A Guide: How to Use Transact Card for Reusables

For students, the campus card is the key to everything: their meal plan, dorm access, and bookstore purchases. So, what if your sustainability program could fit right into that existing routine? Our system is built on that simple idea. Instead of asking students to download another app or learn a new process, we make reusables a natural part of their day. This article explains how to use Transact card for reusables, a process so intuitive it feels like it’s always been there. With a simple tap of their card, students can borrow a container and be on their way. This frictionless experience is why our partners see 99% return rates and a campus culture that embraces reuse without a second thought.

Key Takeaways

• Create a Frictionless Experience with Existing Campus Cards: By integrating with the Transact system students already use daily, you remove the need for new apps or accounts, which drives immediate and widespread student participation.
• Ensure High Return Rates with an Automated System: Smart return bins and automated, refundable late fees work together to maintain container inventory and achieve industry-leading return rates without requiring manual tracking from your staff.
• Cut Packaging Costs While Meeting Sustainability Goals: Switching to a reusable system provides a direct path to reducing your budget for disposables and offers tangible, trackable data to demonstrate progress toward your institution's zero-waste targets.

How Your Transact Card Works with Reusable Containers

Integrating a campus-wide reuse program might sound complex, but it’s surprisingly simple when it works with the technology students already use every day. By connecting our reusable container system directly with your campus Transact card services, we create a frictionless experience that encourages participation and makes sustainability the easiest choice. This integration means students don't need to download a new app or learn a complicated process; they just use the card that's already in their wallet.

For dining services, this means a program that’s easy to launch and manage, with high adoption rates from day one. Let’s look at how this familiar piece of campus tech becomes the key to your zero-waste goals.

What is a Transact card?

If you work in higher education, you’re likely familiar with Transact. A Transact card is the all-in-one digital payment and credential solution that simplifies campus life for students. It’s the key they use for everything from meal plans and laundry to event access and bookstore purchases. With a presence at nearly 2,000 higher education institutions, Transact is a trusted partner in connecting and streamlining student services. This widespread adoption is exactly why we built a system that integrates with it seamlessly, leveraging existing infrastructure to make reusables accessible to everyone on campus.

How it connects to your campus reusables program

The connection between the Transact card and your reusables program is direct and intuitive. Students can easily borrow and return reusable containers simply by tapping their student ID card or mobile phone at checkout. This partnership between Transact Campus and Reusables.com allows for a simple, fast checkout process that doesn’t slow down your dining lines.

Because our system is fully integrated with Transact, every transaction is tracked automatically. This gives you clear operational data and ensures accountability without adding work for your staff. Best of all, the model is completely free for users, removing any financial barriers and making it easy for students to participate and help reduce packaging waste across campus.

What Types of Reusable Containers Can You Use?

One of the best parts about implementing a reuse program is that you aren't locked into a single type of container. Our system is container-agnostic, which means it works with a variety of materials and suppliers. This gives you the freedom to choose what’s best for your campus dining operations, budget, and student preferences. You can even use your existing inventory of reusable containers if they are compatible with our tracking technology.

Whether you’re starting from scratch or integrating with what you already have, the system is designed for flexibility. Our dual-mode QR and RFID tracking works seamlessly across different materials, ensuring every container is accounted for without creating extra work for your team. This approach lets you focus on providing a great dining experience while we handle the tracking and accountability.

Choose from stainless steel containers

For campuses aiming to create a premium, plastic-free dining program, stainless steel containers are an excellent choice. They are incredibly durable, long-lasting, and easy to sanitize, which helps maintain high health and safety standards. Many students also prefer stainless steel because it doesn't retain odors or stains. Paired with silicone lids, these containers offer a sleek and effective solution that aligns perfectly with ambitious sustainability goals. Programs using stainless steel often see very high return rates because students appreciate the quality and feel of the containers.

Explore durable plastic options

Durable, BPA-free plastic containers are another popular and practical option for high-volume campus dining. These containers are lightweight, stackable, and often more budget-friendly upfront, making them a great fit for many operational models. They are specifically designed for repeated commercial use and can withstand hundreds of wash cycles. Because our system integrates directly with campus cards like Transact, students can easily borrow these durable containers with a quick tap of their ID, making the switch from single-use packaging completely effortless for everyone involved.

