The Bean’s new switch to the plastic, reusable to-go boxes is actually not all that “new”. If you don’t know anything about these to-go boxes, you may be pleasantly surprised to hear how easy they are to use and all the positives they have to offer.

David Casida, senior director of dining services, said that the reusable boxes were used before Covid and are now being brought back.

Getting one of these reusable to-go boxes does cost you a one-time fee $6, however, you get the $6 back at the end of the year in the form of Bean Bucks.

The process is simple. After you swipe in you can grab a to-go box. Then you can fill that to-go box up with one meal. The next time you want to take something to-go you just simply bring your previous to-go box back and exchange it for a new, clean one.

Casida said that the to-go boxes that the Bean is currently using are made from reclaimed plastic. They are environmentally friendly and don’t leak like some biodegradable alternatives do.

He also said Covid put a lot of strain on the Bean last year both physically and financially.

“We tried to formulate solutions that were safe for the students, so we went one hundred percent serve,” Casida said. “It was a challenge. It was a lot of extra labor.”

Students would often take multiple to-go boxes and this cost the Bean a lot of extra money.

Casida is suggesting to students that if they are still hungry after one meal they can swipe back in and get more food.

Students should take advantage of these new eco-friendly boxes, especially during those really crowded times like after chapel.

” I don’t really know what’s going on other than the fact that they’re plastic and that they cost money,” Rylie James, sophomore engineering major from Aubrey said.

This is a common theme among underclassmen. Students are intimidated but there is no reason to be.

The reusable to-go boxes check a lot of “boxes” for the Bean and they should for you too.