Local Sustainable Initiatives
Your Campus Dining Team is dedicated to sustainability. We know we can all work together to make a positive impact right here at The University of Minnesota - Morris. In addition to the many initiatives we take on as a company, we have implemented the following programs specific to the Morris Community.
Campus Dining Hall Food Waste Study
UMM eliminated Dining Hall trays in 2009 following the major dining services facility renovation. This change was part of a strategy to reduce food waste and overconsumption following the example of successful tray-less pilots at universities across the country. MHE student leaders and Dining Services leader launched a food waste study during the last six weeks of fall semester to analyze expenditures for food discarded by students and encourage a further reduction in food wasted.
Edible food waste from the Dining Hall was weighed and recorded after each meal. Sodexo determined a dollar value of $3.30 per pound of edible food discarded. Food waste study results were posted at the end of fall semester. A total of 6,483 pounds of edible foods were discarded. At $3.30 per pound, the discarded food had a total value of $22,582 for the six-week time period of the study. The average weekly food waste was $3,764. Morris Healthy Eating and Dining Services will continue food waste tracking in 2010. As the amount of edible food waste decreases, Dining Services will use the savings to provide a greater variety of fresh fruit in the Dining Hall.
Local Farms
We work hard to get as many ingredients locally as possible. Our professionally-trained chefs write our menus to take advantage of the fresh fruits and vegetables that are naturally in season.
Recycling
We have made recycling a cinch with individual recycling bins to dispose of paper, plastics and aluminum at the Turtle Mountain Café.
Waste Minimization
At the Dining Hall we have incorporated a waste minimization effort near our dish room. This effort includes separate areas to dispose of unwanted foods and trash.
No Styrofoam
University Dining Services also has a NO STYROFOAM policy at all locations on campus. All of our paper products are made of 100% compostable products. From potatoes to corn our products are great for the environment and reduce our carbon footprint each and every day that we use them.
APEX Dishwashing System
As part of its commitment to increase the sustainability of its operations, Dining Services uses Ecolab's Apex dishwashing system. Apex combines technology and products designed to save water and energy, minimize the impact of products on the environment, and has a built-in method of measuring results. Apex uses a unique combination of detergents, rinse additives, equipment and consultative services to address the operational challenges in foodservice operations. The Apex management approach uses a tablet PC and wireless technology to communicate with the system's controller to download, process and analyze data to establish each foodservice operation's rack-to-guest ratio.
By monitoring and improving this ratio, the system helps reduce the amount of water and energy used at each facility, and improves total operational efficiency. All locations will receive the benefits of using less water, energy and labor, thus minimizing their operations' overall impact on the environment. In addition, the Apex system further supports Dining Services' sustainability initiatives with non-caustic chemistry and 95% less packaging material than current methods. Apex products come in a compact solid form that significantly reduces transportation shipments compared to bulkier liquid detergents.
Xpress Nap Holders
XPressnap dispensers are another solution to reducing energy and waste. They save 30% in paper over traditional napkin dispensing mechanisms. The great thing about these dispensers is that they help the environment while helping to keep costs down. The napkins are made of 100% recycled paper and the dispenser will encourage customers to take (and waste) less napkins. Energy is saved because less power is used to recycle paper products than to create them from virgin material. According to Xpressnap, enough is saved through utilizing recycle napkins to power 600 American homes for an entire year! More than half a million gallons of oil was saved 38 tanker trucks worth and 41 tons of pollutants were kept out of the environment. 4,131 cubic yards of paper were diverted from landfill space. This is enough to cover an entire football field with a two and a half foot deep stack of paper.