Meet our container partners

To make sourcing simple, we’ve established relationships with the industry’s best suppliers. You can select from our list of Reusables Approved Container Partners, which includes trusted names like GET, OZZI, deSter, and Returnr. This gives you access to a wide range of pre-vetted, high-quality options in both stainless steel and durable plastic. Working with our partners ensures you get reliable products that are fully compatible with our tracking technology, so you can launch your program with confidence and focus on what you do best: serving your campus community.

How to Borrow a Reusable Container

Switching to reusables shouldn't mean adding complexity to your dining operations. The borrowing process is designed to be completely frictionless for students and staff, fitting right into their existing routines. By making the sustainable choice the easiest one, your campus can achieve high adoption rates without slowing down checkout lines. The entire experience is built around a quick, intuitive tap that feels just as natural as paying for a meal. Here’s a look at how simple it is for anyone on campus to grab a reusable container for their next meal.

The simple Tap to Reuse™ checkout

Our signature Tap to Reuse™ technology makes borrowing a container effortless. Students can check out a container in seconds without ever needing to download an app. At the register, they simply tap their student ID card, and the container is instantly linked to their account. This app-free experience removes a major barrier to entry, making it easy for everyone to participate. This seamless process is a core part of our solutions for businesses and is designed to maximize student engagement from day one. By integrating directly into your existing point-of-sale system, Tap to Reuse™ makes borrowing as quick and easy as buying a coffee.

Using your card at dining halls

Imagine a student grabbing a meal to-go from the dining hall. Instead of a disposable box, they receive their food in a durable, clean reusable container. When they get to the cashier, they tap their student ID card—whether it’s a Transact, CBORD, or other campus card—just as they would for a meal swipe. That’s it. The unique code on the container is automatically assigned to their account, creating a digital record of the loan. There are no paper slips to fill out or manual logs for your staff to manage, which keeps lines moving and operations running smoothly even during the busiest lunch rushes.

Other ways to pay: mobile wallets and credit cards

A campus-wide sustainability program should be for everyone, not just students with a meal plan. That’s why our system is built with flexibility in mind. In addition to student ID cards, users can borrow containers by tapping a credit or debit card or using a mobile wallet like Apple Pay or Google Pay. This ensures that faculty, staff, commuters, and campus visitors can all participate in your reuse program with the same ease as students. This commitment to accessibility is a key part of our mission to make zero-waste dining a reality for entire communities. The technology works the same way for all payment types: a simple tap is all it takes.

How to Return Your Container

Returning a container should be just as simple as borrowing one. A successful reuse program depends on a return process that fits seamlessly into daily campus life for students, faculty, and staff. When returns are easy and convenient, participation rates climb, and your campus can see a real impact on waste reduction and cost savings. That’s why our system offers multiple, intuitive ways for users to return their containers, ensuring the process is always quick and hassle-free for them and completely hands-off for your team.

Our complete reuse solution is designed with both the user and your operations team in mind. By placing smart, automated return points in high-traffic areas, we make it effortless for everyone to participate. This approach eliminates the need for manual tracking by your staff and removes common barriers—like inconvenient drop-off points or complicated check-in procedures—that can cause other reuse programs to fail. The goal is to make returning a container a simple, thoughtless step in a student's day, much like dropping off a tray in the dining hall. This focus on a frictionless experience is key to achieving the high return rates that deliver significant financial and environmental benefits.

Use Smart Bins for 24/7 returns

Students keep unconventional hours, so your return options should, too. Our Smart Return Bins offer 24/7 access, allowing users to return containers whenever it fits their schedule—whether it's after a late-night study session or before an early morning class. These sleek, tamper-proof bins can be placed in key locations across campus, like residence halls, libraries, and student centers. The process is simple: a student drops their used container into the bin, and our technology handles the rest. This automated system means no staff oversight is needed, freeing up your team while providing ultimate convenience for students.

