The High Cost of Dish, Utensil Replacement at Washington U.-St. Louis

Washington University in St. Louis spent about $7,000 this year to replace missing and damaged permanentware in its dining halls, reports the school's Student Life campus paper. The dining services department allocates $1.50 to $2.50 per student for the funds to cover this expense. The losses come from a combination of unavoidable wear and tear, absentmindedness on the part of customers (throwing utensils in the garbage, etc.) and theft.