Still have a container? Bring it back and use the mobile app to receive your deposit.
Food service providers at Niagara College have taken a bold step toward reducing single-use waste – and the community is showing up in support.
The Niagara College Student Administrative Council (NCSAC) and Chartwells, which operate campus food outlets, are reporting promising early results from the Friendlier reusable container program. Since September 2024, NC successfully recovered more than 27,000 containers from food and drink purchased on campus – a roughly 40 per cent return rate.
“The Friendlier program is in its early stages, but this is a promising milestone,” said Taryn Wilkinson, Manager of Sustainability. “With any new sustainability initiative, it’s about changing habits that can make a real difference.”
Friendlier is an Ontario-based program that collects, cleans and returns the reusable take-out containers to the market. Their reusable containers are an alternative to single-use packaging which has long been a challenge in food service. While recyclable and compostable containers are indeed green, the Friendlier program is more efficient to produce and process. In this circular model, each returned container (to their place or purchase) earns users their deposit back through the mobile app – helping close the loop.
NCSAC says students’ reaction to Friendlier has been a positive one.
“The modern-day student has a much tighter focus on their financial situation, as well as stronger understanding of the need for sustainable initiatives where and when possible,” said Stacey Frail, NCSAC Food and Beverage Manager in Niagara-on-the-Lake. “The Friendlier program provides a unique solution to this through a small monetary deposit system.”
Chartwells is also proud to be on board and hopes the program can continue to make a difference.
“As a food service team, we see firsthand how small daily choices can lead to big collective change,” said Cherie Keresztes, Food Services Director, Chartwells Higher Education at NC. “The response to the Friendlier program shows that our campus community is ready to embrace a more sustainable way of eating on the go. Every container returned is waste avoided, and every student who participates becomes a partner in building a greener future for Niagara College. We’re proud to support a program that not only reduces our environmental footprint but also empowers our community to be part of the solution.”
With a strong start, Wilkinson says the program will continue to make a meaningful impact on the goals of the College’s Sustainability Plan, while also supporting the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDG’s) – numbers four (Quality Education), 12 (Responsible Consumption and Production), 13 (Climate Action), and 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).
“This program is part of NC’s broader commitment to carbon and waste reduction, minimizing our environmental footprint, and perhaps most importantly, building a culture of sustainability on campus,” said Wilkinson.
The Friendlier program complements NC’s implementation of the Oscar Sort AI Recycling Assistant, both of which optimize waste diversion on campus.
Wilkinson says the Friendlier program works best when we each do our part. It can be tempting to take the sturdy blue containers home, but returning them helps the program succeed, and gets the deposit back to users.
“With the continued support of students and employees, we can drive the number of returned containers even higher,” said Wilkinson.
Still have a container? Bring it back to where you purchased it.
Want your deposit? Claim it.
Don’t need it? Donate it.
In the mobile app, students and employees have the option to donate their deposit to support NCSAC’s Nourishing Minds Fund.
“NCSAC is incredibly honoured and excited to know that optioned donations from the return of Friendlier containers will have a positive impact on food insecurity on campus,” said Stephanie Gadjek, NCSAC Food and Beverage Manager in Welland.
For more information about how the program works, see For Consumers or Frequently Asked Questions.
