Brock University will say goodbye to plastic straws and hello to new on-campus dining options come September.

The University is putting its support behind the eco-friendly movement that is sweeping the nation and will be removing plastic straws in exchange for paper and biodegradable alternatives at all campus establishments.

Dining Services is also introducing a series of new food options this fall, including all-day Tim Hortons breakfast, expanded Starbucks selections and the popular Beyond Meat vegan burgers at Brock’s Guernsey Market.

“We implemented a feedback model during the winter term that has allowed us to gain great insight into what our customers want when it comes to dining on campus,” said Malcolm Dales, Associate Director, Operations.

That feedback was then used to help shape the changes being introduced at the University.

“We have been working closely with Sodexo and other on-campus partners and are happy with the new line-up of food and beverage offerings coming to Brock this fall,” Dales said.

Many loyal Tim Hortons customers have had to travel to other areas of campus this summer to get their daily brew while the Schmon Tower location is renovated.

The expanded Tower Tim Hortons is on track to reopen at the end of September with all-day breakfast and additional food options.

“We realize this was an inconvenience for our customers and thank them for their patience,” Dales said of the temporary closure.

Hot beverage offerings at Guernsey Market as well as the DeCew and Lowenberger dining halls are also set to change with the introduction of the Starbucks brand.

The Market will feature a Starbucks Barista machine that guarantees the same beverage quality as those served up in full-service Starbucks locations. A variety of specialty drinks will be available, including hot chocolate.

During the first week of September, staff will be giving away samples and showing customers how to use the machine to create their favourite beverages. In the dining halls, the current coffee blend will be replaced with Starbucks proudly brewed coffee which is served at the other two Starbucks locations on campus.

Also new to Guernsey Market’s food lineup is the Beyond Meat burger, which launched at A&W this summer and quickly sold out at locations across Ontario. The pea protein-based burger is made to look and taste like a beef burger, but contains no animal byproducts.

“We continue to look for diverse offerings of food at our dining locations,” Dales said. “This is one area that we are looking to enhance to meet the needs of our customers.”

Dining Services will be working throughout the academic year to identify areas of improvement and will continue to gather feedback on campus food and beverage experiences.

More changes to Brock’s dining options are expected to be announced in the coming months.