Trash to Table: Embracing Reusable Dishware

At the end of every school year, students donate large quantities of dishware at R&DE Give & Go stations across campus. Anna Gomes, PhD candidate in earth systems science and advocate for waste reduction, is constantly looking for ways to shift cultural norms towards zero waste and away from single-use plastics. Inspired by the excess dishware donated to Give & Go, she collaborated with R&DE’s Haley Todd to give donated dishes a new life through creating a Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability Dish Pilot, and the program is now being piloted in Green Earth Sciences and Y2E2.

The Stanford Doerr School Dish Pilot has been a success in its first few months – feedback received has been resoundingly positive, noting the increased convenience and ease of use. Single-use plastics are often touted as a symbol of convenience – however, users of this program have noted an improvement in their comfort, as many people would much prefer to eat off of reusable dishware. Gomes plans to create additional education and signage to increase responsible use of the dishware. This initiative demonstrates how individual actions can help foster a zero-waste culture on campus and benefit both people and the planet. Gomes aims to expand the dish pilot to other buildings in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability and to large events.