New To-Go Containers

By: Melhor Leonor/Asst. News Director 

Eating at Pollo Tropical has now become the newest way to go green at FIU, as food sustainability takes the next step with the implementation of To-Go Boxes.

Previously exclusive to Fresh Foods, To-Go Boxes are re-usable plastic containers designed to reduce the use of disposable styrofoam containers.

“We are trying to get more sustainable dining option out to the students,” said Celia Izaguirre, Aramark sustainability coordinator at the University. “We wanted to offer more options to students who don’t want to use styrofoam and [want to] reduce waste.”

While ordering from Pollo Tropical, a one-time refundable deposit of $4 entitles customers to unlimited use of the boxes at both Pollo Tropical at the Modesto Maidique Campus, and the Grille Works at the Biscayne Bay Campus. According to Izaguirre, customers can return To-Go Boxes at any time and receive their deposit in return.

Izaguirre also explained that the restaurants take care of the sanitation, taking used To-Go Boxes at the time of purchase and serving food in fresh clean ones at every purchase.

“We do the sanitizing so that it’s more convenient for students. You can leave it in the car or on your desk and eventually you come down [to Pollo Tropical and] we swap it for a clean one,” Izaquirre said.

According to Josefina Salazar, manager of Pollo Tropical, the restaurant goes through 150 non-biodegradable styrofoam containers every week and the initiative is to reduce this amount.

“Styrofoam is not biodegradable and we can’t recycle it at FIU or in Miami,” Izaguirre said. “Currently styrofoam occupies 30 percent of our landfill space.”

Aside from the use of To-Go Boxes, FIU has also put in place many other initiatives to make Panther Dining more sustainable.

“We are composting our coffee grounds and they end up using them at the organic garden.  Aside from composting we are also training our employees on energy and water conservation,” Izaguirre said.

Panther Dining has also put in place reusable “Drink to the Earth” mugs, which upon purchase, give customers discounts on coffee and fountain drinks throughout campus.

According to Salazar, in the past few weeks since the containers were made available, Pollo Tropical has distributed between 40 and 50 To-Go Boxes.

“The program is currently in its early stages. It has received a lot of interest from students and we hope it continues to grow,” Salazar said. “FIU is taking a lot of great steps towards sustainability and Panther Dining is excited to join them.”