Eco Box Program
Getting Food at the Dining Hall: Two Flexible Options
Whether you’re in the mood to sit and enjoy a meal with friends or need to grab food on the go between classes, UCSC Dining offers two ways to access meals that work with your schedule and lifestyle.
Option 1: Dine-in service
Enjoy all-you-care-to-eat meals in the dining hall using only the plates, bowls, and cups provided.
- To-go containers are not permitted with dine-in service.
- Take your time, relax, and fuel up for the day.
Option 2: Eco-Box meal-to-go
Need to eat on the run? The Eco-Box program offers a sustainable, reusable container for students who can’t stay to dine in.
- Eating inside the dining hall is not permitted with the meal-to-go option.
- Use the Eco-Box provided by the cashier—personal containers aren’t allowed.
- You’ll have 10 minutes to fill your container and exit the dining hall.
About the Eco-Box meals-to-go program
If you’re heading to back-to-back classes or just need a meal on the go, you can check out a reusable Eco-Box and grab a to-go meal from any UCSC dining hall. The Eco-Box is a sustainable alternative to single-use containers, helping reduce waste and support campus sustainability efforts.
Eco-Box meals are available at all dining halls Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–10 p.m. They are not available on weekends or holidays when classes are not in session, except during Ramadan, when weekend access is offered to support students observing the holiday.
Who can use Eco-Box meals to-go?
- Students with a residence hall meal plan
- Students who have purchased Banana Bucks
Unlimited Meal Plan holders:
Because unlimited plans only cover dine-in meals, you’ll still need to pay the entry cost and 10-point deposit if you’d like to use the Eco-Box. Unlimited plans only cover dine-in meals.
How it works:
- A 10 Slug Points or Banana Bucks deposit is required when checking out an Eco-Box.
- Fill up your Eco-box in accordance with program guidelines:
- After you eat, please wipe the box clean with a napkin—we’ll handle the deep cleaning once it’s returned.
- Return your Eco-Box to any dining hall cashier to get your deposit back—there’s no need to return it to the same location where you checked it out.
Please note: if the Eco-Box is lost, damaged, broken, or returned excessively dirty, the deposit will not be refunded.
Eco-Box meal-to-go guidelines
- You can take one to-go meal per meal period (breakfast, lunch, dinner, or late night).
- To-go meals must follow portion guidelines:
- One entrée and two sides or an entrée salad with protein.
- Filling the container with only one item or keeping it open like a tray is not allowed. The lid must close fully.
- You may also take one piece of fruit or one dessert in addition to your boxed meal.
Compostable serviceware
We offer compostable containers and utensils for the Buddy Meal Program only. This program is designed to provide meals to sick and injured students who are unable to leave their residences for health reasons.
For food safety reasons, we cannot allow our customers to use their own containers to take a meal to-go. Only the provided compostable serviceware or a freshly-issued Eco-Box may be used.
Feeling sick or injured?
If you’re unable to make it to the dining hall due to illness or injury, UCSC Dining offers a Buddy Meal program—different from the Eco Box Meal To Go program. A friend or roommate can pick up a meal for you.
Learn more about the Buddy Meal program