Mission:
In partnership with SGA and CUES, Butler Dining is now providing BLUEgos as a safe, environmentally friendly, and convenient to-go option to students, faculty, and staff on campus. The program is our response to the needs of those that are on the go and have busy schedules. The program minimizes waste produced on campus, helping Butler achieve their sustainability goals!
About the box:
Your BLUEgo container is made in the USA and is microwave and dishwasher safe. It is also 100%
recyclable. This means that once a BLUEgo has been worn down from repeated use, and has reached the
end of its life cycle, it can be recycled and remade into other materials. It has been tested for 1000
washes, making it more sustainable than a one-time use compostable option.
How it works:
First, dining in the cafe is encouraged and the most sustainable choice! However, we understand that
schedules can be tight and the option to take a meal to-go is sometimes needed and appreciated by the
campus community.
We rely on the users to make this sustainability initiative successful! The following steps are important
for utilizing the program properly:
1. Request a BLUEgo container from the cashier BEFORE swiping into the café. Your account will be
debited one container. Upon request, customers will be provided with disposable utensils and
cups with their BLUEgo.
2. Return the BLUEgo container to the cashier on your next visit to Atherton Marketplace and your account will be credited. You may also return the container to our other locations. See FAQ’s.
3. The program is currently available at Atherton Marketplace and the plan is to roll it out to other dining locations in the future.
Policies:
1. Registration is automatic. Every student, faculty, and staff member with a Butler ID is automatically enrolled in the program and allotted two BLUEgo containers on their account, at no fee. You can see your account status on your Butler app.
2. Should you lose or misplace your two containers and wish to continue using the program, you can pay a $6.00 deposit per additional container. This is refundable if all containers are returned by the end of the semester. The two allotted containers reset at the start of each semester.
3. BLUEgos are not transferable to other meal plan users.
Food Safety:
All food items taken to go should be consumed or refrigerated within two hours. Refrigerated leftovers should be consumed or discarded within two days.
FAQ:
1. Q: Is the program free?
A: Initially yes, students may utilize the program free of charge, as long as the BLUEgo containers are returned. The start-up costs for this program were funded by the FEAST Fund for sustainability.
2. Q: Who can use the BLUEgo containers?
A: All students, faculty, and staff with a Butler ID can use the program and are allotted two BLUEgos on their account. If two containers are already checked out, at least one must be returned on your next visit, or you can deposit $6.00 for an additional container which is refundable if all containers are returned by the end of the semester.
3. Q: What if the containers are lost or not returned?
A: There will be no charge for containers lost or unreturned unless you choose to deposit $6.00 for an additional container. This deposit is only refundable if all containers are returned, including the two allotted to each account for free.
4. Q: Is there a return window for bringing the BLUEgos back to the café?
A: It would be appreciated if you return the BLUEgo(s) as soon as you are able so that we have plenty on hand for all students to participate. You can return it the same day, or even the following day when you dine with us next. Keep in mind that no more than two containers can be out at a time per user. If you have two containers checked out, you won’t be able to request another BLUEgo until at least one container is returned, unless a deposit is made for additional containers as stated above.
5. Q: Are BLUEgos the only to-go option?
A: BLUEgos are the preferred to-go option in Atherton Marketplace. You may also choose a disposable container which will incur a cost of $1.00 per container that can be paid via flex dollars, dawg bucks, or credit card. All other dining locations will have their normal to go options available.
6. Q: How does the return process work?
A: For your account to be credited for the return, be sure to bring your BLUEgo container back through the line in Atherton so the cashier can credit your account.
7. Q: Can the BLUEgos be returned to other locations?
A: Yes! You may also return your BLUEgo to ResCo Café or Trip’s Corner Market during their hours of operation. When returning a container to these locations, you will be given a token as proof of return. On your next visit to Atherton, hand the token to the cashier and they will credit your BLUEgo account.
Additionally, we have new return receptacles – one in the lobby of Irvington, and one in the community room of Fairview. Follow the prompts on the machine to return your BLUEgo. The machines will dispense a token, which you can bring to the cashier in Atherton.
8. Q: Is this really a sustainable option?
A: Dining in the café with our dishware is the most sustainable option. If choosing a meal to-go, the reusable BLUEgo containers are more sustainable than one-time-use containers.
9. Q: Why is there a $1 charge for the disposable containers?
A: We have made improvements to the BLUEgo program based on student feedback, and have kept this program free for students to utilize. With these improvements to the BLUEgo program, we still decided to continue offering both options with the more sustainable option being free. Guided by the Butler University Sustainability and Climate Action, we encourage students to choose the zero waste option (BLUEgos) which aligns with Butler’s GHG Emissions Mitigation Strategies. With the implementation of the BLUEgo program at the beginning of the 21-22 school year, the student body helped divert over 150 pounds of waste and we hope to inspire more students to the BLUEgo option to further eliminate the volume of waste produced by the disposable to-go containers.
10. Q: What happens if my BLUEgo container breaks?
A: If your container breaks, please still bring it back so you can get credit for your return. We can send broken containers back to the company where they will ground down for recycling and reuse, making this a zero waste option!