The Oberlin Review
<< Front page News February 22, 2008

Dascomb Initiative: Results Still Inconclusive

Last semester, the Dascomb Take-Out program began with 37 students using about double that number of reusable plastic containers to decrease the waste from the building’s dining hall. Though there are no plans to extend the program to Stevenson or Saunders — neither offers take-out service now — Dascomb has now bought 450 containers and there are 50 students in the program, with plans for more. As of this week there are still open spots in the program.

    College junior Corey Squire, a CDS recycler, said of the decrease in waste, “When the program was first introduced on Nov. 7, plastic use went down slightly for the first two weeks.”

    He explained that the closing of DeCafe sent many more students than usual to Dascomb and confounded the data, but that “by spring break, we should be able to get a good idea how much less plastic is being used now.” He also added that “plastic use is expected to drop more each year.”

    Nancy German, an employee at Dascomb, expressed optimism, saying, “[The program] is something where you’re teaching people and giving them a way to be more responsible, and then it’s a slow growth thing, which is good, because then it sticks.”

    In terms of the effect on Dascomb,’s running costs, Squire explained, “This project, like many, many environmental projects, involves paying a high upfront cost with hope of saving money in the future.”

    Because of the mass purchase of containers, which cost about $12 apiece, and the cost of 25 cents for the disposable containers, Squire said, “It will take at least 48 uses per container before we can begin saving money.” He added, “The reason the program exists is to reduce solid waste in the dining hall and create a more sustainable campus; saving money is only an added bonus.”

    Brenda Gregory, another Dascomb employee who spoke last semester about the slow start-up of the program, said that most of the kinks — which included mix-ups with keychains — have since been worked out. She explained that if students use both containers, they get a 25 cent discount but she has not “had many [students] use just one container; if nothing else, they put a cookie in [the other container] so they get it.” She also explained that sometimes the size of the containers is a problem: “The pizzas, for instance; they won’t fit in the containers. We still give them the 25 cent rebate.”

    German says, “Kids are very excited to feel like they’re doing something. Everyone wants to feel like they’re doing their share,” and that it “really makes us feel good that kids come up and ask about it.”

    Squire added, “This program is something that many schools have tried to implement, but most were not able to maintain. I think that Oberlin is different; people here understand the implications of their actions.”


 
 
   

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