By SHANNON O. WELLS

Perhaps because of the $5 fee required to take part, a reusable to-go container program introduced in 2016 struggled with participation in its first semester. The fee was dropped, and the program went on to see the Pitt community use and return approximately 118,000 containers between 2017 and 2022.

Pitt Eats’ USEFULL reusable container program, which launched in 2025, is building on that success with a fee-free model from the start. 

“That barrier was removed. There’s no fee to use it,” noted Laura Jellum, assistant director of marketing and communications in the Department of Finance and Operations. “It’s available at more than half of dining locations, and it’s built directly into the mobile ordering experience. When something is easy to use, students use it.”

The 2025 Pitt Sustainability Plan includes a goal to offer reusable to-go containers for food and beverages at more than 50% of campus dining locations by 2030. As of the end of fiscal year 2026, USEFULL was rolled out to 39% of campus dining locations, she noted. 

“With the beginning of this academic year, USEFULL is available at over 50% of locations, achieving the Pitt Sustainability Plan goal early.”

Among USEFULL’s benefits in making reusable containers a “convenient part of the everyday dining experience,” Jellum cited its reliance on single-use packaging and its roles in diverting waste from landfills and supporting Pitt’s broader campus sustainability goals.

“As with any reusable container program, the primary challenge is encouraging participants to build the habit of returning containers on time,” she said. “As USEFULL expands to more retail locations across campus, Pitt Eats is also growing the network of return locations to make the process as convenient and accessible as possible.”

USEFULL, which expanded to additional retail locations across campus in the 2025-26 academic year, is the latest among several reuse and sustainability initiatives that have proved successful. 

Pitt Surplus, which started in 1979, is the University’s longest-running reuse effort, Jellum noted. The store sells campus furniture, equipment and electronics to the public and partners with organizations like Global Links and Habitat for Humanity to redistribute materials that don’t sell on site. 

In fiscal year 2026, Pitt Surplus sold 3,943 unique items and recycled 378,889 pounds of materials including: 

•    10,139 pounds of printers, 

•    5,551 pounds of TVs,  

•    18,654 pounds of generic electronics, 

•    15,875 pounds of textiles, 

•    204 pounds of light bulbs,  

•    5,968 pounds of batteries and 

•    320,184 pounds of scrap metal. 

A new Pitt Surplus website will roll out this fall, she noted, intended to make purchasing surplus products even easier.

Some other popular programs include:

• Move Out Clean Out (formerly Clutter for a Cause) diverts used dorm essentials from the landfill each spring during student move-out, including furniture, electronics, textiles and food. Most of what’s collected is resold through Thriftsburgh and Pitt Surplus. 

The 2026 event collected more than 25,000 pounds of material, a 13.6% increase over last year, Jellum noted, and introduced an on-site resale option to let shoppers buy collected items on the spot.  

“Items collected each spring also get a second life each August at the Reuse Rummage Sale, where they’re resold to returning students at affordable prices, closing the loop between move out and move in,” Jellum said. 

• Clean & Swap gives Pitt employees and students a chance to clear out unwanted office and lab items and shop free of charge among what others have donated. Since the event started in 2020, it has diverted more than 12 tons of office and medical supplies from the landfill, she noted. 

• The Refillery, which officially opened in April at the University Store on Fifth, first arrived on campus as a vendor at the Pitt Public Market during the 2022-2023 academic year. Although it didn’t return the following season, loyal student customers from the market became interested in a permanent campus Refillery space, Jellum said. 

Several course projects, including GEOL 1333: Sustainability Project Management and SOC 1445: Society & the Environment, conducted market research and explored opportunities. 

“At the time, a feasible business plan and an available location weren't yet in place, so the proposal stayed on the table as a long-term planning consideration,” she explained. “Interest … kept surfacing in student satisfaction surveys year after year, signaling steady demand for a refill-based, low-waste shopping option on campus.”

The opportunity came together last year, when Live Fresh vacated its space in the University Store. “Store administration used the opening to connect with the owner of The Refillery and build a start-up concept for the space — one that also gave a boost to a local, women-owned business.”

Also making it easier to reuse containers are the existence of water fountains in every building and residence hall, along with dedicated hydration stations, Jellum added.

USEFULL and convenient

The USEFULL program is available to everyone in the Pitt community, including faculty and staff. 

“Participation gives faculty and staff a meaningful opportunity to lead by example. As a completely plastic-free program, USEFULL replaces single-use packaging with reusable containers,” Jellum said. “By taking part, faculty and staff can help reduce waste and emissions while showing how small, everyday choices can collectively contribute to Pitt’s sustainability goals.”

Participation increased by 227% from January 2025 to January 2026. Since launching, USEFULL has recorded more than 17,600 container checkouts, and according to their calculations, “helped conserve more than 50,000 gallons of water, divert over 1,800 pounds of waste and prevent more than 5,700 pounds of emissions,” she noted. 

This academic year, Pitt Eats expanded USEFULL to additional retail locations across campus. Students, faculty and staff can now check out reusable containers at all five Pitt Eats restaurants in the William Pitt Union, as well as at Forbes Street Market for deli case items, soup and coffee. 

Additional return stations now include the Schenley Café in the William Pitt Union and the Litchfield Tower C lobby, where containers can be returned for cleaning in campus dishrooms, Jellum said. 

When ordering coffee in a USEFULL cup, participants also receive a 50-cent discount. “The coffee program has already seen encouraging participation at Unwind and Campus Coffee & Tea in Public Health, helping keep more than 230 single-use cups out of the landfill since September 2025.”

Jellum added that ongoing education and awareness are essential to maintain the program’s goals and appeal. 

“Through tabling events, marketing and other campus engagement opportunities, Pitt Eats helps new participants understand how the program works, answers questions and demonstrates how small, everyday choices can collectively make a meaningful impact,” she said. 

To get started, download the USEFULL app from the Apple App Store or Google Play, select the University of Pittsburgh as your community, and follow the prompts to create an account.

Shannon O. Wells is a writer for the University Times. Reach him at shannonw@pitt.edu.

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