Trash cans on the Plaza of the Americas are no longer filled with plates and cups from Krishna Lunch.
The 40-year-old lunch program now offers reusable plates, silverware and cups in an effort to reduce waste from the 800 people who eat there every day.
"I think what we're saving in trash is close to the actual size of the Krishna House," said Krishna volunteer Olivia Martin, 22.
The Krishnas introduced the new stainless-steel plates in December, and the feedback has been positive. A poll on their website shows 84 percent of about 100 respondents like the idea and will use the new plates.
"People eat so much Krishna Lunch that by the time you get your seconds and your thirds and your fourths, your plate's falling apart," Martin said. "So people think they're nice."
Carl Woodham, chaplain of Gainesville's Krishna House, said the stainless steel plates are common in India but couldn't be located in America.
The Krishnas had to order plates from India, Woodham said. They arrived five months later.
He said the cost of switching to reusable plates, including installing a commercial dishwasher at the Krishna House, was about $10,000, which primarily came from profits from the lunch sales.
Krishna Lunch has made a three-year commitment to using the plates.
