Social Responsibility
We are committed to environmental stewardship and work closely in collaboration with our students, University of Washington (UW) departments, vendors, suppliers and other partners to reduce our environmental impact. By working as a team, we can take action locally. We have implemented many programs, all of which rely on student participation for continued success. Ever wonder how it all began? Read a brief history of sustainable dining at the UW.
Ever wonder what happens to that item you put in the compost bin? Take a tour of the Cedar Grove Composting site and find out.
Environmental Stewardship and Sustainability Programs
Recycling: We want to make it as easy for you to recycle as it is has previously been to toss an item in a garbage can.
Conservation: We are all in this together. Learn what you can do to take more responsibility for the impact you have on the environment. Each one of us can make a positive difference.
Healthy Dining: Our Food Services staff has been busy developing healthy alternatives for your food choices.
Composting: Composting is actually an old and proven technique to take organic materials and use natural means to create a nutrient-rich component for the soil.
Get Involved: See this checklist of actions that individual residents can take and information about how to join Students Expressing Environmental Dedication (SEED).
Compostable Cup Now a Reality
The new Coca-Cola® compostable fountain cup is a key contribution to our growing line of compostable products, and is an important next step in the UW’s achievement of its environmental sustainability goals.
State-wide Award for Recycling
The Washington State Recycling Association selected the University of Washington Department of Housing & Food Services (HFS) as the winner of the 2008 Washington State Recycler of the Year (ROY) award in the category Institution of Higher Learning. This recognition is the result of a lot of hard work by HFS staff and students, including members of Students Expressing Environmental Dedication, a UW residence hall environmental group. Our success has also depended on our customers—students, faculty and staff—who are willing to follow our recycling and composting suggestions. We have submitted our application for the 2009 award.
HFS Food Services is Styrofoam-free
At the end of winter quarter 2008, the By George Freshen’s smoothie bar used up the last of Food Services supply of Styrofoam. The new replacement cups and containers are all clear, 100%-compostable cups and lids from the Greenware cup line. (In August 2008 we added the new paper-based, PLA-coated Freshen's smoothie cups, produced by International Paper.)
HFS Eliminates Another Environmental Contaminant—Polystyrene Cutlery—from Food Services
HFS has stopped purchasing and offering polystyrene cutlery (knives, forks, spoons) from all residence hall and retail food services, and has moved to a 100%-renewable resource cutlery made from corn. HFS residence hall food services have a combination of reusable metal cutlery and 100%-compostable corn cutlery. In all other operations, HFS has ceased the use of polystyrene cutlery and has replaced it with a heat resistant, renewable resource cutlery that biodegrades within 90 days. The phase-out of polystyrene cutlery began in December 2007. In 2006, HFS used over three million polystyrene knives, forks and spoons, which were disposed of as waste and were sent to regional landfills to be buried. Polystyrene is produced from fossil fuels and takes hundreds of years to breakdown in a landfill.
For institutions interested in further developing their own composting programs, see the following links: