Scan in. Scan out. That’s the system recently implemented in my community college dining hall for replacing single use utensils and takeaway containers with reusables. 

The transformation began in late 2022 when I noticed the amount of waste our newly renovated dining hall was creating. As President of the school’s Environmental Club, I approached Professor Narinder Bansal, our head of the sustainability department, looking for ways to address the issue. He referred me to Race to Zero Waste (R20W), a Bay Area organization that partners university campuses with corporate providers of reusable containers. After months of bureaucratic roadblocks, Race to Zero Waste became an official partner of Ohlone College. The project was on.  

Part of our goal was not only to eliminate waste generated in the dining hall, but also to help students understand Zero Waste principles. On the Zero Waste Hierarchy, which Race to Zero Waste preaches, Rethinking is at the top. So we assembled a group of five students, compensated with a stipend, to be Student Ambassadors of the project. We were thoroughly trained in Zero Waste principles before sharing that information with campus— through tabling at school events and in the dining hall, social media campaigns, and even going from classroom to classroom.

The solution is an app, where students scan a QR code to “check out” their reusable container and then scan in to “check in” when they are done.

Now, seeing the system fully implemented, I’m incredibly proud of the change that we were able to create.