Union’s Dining Services has responded to on-campus concerns about excessive plastic use by making substantial changes to the C-Store this Winter term. As previously mentioned in an article from October 2025, new dining options increased student choice but also led to unavoidable plastic waste. Now, however, the C-Store has transitioned nearly all plastic packaging to compostable materials or recycled paper, making a significant step toward greater sustainability.
On Union College Dining’s social media, a post titled “Grab + Go Just Got Greener” outlines these new initiatives. Sandwiches are now wrapped in recycled paper, hot items are packaged in cardboard or aluminum containers, and biodegradable bags or reusable bags for purchase have replaced traditional plastic bags. These changes do not affect food quality but greatly reduce the waste generated by this popular and convenient dining option.
Another notable shift is the complete removal of canned beverages from the C-Store, Garlic Nott, and 807 Deli meal packages. These have been replaced with drink fountains offering similar beverage selections. While aluminum cans are among the most recyclable materials, fountain-style systems reduce the large amount of packaging associated with transporting individual cans. Additionally, bag-in-box syrup systems produce large volumes of beverages more efficiently than individually canned drinks.
It is clear that Union has listened to student and faculty concerns about packaging waste and taken meaningful action toward sustainability. Moving forward, students also play an important role by properly composting and recycling leftover food and packaging whenever possible.