Find return stations in dining facilities

For many students, the most logical place to return a container is right where they got it. We offer Return Scan Stations that can be placed inside dining halls, cafés, and near dish drop areas. These stations are designed to integrate smoothly into your existing operational flow. Users can quickly scan their container and drop it off as they leave the dining facility, making it a natural part of their mealtime routine. By making returns a visible and accessible part of the dining experience, you encourage consistent participation and help build a campus-wide culture of reuse.

How QR and RFID tech makes it easy

The technology behind our system is what makes the return process so effortless and accurate. Every reusable container is equipped with a unique QR code or RFID tag, giving it a digital identity. When a user drops a container into a Smart Bin or at a Return Station, the tag is automatically scanned. This instantly checks the container back into the system and clears the user’s account. This dual-mode digital tracking provides precise, real-time data for your team and ensures the entire process is automated, accountable, and free of human error, helping you achieve industry-leading return rates.

Are There Any Costs or Fees?

One of the biggest questions we get from campus partners is about the cost to students. A successful reuse program depends on high participation, and financial barriers are the quickest way to discourage adoption. That’s why our system is designed to be completely free for students to use. By removing upfront costs and deposits, we create a frictionless experience that encourages everyone to participate. This approach is key to achieving the high return rates that generate significant savings on packaging costs and help you meet your campus sustainability goals.

Enjoy no upfront deposits

To make reusing as easy as possible, students don't pay any deposits or fees to borrow a container. They simply check one out using their Transact card, just like any other dining purchase. As our partner Transact Campus notes, "the model is free for users," which eliminates hesitation and makes participation seamless. This no-cost entry point is fundamental to changing behavior on campus. When students see that choosing a reusable option is not only better for the environment but also costs them nothing, it becomes an easy and obvious choice. This widespread adoption is what allows our campus partners to see a real impact on their bottom line and waste reduction efforts.

How the automated late fee system works

While borrowing is free, accountability is essential for keeping containers in circulation. Our system includes an automated process for late fees that requires zero manual work from your staff. If a container isn't returned within the designated borrowing period, the student receives friendly, automated reminders. If the item is still not returned, a small, fully refundable late fee is automatically applied to their account through the Transact integration. This gentle incentive is incredibly effective, driving our 99% return rates. This automated accountability ensures your container inventory remains stable and available, which is how schools using Reusables.com achieve packaging cost savings of 30% or more.

What happens if a student forgets to return one?

We’ve designed the return process to be simple and forgiving. If a student forgets to return a container on time, our system sends them a series of automated notifications as a reminder. Should they miss the deadline, a refundable late fee is charged. The key here is refundable—as soon as the container is returned to any Smart Bin or return station, the fee is automatically credited back to their account. There’s no need for them to talk to staff or fill out forms. With conveniently located return kiosks available 24/7, students can easily drop off their containers whenever it fits their schedule. This fair and automated process maintains high compliance without creating a negative experience for students.

Get Rewarded for Reusing

Choosing to reuse your containers does more than just help the planet—it can also come with some great perks. Many campuses that partner with Reusables.com build rewards and incentives directly into their programs to make sustainability fun and engaging. It’s a way to thank you for participating and to encourage everyone to make reuse a regular habit. By turning waste reduction into a campus-wide challenge with leaderboards, contests, and giveaways, schools create a positive experience that goes beyond the dining hall.

These engagement incentives are a core part of what makes the system work so well, driving the high return rates that make a zero-waste campus possible. Instead of just being a utility, the program becomes an interactive part of student life. It’s a simple, effective way to build a campus culture around sustainability. The goal is to make doing the right thing the easiest and most rewarding option. You can learn more about the mission behind Reusables and how we help schools build these successful programs.

Loyalty programs and earn rewards

Many campus dining programs offer loyalty rewards to frequent reusers. Think of it like a digital punch card for your sustainable habits. For example, some schools give students a dining credit after they use a reusable container a certain number of times within a month. These programs are designed to be automatic, tracking your usage every time you check out a container with your Transact card. It’s an easy way to save a little money just by sticking with the program and helping your campus reduce waste.

