The trayless cafeteria?

College students may have to find new sleds this winter, as more cafeterias are considering a move towards trayless meals. The growing trend is based out of a two-fold desire: It can help cut costs for service and improve a university’s image in terms of environmental awareness.

In addition to the financial savings, university officials believe that cutting out trays can help curb food waste by as much as 30 percent. Pomona College Dean of Students Miriam Feldblum talked to the Los Angeles Times about unconscious waste:

“When you ask people, ‘How often do you put something on your tray that you wind up not eating?’ they’ll think about it and say, ‘Quite often,” she said. “It’s rare someone will say, ‘I eat everything on my tray.'”

Sodexo, a major food services provider to colleges, is eyeing trayless dining as one of a series of sustainability measures designed to cut costs while eliminating plastic waste. Sodexo is also testing reusable to-go containers rather than one-time plastic boxes.