Pomona College Slashes Single-Use Waste with Reusables Tap-to-Reuse™ Platform

‍Institution Overview

Founded in 1887, Pomona College is a private liberal‑arts institution in Claremont, California. It’s self‑operated dining program serves roughly 1,750 students across multiple dining halls, cafés, and grab‑and‑go outlets.

The Challenge

Pomona had experimented with a traditional token reusable container program, but students returned fewer than 60 % of containers. Line bottlenecks at cash stations, manual tracking, and limited return points created friction. Dorm rooms filled up with forgotten boxes which forced the College to repurchase thousands of containers each term, undermining the purpose entirely.  

The Solution: Tap‑to‑Reuse™ + Smart Return Bins

Reusables deployed its turnkey, data‑driven reuse system in July 2024, finishing configuration and staff training before fall move‑in.

• One‑tap checkout with Pomona’s Transact‑powered student ID card—no app download or deposit required.

• 24/7 Smart Return Bins strategically across campus; returns take <3 seconds.

• Automatic charge after 14 days to hold users accountable and drive returns.

• Real‑time operator dashboard showing inventory, carbon savings, and engagement analytics.

Results After One Academic Year (July 2024 – May 2025)

• 70,000 Total reuses
• 98.2 % Return rate
• 4,111 Unique student users
• 11.41 t CO₂ avoided
• 2.85 t Solid waste avoided
• >$20,000/year in Container replacement savings

What People Are Saying

“Before Reusables, we lost thousands every year on missing containers. With Reusables’ tracking system, that cost is gone.” —Jose Martinez, Director of Dining Services, Pomona College  

“The system is simple and easy to use, and I like that you can return afterhours to many Smart Bins on campus.” — Pomona College Student  

Looking Ahead

Building on the program’s success, Pomona will expand Tap‑to‑Reuse to additional retail cafés in fall 2025, and pilot digital wallet payments to further streamline checkout. The sustainability office has set a target of 100,000 reuses and 95 % campus‑wide participation for the 2025‑26 academic year.

Ready to Bring High‑Performance Reuse to Your Campus?

Join institutions across North America that are cutting costs and waste with Reusables.  

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