“It’s pretty inconvenient,” the Campbell Hall resident said.

After the first week of eating without trays in an effort to reduce waste and water consumption, West Circle residents are beginning to become both fans and foes of the practice that aims to make the cafeterias more environmentally friendly.

“All the students have been getting right into the trayless thing,” Sandehl said. “There are some students where it’s a lifestyle change.”

Political science and interdisciplinary studies in social science and international studies sophomore Kara Charbarneau compares the new method to a buffet. However, she’s not sure how having no trays would affect bigger dining halls on campus.

“Our cafeterias are significantly smaller than the rest of them,” she said.

Sandehl said Yakeley serves about 1,200 meals per day.

Pepper and public relations sophomore Ally Varady are two students who aren’t sold on the new method.

“Most students get two drinks, and that’s one trip right there,” Pepper said.

Trays are available to students who ask for them, Sandehl said. So far, only one student has requested a tray.

Rather than use the installed conveyors built for trays, students are now directed to place their dishes in different bins, separated for plates, cups and utensils. However, Pepper said many students ignore this order and he tends to throw all his dishes into one bin.

Students questioned how much of a difference not having a tray actually makes.

“I’m all for the environment, but they still have to use water to wash plates,” he said.

Pepper and Varady said students were told their dishes would be taken care of by bussers. However, neither of them have seen any workers picking up plates or cups from patrons’ tables.

But not all students miss the trays. Zoology junior Liz Jagenow said the environmental benefits of nixing the plastic trays is worth the extra trips.

“It’s inconvenient, but I can understand why they’re doing it,” she said.

Jagenow said students who complain about the new trayless cafeterias “just haven’t gotten used to it.”

Jagenow and Charbarneau both said the change didn’t blindside them, thanks to notifications posted around campus and Residence Halls Association members informing dorm residents.

“There was a good heads-up warning,” Jagenow said. “It wasn’t completely out of the blue unless you weren’t paying attention.”