Reusable Containers at Wabash Cafeteria

Overview

Starting July 2026, Wabash Cafeteria will be offering food to-go in reusable containers in partnership with Reusables.com.

Reusables.com is a leading technology platform for the circular economy. Our Tap to Reuse™ software, container tracking and Smart Return system help enterprise food service operators save money on disposable packaging and waste management while capturing valuable sustainability data on C02 emissions and waste materials avoided through reuse. By implementing Reusables, Roosevelt University Dining is expecting to save on packaging and waste management costs as well as enhance the dining experience for its customers while helping to meet sustainability objectives on campus.

How It Works

Reusables are completely free for customers to borrow if they return the containers within 5 days. To checkout a container a guest goes to the point-of-sale with the container and the cashier scans the container. The next step is to assign the user to the container by either tapping a student card or debit/credit card on the terminal (Tap to Reuse) or by scanning their Reuser ID QR code available via the Reusables App. Either of the above options will assign the scanned container to the customer.

See the Checkout process in the Reusables Knowledge Hub

To return the container, guests scan their container’s QR code at a Smart Return Station tablet or Smart Return Bin and drop the container inside the corresponding receptacle.  If a guest is returning multiple containers, each container must be scanned separately.  The Return devices can be found at the following locations:

• Smart Scan Station 1 – Wabash Cafeteria
• 2 Smart Return Bins – Cafeteria, Wabash 2nd floor Elevator Lobby

Soon we will be adding Smart Return Bins to the Wabash First Floor elevator lobby and the Wabash 14th floor near the security desk

See the Return process in the Reusables Knowledge Hub

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long can customers keep the containers?
  • o Containers are free to borrow for up to 5 days. On the 6th day, the customer will be charged a refundable fee of $5 (tax inclusive).
  • o In the case of being charged for a container, customers can return the container within 30 days to receive a full refund.
• Do customers need to download an app to use Reusables?
  • o No, guests can simply tap their student card, or credit/debit card, on the Reusables Checkout Device to borrow a container without registration. To track their impact and receive reminders, guests can download the Reusables mobile app to further engage with the service.
• What if campus guests who don’t have a student card want to get food to go in Reusables?
  • o Guests can tap their credit or debit card on the Stripe terminal to borrow a container without signup.
• What are the containers made of?
  • o Containers are made from durable polypropylene.
• Are containers safe to be washed in commercial dishwasher?
  • o Yes, containers are designed to be washed hundreds of times.
• What happens if a payment fails for a late container?
  • o In the event of a failed payment, Reusables will retry the charge 7 days later. Payments can fail for a variety of reasons, but in the case of student cards (aka: Roosevelt Cash stored value accounts or FLEX Dollars), ‘insufficient funds’ is the most common reason for failures.
  • o Information about the status of a charge, and its history, is available in the Reusables Operator Portal. For more information, see our knowledge hub.
  • o NB: While a guest can add more than one payment method to their account, Reusables will only attempt to process payments against their default payment method.
• Who is responsible for charging the late fee for unreturned containers?
  • o Reusables manages all charges relating to unreturned containers.
• Where should I direct a customer who got accidentally charged for a container they returned?
  • o Please tell them to contact [email protected]. Refunds take 2-5 business days to process.