The mug project is a campus-wide initiative to eliminate single-use containers and bottles by encouraging and incentivizing the use of reusable bottles and mugs on campus.
How Does it Work?
UT students, faculty, and staff can bring their own mug of twenty-four ounces or less and receive a $0.70 discount on drip coffee and fountain beverages.The program also offers 15% off specialty coffee beverages.
How Do I Participate?
Just bring your own mug! You don’t need a sticker, coupon, or anything else to participate in the project. Almost all reusable mugs and bottles are accepted as long as they are 24 oz or smaller.
Why Use a Reusable Mug?
Cups cost restaurants money and those costs are transferred to the consumer. With the elimination of these costs, the consumer, business, and environment all gain something. In addition, waxy paper cups and Styrofoam cups cannot be recycled. Most importantly, cups cost huge amounts of energy and natural resources to make and transport. UT’s ~27,000 students use an estimated 3,225 cups per day. Over the course of a year, that requires 485 trees, 290,000 gallons of water, and 360 million BTUs of energy. That’s enough to power four households for a year!
Where Can I Use My Mug?
You can use your own mug at any Vol Dining location where fountain drinks and drip coffee are served! To list a few, you can use your own mug at the following locations:
- P.O.D. Markets
- Starbucks
- Einstein Bros. Bagels
- Dunkin’ Donuts
