American colleges jettison trays to save water and cut down on waste—and maybe also waist
U.S. institutions are increasingly tossing trays aside in favour of a more eco-friendly (and waistline-friendly) approach. Though the water used to wash trays may not seem significant, it adds up. It is estimated that Williams College is Massachusetts saved 14,000 gallons of water last year after eliminating trays from one of its cafeterias. And students say that since going trayless, they’ll less likely to overeat. The downside? Dining halls have become more crowded as students and staff go back for seconds.