Pacific University Dining Services began composting kitchen and dining room waste in 2007. To date, Pacific Dining Services (PDS) has diverted 28.6 tons of food waste from the landfill. 
The Boxer Bistro, RFoC and 8^th Ave Café all participated in this earth-friendly endeavor.  We also compost all of our used coffee grounds.

Summer 2008, we switched gears, and now a local farmer collects our food waste to use as feed for his pigs.  For Luau 2009, our efforts paid off, and the pig farmer was able to donate a 200 lb+ pig for the student after party.

By diverting food waste from the landfill, we are helping to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the Northwest (when food waste decomposes in the landfill, it generates methane gas, a potent greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming).

Compostable To Go Ware
PDS has converted 100% of our “to go” ware to compostable products in the University Center dining area. All cold and hot cups, straws, plates, to go containers and silverware are made from renewable resources such as sugar cane, potato starch and Poly Lactic Acid (PLA) – a polymer derived entirely from corn resin.

Due to the geographical location of Pacific University, we are not currently able to compost these products at the end of their life; you can help reduce our environmental impact by choosing to use re-usable service ware whenever you can.

Re-Usable To-Go Boxes
Introducing green takeout! PDS is now offering reusable to-go containers at the Real Food on Campus for all meals. Now you can enjoy the convenience of take-out without all the waste. 

By using reusable containers, participants will join others in the efforts to reduce waste on our campus. 78,000 to-go containers were used, and therefore thrown away, on campus last year- Using re-usable containers will make our to-go program more sustainable.

Recycling
At Pacific Dining Services, we recycle everything we can, including waste paper, cardboard, aluminum cans, glass and plastic bottles in office and dining locations.

As a department, we work to source and implement ways to limit and properly dispose of all waste in our dining locations. 

Reducing Plastic Waste
In summer, 2008, we installed a filtered water station at the Boxer Bistro to help students and faculty reduce their ecological footprint.  Customers can buy bis-phenol(a)-free, re-usable water bottles at the Bistro, and fill them at the filtered water station at no charge.

Re-usable Mug Discount
You can save green 2 ways – both for the environment and your pocketbook.  To help you conserve resources, we offer a 10 cent discount every time you buy coffee or tea in your own re-usable mug. Don’t have a travel mug of your own? The Bistro has them for sale!



Tray-Less Dining
PDS piloted tray-less dining on Earth Day, 2008. This was such a success that we implemented 100% tray-less dining in the University Center on a permanent basis with the opening of the Fall 2008 semester.

Going tray-less conserves water and energy used to wash trays and reduces the amount of chemical rinse aids needed.  Additionally, tray-less dining promotes healthier eating by reducing over consumption and food waste.

Using Public Transit
We offer a transit benefit program to our employees to help make it easier to choose public transit.  Currently, one quarter of our employees ride public transit to work. For local public transit information, check out the Portland Metro MAX website.

We also use an electric, energy-efficient golf carts on campus for making catering deliveries.

In support of sustainable agriculture, PDS has developed an on-going relationship with the Food Alliance, a non-profit organization that certifies

   - B-Street Farm - Forest Grove, OR
   - Gales Meadow Farm - Gales Creek, OR
   - Wildberry Farms - Forest Grove, OR 
   - Spring Bank Farms - Lebanon, OR
   - Yamhill County Mushrooms - Yamhill, OR
   - Borton and Sons Farm - Yakima, WA
   - Suri and Son Farms - Clackamas, OR
   - Curry and Company - Brooks, OR
   - Fujii Farms - Troutdale, OR
   - Northwest Organic Farms - Ridgeland, WA

Country Natural Beef About 85% of our beef is sourced from Country Natural Beef, a rancher-owned cooperative based in eastern Oregon, committed to providing sustainable, humanely-raised beef. Their herds spend most of their lives living on the range, eating grass, and they are never fed antibiotics, hormones or steroids.   They also eat a 100% vegetarian diet. Country Natural Beef is also Food Alliance certified.

PDS serves fair trade coffees, espresso drinks and teas at the Boxer Bistro on campus.  Products include a combination of national and local brands to offer variety for campus customers.  Fair trade coffee means that the coffee growers are receiving a better price for their coffee as compared to most commodity coffee, thereby helping the often-poor farmers improve their lives and the lives of their families.

Tully’s Coffee Founded in 1992, Tully’s Coffee Corporation is a handcrafted coffee roaster, located in Seattle, WA.  All of the Tully’s coffee we offer is fair trade certified. Tully’s was also the first major coffee retailer to adopt a fully renewable and compostable, paper cup for its hot beverages. This program features the innovative ecotainer™ hot cup.

Starbucks  Pacific Dining Services operates a “We Proudly Brew” location on the main Forest Grove campus. In 2009, PDS purchased 1,983 pounds of Starbucks fair trade coffee.