Aug. 28, 2008 - Colleges and universities are trialling an innovative green strategy that may be coming to a company cafeteria near you - banning food-service trays to cut waste and energy consumption, Daily Illini reports.

About 20 U.S. schools are opting to go trayless this year, betting that no trays means less uneaten food - and therefore less water and energy required to clean it off.

The schools are monitoring water and energy use at the trayless cafeterias to see if the program is worth expanding throughout their dining facilities.