Campus composting, Energy Wars continue green efforts
By: Meredith McGrady
Issue date: 4/8/08 Section: News
Although the new dishes in the Hub are black and white, campus dining is going green. With the reintroduction of the reusable dishware and the new arrivals of composting cans, Food Services has increased its environmental sustainability.
Food Services General Manager Steve Santo said that the composting cans had arrived but had not been put into use until after spring break, delaying the reintroduction of the dishes, which appeared briefly earlier this semester. Santo also said that with the new system of trash cans and dishes, dining services has run into some problems. Santo said that the dishroom is small, limiting the amount and kinds of dishes that the Hub may use.
The dishes have also been found thrown into the trash cans and left on tables.
"It's a learning curve," Santo said. "It's a challenge. We have to learn if kids will use them."
Along with the new dishes, the new trash cans have added to the sustainability of the Hub. The trash cans have slots for composting. The compost will eventually be taken to a large bin outside of Longden, but currently the bin is not in place. Signs have been placed above the cans to let students know which items are compostable.
The DePauw Environmental Club has encouraged Food Services to become more environmentally sustainable. The two groups have been working together to look for more environmentally friendly solutions for the campus dining servies. Some possibilities still under consideration include biodegradable plastic made of potatoes, dishware for the salad bar and charging for the use of plastic bags or replacing them with reusable bags.
The Environmental Club has also been promoting environmental awareness in other areas on campus. The environmental club and the physical plant have teamed up and challenged four dorms - Mason, Lucy, Longden and Bishop Roberts - to energy wars.
According to freshman Kate Wright, treasurer of the Environmental Club, the competition is to reduce the amount of energy used during the month of April. The physical plant is measuring the dorms' usage of electricity, water, non-recylable waste and heating and cooling. Wright said that not all of the dorms were involved due to the expense of installing meters at all of the dorms.
Food Services General Manager Steve Santo said that the composting cans had arrived but had not been put into use until after spring break, delaying the reintroduction of the dishes, which appeared briefly earlier this semester. Santo also said that with the new system of trash cans and dishes, dining services has run into some problems. Santo said that the dishroom is small, limiting the amount and kinds of dishes that the Hub may use.
The dishes have also been found thrown into the trash cans and left on tables.
"It's a learning curve," Santo said. "It's a challenge. We have to learn if kids will use them."
Along with the new dishes, the new trash cans have added to the sustainability of the Hub. The trash cans have slots for composting. The compost will eventually be taken to a large bin outside of Longden, but currently the bin is not in place. Signs have been placed above the cans to let students know which items are compostable.
The DePauw Environmental Club has encouraged Food Services to become more environmentally sustainable. The two groups have been working together to look for more environmentally friendly solutions for the campus dining servies. Some possibilities still under consideration include biodegradable plastic made of potatoes, dishware for the salad bar and charging for the use of plastic bags or replacing them with reusable bags.
The Environmental Club has also been promoting environmental awareness in other areas on campus. The environmental club and the physical plant have teamed up and challenged four dorms - Mason, Lucy, Longden and Bishop Roberts - to energy wars.
According to freshman Kate Wright, treasurer of the Environmental Club, the competition is to reduce the amount of energy used during the month of April. The physical plant is measuring the dorms' usage of electricity, water, non-recylable waste and heating and cooling. Wright said that not all of the dorms were involved due to the expense of installing meters at all of the dorms.
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