The benefits of free borrowing

One of the best parts of the program is that it’s designed to be completely free for you. There are no upfront deposits or membership fees required to start borrowing containers. The simple checkout process lets you use your student card to borrow a container at no cost. As long as you return it to a Smart Bin or Return Station within the designated time frame, you’ll never be charged. This approach removes any financial barriers, making it easy and equitable for every student on campus to participate.

Track Your Usage and Impact

A successful reuse program is about more than just swapping containers; it’s about creating a campus-wide culture of sustainability. The key is making that impact visible and personal. When students can clearly see the difference they’re making, they become more invested in the program's success. Our system provides clear, accessible data for both your team and your students, turning abstract goals into tangible achievements. This transparency is what drives engagement and ensures everyone—from the dining hall staff to the student body—understands the real value of choosing to reuse. It’s how you build momentum that lasts.

Check your personal dashboard

With their Transact Card, students can access a personal dashboard showing their complete reusable container history. This isn't just a transaction log; it's a powerful tool for engagement. By integrating directly into their daily campus life, students can easily track their borrowing and returning activities, which helps build accountability and a sense of ownership over the program. We've found that when students can see their participation, it contributes to incredible results, including a 99% return rate and strong campus-wide adoption. It helps make reusing a personal habit, not just another campus policy.

See your environmental impact

One of the most powerful features is the ability to see your collective environmental impact in real-time. The Reusables system automatically tracks and reports on the positive effects of your program, from waste diverted from landfills to carbon emissions saved. This data is invaluable for your own sustainability reporting and communications. You can share these wins with the entire campus community, demonstrating a clear return on your investment in sustainability. It transforms your dining program into a visible leader in your institution's green initiatives, all backed by verifiable data.

Monitor your return rate

Our system also helps students monitor their personal return rate, which is key to maintaining a healthy inventory of containers. The seamless integration with the student ID card makes borrowing and returning containers a simple, quick process. Because the model is free for users, with no confusing deposits, the focus stays on convenience. This ease of use, combined with personal accountability, encourages students to return containers promptly. For your team, this means less time spent tracking down lost inventory and more time focused on providing great service. It’s a core part of how our campus solutions are designed to be operationally efficient.

Why Using Reusables Matters

Switching to a reusable container system is about more than just reducing trash. It's a strategic decision that positively impacts your budget, your campus environment, and your institution's reputation. By integrating reusables into your dining services, you're not just offering a meal; you're providing a smarter, more sustainable experience that aligns with the values of today's students and faculty. Let's look at the key reasons why this shift matters for your campus.

Help reduce single-use waste

Every day, campus dining halls generate mountains of single-use containers, cutlery, and bags. A reusable system directly tackles this problem at its source. Instead of contributing to landfills, you empower students and staff to make a sustainable choice with every meal. Our partnership with Transact Campus is specifically designed to help reduce packaging waste in college dining facilities by replacing disposables with our trackable, easy-to-use containers. This creates a visible, impactful change that everyone on campus can participate in, turning a daily routine into a collective effort for a cleaner environment.

Save money for you and your school

The cost of disposable packaging has skyrocketed, putting a strain on operational budgets. In the last few years alone, many institutions have seen these expenses climb by over 200%. By implementing a reusable system, you can significantly cut down on these recurring costs, often leading to annual savings of 30% or more on packaging. This isn't just a small line item adjustment; it's a major financial win that frees up funds for other important areas, like improving food quality or staff development. Our solutions for businesses are designed to provide a clear return on investment while enhancing the dining experience for everyone on campus.

Support your campus sustainability goals

Many colleges and universities have set ambitious zero-waste and sustainability targets. A campus-wide reuse program is one of the most effective and visible ways to make progress toward these goals. It’s a tangible initiative that demonstrates a real commitment to environmental responsibility, which resonates strongly with current and prospective students, faculty, and alumni. By adopting a system like Reusables.com, you’re not just managing a dining service; you’re becoming a key player in your institution's sustainability story. This partnership helps your campus meet its goals for a greener future, one meal at a time.

Why Transact Integration Makes Reusing Easier

For any new campus initiative to succeed, it has to be easy. Students and staff are busy, and adding complicated steps to their daily routine is a recipe for low adoption. That’s why a reuse program needs to feel like it’s always been part of campus life. The key is integrating with the technology students already use every single day.

