UWL dining initiative makes single-use containers a thing of the past

UWL dining initiative makes single-use containers a thing of the past

An initiative at UWL has redefined campus dining while saving 100,000 containers from the landfill - and counting.

The OZZI reusable container program at UWL was introduced in 2020, initially funded through a $40,000 grant from UWL's Green Fund, a student-led organization, and a subsequent $25,000 Green Fund grant.

The program provides students, faculty and staff with durable, reusable containers for to-go meals, reducing the single-use containers for campus dining. Through the OZZI system, students exchange an "OZZI coin" for a container in the dining hall, then return it to OZZI machines after use to receive a new coin, creating a seamless, sustainable take-out option.

"I first started using OZZI containers at UW-Madison," says UWL sophomore and transfer student Hannah Eitland. "I was so happy to see them used at UWL when I got here! I have not experienced campus dining without OZZI boxes, which I think is a good thing."

In December, UWL celebrated a major sustainability milestone - the 100,000 use of an OZZI reusable container.

Avery Black, a sophomore studying recreational therapy, was the 100,000 user of the OZZI containers. Black, like Eitland, has never known campus dining without the reusable containers.

"I've been using OZZI since freshman year, and I've always thought they were really awesome," Black says. "I'm a vegetarian myself, so I'm all for sustainability when it comes to food and recycling."

Lizzy Haywood, associate director for business and dining operations, says student feedback has been the driving force behind the initiative.

"The reusable containers were a request from students, and this program fills that request," Haywood explains. "This program would not have been possible without the Green Fund and student support."

The program's environmental impact is noteworthy: with over 100,000 container uses in the past four years, UWL has saved approximately 5,500 pounds of waste from going to landfills.

The shift brings significant cost savings as well. Without OZZI, Dining Services would have spent an estimated $38,000 on single-use containers. Since the last grant in 2020 , the program has been maintained through purchases of the containers by students and staff.

"This program truly meets the mark by having a positive environmental impact, providing financial savings and adding function to the dining operation that improves the experience for our students," says Andrew Ericson, UWL's sustainability program manager.

The convenience of OZZI containers is a stand-out benefit for students, staff and faculty who use them. The program adds flexibility to the dining program by essentially expanding the eating locations, explains Haywood.

"I appreciate how convenient it is that the OZZI machine is available in the dining hall and at Union dining locations," Eitland adds. "This allows me to focus on schoolwork instead of planning ahead for meals and worrying about how I'm transporting leftovers. I make less stops at my dorm and carry my OZZI box around with me."

As UWL continues to champion sustainability, the OZZI program stands as an example of how student-driven changes can create lasting environmental and financial benefits - paving the way for a greener future on campus and beyond.