NEW at Trinity University
FALL 2008

Our Earth Tub compost system is a new tool to help fight food waste on campus. While portion control and preparation is essential to helping cut back food waste no plan is 100%. The Earth Tub, located behind Mabee Dining Hall is an environmentally friendly alternative to trashing our food waste. Approved items are disposed of in the machine which makes use of natural bacteria to break down food into a compost material perfect for use on campus.

Composting is the natural process of decomposition and recycling of organic material into a humus-rich soil amendment. Versions of composting have been happening naturally on forest floors for millions of years. In scientific terms, composting is a microbe-based aerobic, self-heating, process. The compost mix consists or organic maternal (your food scraps). This serves as a source of nutrients for the microbes. Which do the work and a porous woody material for gas exchange and thermal insulation, Owing to the insulating properties or the material and container; heat that is generated metabolically during composting is conserved within the system: This effect raises the temperature to as high as 150 degrees F and speeds up the decomposition process accordingly. As the compostable materials are used up, temperatures decline and eventually return to room temperature. The initial waste is biologically convened to carbon dioxide gas, water and a stabilized nutrient rich byproduct – humus.

The microbes responsible for composting are venous species of beneficial bacteria and fungi that are widespread in the environment. These are indigenous to such materials as soil, dust vegetable matter and wastes of all sorts. Special organisms are not required though often one finds other soil organisms such as worms and sow bugs working their way into a compost system and contributing to the process.

What is Sustainability all about?

At ARAMARK Higher Education, we have a deep respect for and commitment to protecting and improving the environment.

We work to reduce our environmental footprint while delivering exceptional operational results.  We also offer expertise and practical solutions to our clients to help them reduce their environmental impacts.  Throughout our corporation, we develop and implement long-term environmental stewardship programs and policies within the areas of sustainable food; responsible procurement; green buildings; energy and water conservation; transportation; and waste stream management.  We call these programs and policies Green Thread as they weave throughout our business operations every day!

Sustainable Food: Local, Organic, Sustainably Certified, Natural, etc.

At ARAMARK Higher Education, we understand the power and centrality of food in our daily lives and interactions, and recognize that our food choices have a significant impact on our health, culture, environment, and local and global economies.  We are committed to fostering new connections from field to fork and changing the culture of food by nourishing our guests with menus that emphasize fresh whole foods that are raised, grown, harvested and produced locally and/or sustainably wherever possible, and prepared in ways that respect and maintain quality, freshness and pureness.

Green Buildings: LEED Alignment from Design to Operations

ARAMARK Higher Education understands that the built environment represents the largest consumer of precious natural resources, and their operation is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions.  That is why we embrace the ideals, in concept and practice, of the design, construction and operation of high performance buildings.  We assure that the spaces we create and operate are increasingly environmentally friendly, energy efficient and healthy for those who use them. 

Waste Management: RecycleMania, Zero Waste, Reduce, Reuse, Recycle, Composting

At ARAMARK Higher Education, we view the responsible management of waste as a requirement to sustain and restore our natural resources as well as the communities in which we serve. We are committed to minimizing our environmental footprint by fostering a culture that reduces, reuses, and recycles waste. To support closed-loop waste management processes, our innovative practices include partnering with suppliers who share our vision, working to reduce source packaging, enabling recovery and reuse of discarded materials, and recycling waste to create raw materials for other purposes. We are always seeking new and innovative ways to minimize our environmental footprint. 

Responsible Procurement: Environmentally Sensitive Purchasing Decisions

At ARAMARK Higher Education, we consider the environmental impacts of our purchasing practices and how we operate our business every day. We seek to purchase and use environmentally preferable products and services, and recognize suppliers who reduce environmental impacts in their production and distribution systems or services. We partner with our suppliers, customers, and environmental experts to understand the impacts of available products and services on the environment and communities and to identify better solutions and alternatives.

Energy & Water Conservation: Reduction, Technical Solutions, Renewable Energy, etc.

At ARAMARK Higher Education, we understand that that the energy and water we consume are finite natural resources, and contributes to climate change, health & well being, and the environmental quality in the communities we serve.  We advocate and employ energy and water management efforts to reduce consumption, preserve scarce resources, and reduce our contribution to greenhouse gas emissions and water shortages.  We advocate for renewable energy sources and water recapture to reduce our overall environmental footprint. 

Transportation: Minimization, Alternative Fuels, Mass Transportation, Maintenance, etc.

At ARAMARK Higher Education, we rely on vehicles to deliver products and services to our many customer locations. We recognize that reducing our fuel use and emissions will have a substantial impact on costs and the environment. We partner with our suppliers, vehicle manufacturers, clients, and governmental organizations to educate our employees on environmental impacts, develop ways to improve operational efficiency, and implement new technologies when feasible.