Our partnership with Transact Campus does exactly that. By connecting our reuse system directly with the campus card infrastructure, we remove the friction that causes other programs to fail. Instead of asking students to learn a new process, download an app, or create another account, we meet them where they are. This deep integration makes choosing a reusable container as simple as swiping for a meal. It’s a seamless experience that encourages participation, simplifies operations for your team, and makes sustainability the most convenient option. We work with leading campus partners to ensure our system fits perfectly within your existing operations, reducing the training burden on your staff and getting your program running smoothly from day one.

The freedom of an app-free experience

One of the biggest hurdles for new campus tech is "app fatigue." Students are constantly asked to download new applications for different services, and it can be overwhelming. We eliminate this barrier entirely. Our Tap to Reuse™ system is completely app-free. The integration lets students borrow and return containers with a simple check-out process using their student card.

There are no new accounts to create, no passwords to remember, and no software to install. Students simply tap their card, take a container, and go. This effortless interaction is critical for driving high participation rates. When reusing is this easy, it quickly becomes a natural part of the campus dining experience, rather than a chore students have to think about.

Enjoy seamless payments

Managing fees and deposits can be a major operational headache, but our Transact integration automates the entire process. Because our system is connected to the student’s campus card account, any transactions are handled seamlessly in the background. While borrowing is free, our system includes an automated, refundable late fee to encourage timely returns and maintain a 99% return rate.

This charge is processed directly through the student's Transact account without any manual work from your staff. There’s no need to chase down payments or handle cash. This partnership ensures financial accountability is built-in, secure, and completely hands-off for your team, freeing them up to focus on providing great service.

How it works with your existing campus card

The beauty of this system is its simplicity. Students use their existing Transact campus cards just as they would for any other purchase or meal swipe. At the dining hall or café, they select their meal in a reusable container and tap their card at checkout. Our system instantly associates that specific container—tracked by a unique QR or RFID tag—with their student account.

When they’re finished, they drop the container in any Smart Return Bin on campus. The bin automatically scans the container and clears it from their account. Our deep integrations with leading campus credential providers ensure students can use their existing campus cards seamlessly with reusable container programs. It’s a familiar, intuitive process that requires no extra training for students or cashiers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if our campus doesn't use Transact cards? Our system is designed to be flexible and works with the leading campus card providers, including CBORD, Atrium, and TouchNet. Beyond student IDs, the platform also supports credit and debit cards as well as mobile wallets like Apple Pay. This ensures that your entire campus community—including faculty, staff, and visitors—can easily participate in the program using the payment method that’s most convenient for them.

How do you ensure students actually return the containers? We achieve our 99% return rate through a system of automated accountability that is completely hands-off for your staff. While borrowing is free for students, our platform sends friendly, automated reminders if a container is overdue. If it still isn't returned, a small, fully refundable late fee is applied to their account. As soon as the container is dropped at any return station, that fee is automatically credited back, creating a fair and effective incentive that keeps your inventory in circulation.

Do we have to buy new containers, or can we use our own? You have complete flexibility. Our system is container-agnostic, meaning it can work with your existing inventory of reusable containers as long as they are compatible with our QR or RFID tracking technology. If you're starting a new program or looking to expand, you can also choose from our list of approved partners who offer a wide range of high-quality stainless steel and durable plastic options to fit your operational needs and budget.

How much extra work does this system create for my dining staff? This system is designed to reduce your team's workload, not add to it. The checkout process is a simple tap that fits into the existing payment flow, so it doesn't slow down your lines. Returns are fully automated through our Smart Bins and Return Stations, which means staff don't have to manually check in containers. All tracking, reminders, and fee management happen in the background, freeing your team to focus on providing a great dining experience.

Will students find this system easy to use, or is there a learning curve? The entire experience is built to be intuitive from the very first use. Our Tap to Reuse™ technology is completely app-free, which removes a major barrier for students. They simply use their existing campus card to borrow a container, just as they would for a meal swipe. The process is designed to be as simple and familiar as possible, which is why campuses see high adoption rates right from the start.