To check out a take-out container, students press the red QR code scanner button on the Fill it Forward app and scan the QR code on the reusable container. Students have 15 minutes to fill up the to-go container, according to the UHD website.
While the dining halls offered the to-go meal program Eco2Go last year, Shackleton said the Fill It Forward program is different because it is app-based. She said the reusable containers help keep single use plastics out of landfills.
“It’s definitely a more sustainable way,” Shackleton said. “I know the University has a goal of diverting 90% of campus waste from landfills, so this is another way that we’re helping with that.”
Shackleton said participants can only check out one reusable container at a time, and should try to return them within 24 hours to one of the drop-off bins outside each dining hall. The Fill it Forward program donates to charities across the globe, Shackleton said.
“Each time a Fill It Forward container is used for a scan, it unlocks a donation supporting clean water, nutrition and reforestation,” Shackleton said.
Business sophomore Vinita Chanpura said she enjoys eating while studying and using the Fill it Forward program is convenient for her schedule.
“College is the one time in life where everyone basically doesn’t have a schedule because every day is so different,” Chanpura said. “Having the flexibility to take your food with you, regardless of where you have to go, is very beneficial.”
