New UMM Students Given Sustainability Survival Kits
Initiative aimed at educating campus community and reducing waste

MACHIAS, Maine – When new students moved into their residence halls at the University of Maine at Machias on Friday, August 27, they were welcomed with a survival pack. The kit didn’t contain band-aids, a compass, or matches. Instead, it was full of items designed to help students reduce their impact on the environment.

UMM’s Green Campus Steering Committee and Aramark Dining Services teamed up to provide sustainability survival kits to all first-year students. Inside the green reusable shopping bag was an energy-saving compact fluorescent (CFL) bulb, stainless steel water bottle, and a reusable to-go food container for use at the University’s dining facilities.

The to-go container is part of an exchange program, where used containers can be dropped off at The Galley Snack Bar and exchanged for a clean one. Aramark will wash and sanitize the dirty containers and then make them available for exchange again.

“We’re trying to reduce the amount of waste on campus,” said Kim Page, director of student life. “If we can provide students with the tools and resources they need to make more environmentally conscious decisions on campus, then they are more inclined to live a sustainable life.”

In addition to the new food container exchange program, UMM’s Dining Services has implemented several other changes to the way it operates. Produce and ingredients are purchased from local sources whenever possible, food waste is sent to a local pig farmer to be used as feed, overhead lights are left off on sunny days to utilize natural light, and the campus dining hall has been trayless for four years, which has helped to conserve water and energy along with reducing food waste.

There is also an organic garden on campus maintained by students, which supplies produce to the Machias Food Pantry.

The University of Maine at Machias is New England’s only public Environmental Liberal Arts college, offering an education uniquely grounded in the natural, social, cultural, and economic environments of coastal Maine. To learn more, visit http://www.machias.edu/.


At ARAMARK we have a deep respect for—and commitment to—preserving our environment. We are connecting and developing environmental stewardship programs and policies—called Green Thread—that weave throughout our business operations. These include sustainable food and agriculture, earth-friendly procurement, energy conservation, waste management, and buildings and system design.

In conjunction with the University of Maine at Machias, and the  UMM's Green Campus Coalition  on campus.ARAMARK is committed to supporting sustainability initiatives on campus. Examples include:

Sustainable food

  • We are consistently sourcing local produce and ingredients to support local farmers and businesses whenever possible.
    We purchase local produce and  potatoes through a local provider, Tide Mill Organic Farm in Edmunds, Maine
    .
  • We purchase milk through local dairy HP Hood
  • We purchase all of our frozen potato products from McCain's in Easton, ME.
  • We serve New England Coffee
  • We only purchase seafood that is designated as a "Best Choice" and "Good Alternative" by the Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch list. Monterey Bay Aquarium's Seafood Watch program ensures we focus on preserving our oceans and fisheries for future generations by encouraging the use of sustainable seafood.

Waste Management
  • We recycle all glass, cans, paper,  plastic and cardboard
  • Our to go containers are Green Wave Biodegradable Tableware which are made of bamboo and grass
  • We use SCA brand 100% recycled napkins in all locations.  These dispensers reduce napkin usage and related waste by 40%!
  • We are working with a local pig farmer, providing his farm with all food waste products to be used as feed.  This reduces the amount of by-products sent into the waste water system. 

Responsible procurement
  • We buy 100% recycled printing paper for our office
  • We purchase in bulk to reduce packaging waste.

Energy and Water Conservation
  • We have gone trayless to conserve water and energy.
  • On sunny days, we leave the lights off and use natural light in Kilburn commons
  • We converted all our cleaning supplies to the ECO Friendly APEX line from Ecolab. This product is less toxic to the environment; the packaging is smaller and recyclable.