The program, through ASUCLA, offers a sustainable alternative to single-use food containers at select campus eateries.
Order—return—repeat and take a bite out of to-go waste! At select eateries on campus, ASUCLA runs a program to reduce the amount of trash generated by disposable takeout containers for food.
Like any typical college campus, feeding thousands of undergraduate and graduate students requires containers for food service operations. Takeout containers – even compostable ones – have an impact on our environment when they are used only once before being thrown away. Going even greener with each meal has been made easy for Bruins.
In partnership with the software platform company Reusables, a technology-driven system offers hungry Bruins a sustainable alternative for grabbing food at five campus spots: Greenhouse and Sambazon at Ackerman Union; Cafe Synapse at the Gonda Neuroscience Building; and Anderson Café and Northern Lights across UCLA’s North Campus area. The easy, free, and eco-friendly program enables Bruins to borrow and return non-toxic, BPA-free containers to designated bins.
Implemented less than a year ago in June 2025, nearly 9,000 containers have been checked out by 5,040 users, resulting in roughly 1,000 pounds of waste diverted, and just about 2 tons of carbon emissions saved.
Users sign up through a QR code to create a Reuser ID, grab the container, fill up with food, pay, and bring it back (they are borrowable for up to 5 days) to the 24/7 smart return bins. That’s it! Everything is cleaned in a dishwasher and fully sanitized by ASUCLA Restaurants staff before reuse.
Transitioning from take-out waste to these containers helps close the loop, keeping resources circulating through reuse, and reinforcing a culture of sustainability and responsibility among Bruins. Additionally, reducing single-use waste offers cost savings.
Thanks to support from the UC Global Climate Leadership Council, Resuables will be popping up at other campus eateries in the coming months, including LuValle Commons and the Court of Sciences Student Center.
Another sustainability initiative at UCLA, helping minimize single-use waste for beverages one cup at a time, is the Reuzzi Dine-In Mug program at Kerckhoff Coffee House. Guests have the option to check out a reusable ceramic mug for a sit-down beverage purchase.
Every effort of ours to choose reuse means less waste generated in the first place. It’s a great way to support sustainability on and off campus. Consider reusables – bring your own or ask for it – before your next food or beverage order at an ASUCLA location!