Sustainable Practices
Dining Services at RIT is dedicated to reducing food waste and finding sustainable alternatives to existing practices. Sustainable improvement is a continuous process -- a journey, not a destination. The key to our success is to advance in the right direction to conserve resources and help the environment.
Dining Services will continue to offer products which significantly benefit a more sustainable environment. Commencing in the fall of 2009, the Ritz will begin to recycle drinking cups and food containers made from #1 PETE plastic. #1 PETE plastic is commonly used in soft drink bottles. Recycled #1 PETE resin is in demand for making carpet, fiber fill and textiles. PETE is also known as Polyester. Thousands of pounds of PETE plastic will avoid going to a landfill by being recycled and given a second life. The Ritz SportsZone and Artesano Bakery and Café will begin using the EcoCraft line of unbleached paper for wraps and bags. The advantages of EcoCraft paper include chlorine free, FDA approved natural kraft papers, soy based inks and third party certified compostable and biodegradable paper. Additionally, Sol's will begin using recycled unbleached pizza boxes.
A farming vendor has been contracted to pick up pre-consumer vegetable scraps twice weekly to be used on their farm for composting. We anticipate providing 55 tons of vegetable scraps annually, which will be saved from entering a landfill.
Used frying oil from our dining facilities (approximately 30,000 pounds annually) will be sold to a vendor for refinement and production of bio-diesel fuel.
One of our dining halls went tray less last summer and this change has been well received. Food waste has been reduced by approximately 30% and we are consuming less water and chemicals than in previous years since serving trays have been eliminated from the washing cycle. See related article: Without Cafeteria Trays, Colleges Find Savings
All of our dining units will continue to use chlorine free napkins, but new in the fall of 2009, we will be using EcoLogo (environmental choice) napkins made from recycled white office copy paper. The EcoLogo combines strict environmental standards with independent third party verification and is recognized for its holistic and stringent evaluation of the entire manufacturing process. EcoLogo certification addresses both toxicity and general water pollution, restricts total amount of solid waste produced in manufacturing, and restricts total electricity and heat energy required for production.
The Commons and Crossroads are currently evaluating a program to recycle the Styrofoam products used in these dining areas. A foam densifier can compact 8000 foam cups into a cylinder 15 inches in diameter weighing 40 pounds. This can then be turned into polystyrene resin and sold to manufacturers of building materials.
Sustainable Food
An important consideration for the environmental impact of food services is the origin of the food purchased. Purchasing locally produced food cuts transportation costs significantly and reduces the carbon footprint. In the 2008-09 academic year, RIT's Dining Services spent roughly five million dollars on food from 20 local businesses, accounting for 75.6% of their total food purchases. In addition, 34% of its food purchases were locally manufactured, processed or grown.
Dining Services has expanded the locations that offer organic foods. The new Bytes on the Run and Artesano Bakery and Cafe in the Student Alumni Union (SAU) also offer organic foods as well as the Corner Store and Crossroads. Also, two locations now offer fair trade coffee -- Peet's coffee in the SAU and Java Wally's which is housed in the RIT Wallace library. Gluten free products are available at several of these locations.
RIT Better Me Farmers Market
Mark your calendar for this year's Better Me Farmers Market. Every Thursday from September 3 through October 8 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. rain or shine.
NEW LOCATION: Parking Lot E, next to RIT's Bausch & Lomb Building (#77)
Same great vendors plus a few new vendors. Payment is by cash only.
