We’re excited to share that Michigan Dining is expanding our sustainability efforts with the Fill it Forward Borrow Program, a simple, convenient, and waste-free way to enjoy takeout from our dining halls.
Here’s how it works:
- Download the Fill it Forward app, and register with your UMICH email address.
- Borrow a reusable takeout container at East Quad this spring and summer (or any participating dining hall beginning in the Fall semester 2026).
- Enjoy your meal anywhere on campus.
- Return the container to a participating location when you’re done.
Every time you reuse, you help reduce single-use waste and unlock donations that support charitable giving projects around the world.
Let’s kick off this initiative together and drive sustainability on campus!
- Upon entering the dining hall, student meal plan holders will let the greeter know that they are getting their meal to-go prior to swiping in for entry.
- The greeter will swipe your M Card for the meal.
- Then, you scan the container with the Fill it Forward app to borrow it. You will receive a blue check mark if the container was borrowed successfully. A reusable container will then be electronically registered to your account.
- Students can then visit any station to finish filling their container before leaving to enjoy their meal outside of the dining hall. As you fill your container, please place any accumulated dishes in the dish return.
- The used container can then be returned, with uneaten food and trash disposed of, to any dining hall to be checked in. Upon the return of their previously checked-out container, the student is eligible to carry out again for a future meal.
- To return your container, scan a return sign with the Fill it Forward app, and then scan your container to return it. You will receive a blue check mark when the box is returned successfully.
Michigan Dining is committed to achieving a 50% waste diversion rate by 2030, with a continued 2% annual increase thereafter. By providing student meal plan holders with reusable, environmentally safe containers, we are able to decrease preventable waste volume from single-use containers, while still offering the flexibility of carry-out meals to our students.
Our reusable containers are microwave, dishwasher, and food safe. They are 100% BPA-free and made of polypropylene. Each container undergoes industry-leading washing practices in accordance with all local, state, and federal agency guidelines to ensure cleanliness for the next student’s use.
Frequently Asked Questions
Student meal plan holders will let the dining hall greeter know that they intend to take their meal to-go prior to swiping into the dining hall. From there, the student will open the Fill it Forward app to begin the borrow process. Click the “Borrow” tab within the app, tap the QR code button at the bottom, and scan the QR code on the container. Once the code is scanned, the student can fill their container from any station in the Dining Hall.
Students with Residential & Optional meal plans can enjoy to-go meals as often as they would like, provided that their previously checked-out container has been returned. Students with extenuating circumstances, who may need additional carry-out meals, should contact [email protected].
During the 2026 Spring and Summer semesters, Fill it Forward will be in place to allow for meals to go at East Quad Dining Hall. Beginning in Fall 2026, South Quad, North Quad, East Quad, Mosher Jordan, Bursley, Twigs at Oxford, Markley, and Wolverine Village dining halls will have to-go containers available for use at all stations. Martha Cook and Lawyer’s Club Dining have separate to-go meal processes; please contact the management teams at those locations for their specific processes.
If a student already has a container checked out and wants to participate, they must return their container or purchase a replacement for $10 before they are able to carry out again. Additional containers can be purchased with Dining Dollars or Blue Bucks.
No. Our reusable containers can be returned to any dining hall participating in M|Dining To Go. Uneaten food and trash should be disposed of before returning the container.
Please dispose of all waste in the appropriate waste bin, including all food waste in a compost container and all plastic wrappers in a landfill container. Please DO NOT rinse out containers in a sink. The containers will be sanitized when they are returned to the dining facility.
Students can only get one to-go container at a time. A single container can hold up to 2 main entrees and 2 sides. The container must be able to close. Hand-held fruit and portable desserts do not need to be included in the container.
Yes! M|Dining To Go is available during every meal period.
No. Students may not utilize M|Dining To Go and consume a meal inside the dining hall on the same card swipe.
We recommend returning your box no later than 48 hours after you use it, to prevent unwanted pests in your room and to ensure the box doesn’t have time to grow harmful mold and bacteria. MDining and Fill it Forward will send reminders occasionally if boxes aren’t making their way back to us in a timely manner, to ensure we have enough clean boxes ready for you the next time you need one. At the end of each semester, we will also communicate a deadline for your box to be returned to coincide with the end of the meal plan term – boxes not returned by this date will be charged to your student account in the amount of a $10, non-refundable fee.
We have compostable forks, knives, and spoons available if you need utensils to enjoy your meal.
No. Our M|Dining To Go containers are not transferable to another meal plan holder or guest.
At the end of each semester, we will communicate a deadline for your box to be returned to coincide with the end of the meal plan term – boxes not returned by this date will be charged to your student account in the amount of a $10, non-refundable fee.
