Gator Dining gives plastic bags the boot

Feb. 21—Gator Dining Services, at the University of Florida in Gainesville, plans to eliminate plastic bags in on-campus dining locations.

It has implemented a new sustainability initiative to help reduce petroleum-based waste such as plastic bags. Subway restaurants at the Reitz Union and Turlington Plaza have recently eliminated the use of plastic bags by introducing labels that secure sandwich wrappings, Jill Rodriguez, marketing program manager for Gator Dining Services, wrote to the student newspaper in an email.

Although the restaurants will continue to keep bags on hand for customers who request one, Gator Dining Services is exploring options to replace plastic bags with paper bags at other dining locations, Rodriguez said.