Florida College Student Invents Reusable Alternative to Styrofoam Take-Out Containers
April 28, 2008 · Print This Article
Proving that simple solutions are often better than complicated high-tech ones, Eckerd College student Audrey Copeland has invented an alternative to Styrofoam take-out containers that you don’t even have to wash yourself. The EcoClamshell, made from a durable dishwasher-safe material, is available to students for a one-time fee of $5 and is designed to be brought back once you’re done with it. At least 200 students are currently using it.
From Bay News 9:
“Usually people bring them to their rooms,” Richards said. “Then afterwards they dump whatever the didn’t want and you can bring them back dirty, throw them in a bin. Then they rinse them out. It works great for me.”
Eckerd College has reduced the use of styrofoam by 25 percent a week.
“The same container circulates multiple times,” Copeland said. “Kinda like a plate.”
The student hopes to market the containers to cafeterias and restaurants with a regular customer base.
What a great way to encourage students to ditch the disposables. When you’re living on campus and depend on the dining hall for every meal – and trying to fit in lunch between a tight schedule of classes – you inevitably end up using lots of take-out containers, most of which aren’t biodegradable or reusable. The EcoClamshell offers a great way for college students to avoid introducing so many harmful materials into landfills – let’s hope it catches on nationwide!
Link [Bay News 9]
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That kicks ass! Especially in a college environment. I wish something like that existed 7 years ago when I was still eating at a university cafeteria.
Me too! I was eating college dining hall food about 7 years ago as well, and it was tough as a vegetarian (their food was too awful for words and everything had SOME kind of meat in it), so I was constantly getting takeout from other places and always felt guilty about the trash (though I asked for foil instead of styrofoam when possible)…
Radfahrer has no excuse. We were two blocks from a wicked-good taco truck. Anything he ate at the student union, he did at his own peril. The food was only slightly more biodegradable than the trays.
mmmm…. taco truck…. $3 burritos the size of a toddler…. how I pine for thee
Wow do I wish I was back in my shitty dorm room, drinking beer with my buddies and eating two day old pizza & cafeteria food on reusable plates…those were the days…enjoy them while you can!!!!
But I bet they are made from that plastic shit that kills you. So unless you can make one from bamboo, count me out.