RECYCLEMANIA
RecycleMania (www.recyclemaniacs.org) is a friendly competition among US colleges and universities that provides the campus community with a fun, proactive activity in waste reduction. The main goal of this event is to increase student awareness of campus recycling and waste minimization.
This year, RecycleMania had 400 colleges and universities participating in both the Whole Campus and Partial Campus Divisions. SFA participated in this 10-week contest for the first time in 2008, recycling, on average, 4,000 pounds of cardboard per week and finished in 19th place out of the 50 schools that competed in our category. Our total pounds per person each week averaged 1.9.
Complete result details: SFA 2008 RecycleMania Results
THE KERMIT PROJECT
Campus Dining has partnered with the SFA chapter of Omicron Delta Kappa (ODK), a National Leadership Honor Society to create a sustainable on-campus recycling program. For our part, we have agreed: 1) to provide funding for bags to go in recycling receptacles around campus, 2) to provide an intermediate storage location for collected recyclables until they can be taken to a proper drop-off location, and 3) to purchase the recycling containers placed in the Baker Patillo Student Center food court areas and in East College RFoC.
There will be separate containers for plastic bottles and aluminum cans.
TRAYLESS DINING
WHY TRAY-LESS?
As part of our Aramark Higher Education Green Thread environmental stewardship platform, our Waste Stream Management pillar looks for substantial impacts that minimize waste and conserve natural resources, while also providing a more sustainable solution. “Tray-Less”, removing trays from the dining venue, is one such action that promotes an immediate and tangible benefit in support of environmental stewardship.
Environmentally, Tray-Less dining reduces our environmental footprint. It decreases waste, conserves natural resources (namely energy and water) and reduces the introduction of polluting detergents, rinse and drying agents into the water table. Socially, Tray-Less dining provides education and awareness while reinforcing healthy habits. Economically, it is a cost control measure, supporting broader client and Aramark financial responsibility. Collectively, it is a true Triple Bottom Line initiative, further supporting campus sustainability.
Tray-Less dining is most effective and impactful in residential venues with all you care to eat programs.
BENEFITS:
ENVIRONMENTAL
- Reduces our global impact on the environment
- Increases awareness about food waste and the waste stream
- Reduces food waste, and the associated environmental footprint (grow, process, package & transport) Studies demonstrate 33 to 66% less food waste on tray-less days
- Conserves energy by eliminating the need to heat water for trays (savings vary by location)
- Conserves water by eliminating the need to wash trays (savings range from 1/3 to 1/2 gallon/tray)
- Reduces chemical usage (detergents, rinse & drying agents) for washing trays
SOCIAL