Tuesday, September 9, 2008
KU Dining Services is taking steps to reduce its waste.
The process started modestly during the summer when the department switched to biodegradable utensils in The Market in the Kansas Union, The Underground in Wescoe Hall and the Crimson Café in the Burge Union. Since then, the department has added several landfill-friendly items including biodegradable plates, bowls, to-go bags and straws.
Sheryl Kidwell, assistant director of KU Dining Services, said the change didn’t come without a cost. The law of supply and demand makes biodegradable items more expensive, she said.
Kidwell also said that the effects of the transition were ongoing and that the results could take a while to see.
“This is why we are going to take this process one step at a time,” Kidwell said. “So far we have been making smart choices.”
Julianne Kueffer
Flowers made from KU Dining Service's new biodegradable cups and napkins illustrate the idea of biodegradability. KU Dining began introducing biodegradable products this summer.
She said the department realized that students didn’t always have a lot of time, and that being able to take food to-go was important. She said that providing biodegradable to-go containers was part of KU Dining Services environmental responsibility.
Chris Pearson, Wichita junior, said he wasn’t sure how much students would really care about the changes.
“Look, people really don’t have time to stop and read the labels when they’re getting something,” Pearson said. “It’s a quick grab and then running to classes. When you’re rushing like that, nothing else really matters.”
Along with using biodegradable materials, KU Dining Services is also implementing programs to help reduce dining-related waste. One program, Lose the Lid, has had an immediate affect on students at The Underground: Lids for fountain drinks have been moved away from the cups and are now available after the registers.
Kidwell said the program urged students to ask themselves if they really needed a lid or straw for their drink. Signs in the retail dining area explain the idea and note that KU Dining Services distributed more than one ton of plastic lids for fountain drinks and coffee last year. Kidwell said the program would help cut overall costs.
Stacy Gorse, St. Louis sophomore, drank a lidless beverage from The Underground on Monday. She said at first she didn’t understand the point, but then she read the posted signs. She said that she opted to forego a lid because she liked the cause, but that she thought many students would go without just because the lids weren’t close to the cups.
“I appreciate what they are trying to do because I’ve been getting into the whole green thing lately,” Gorse said. “I don’t think I really reflect the majority of students though.”
— — Edited by Becka Cremer
On-campus diners go “trayless”
Hoping to reduce food waste, KU Dining Services conducts an experiment to ...
Dining Services offer unlimited meal plan
Students have until 5 p.m. on Friday to change to a less ...
Campus eateries enjoy record profits
Students increasingly turn to on-campus dining for meals despite the rising costs ...
Students with food allergies exercise caution on ...
When eating at dining halls, it can be difficult to tell what ...
Going green becomes mainstream at sporting events
University organizations suggest ways to improve recycling after football games.
Trans fat statistics not available for Dining ...
Residence halls prepare for Thanksgiving feast
A Thanksgiving feast fit for thousands of hungry college students — including ...
KU receives C+ in sustainability efforts
Sustainable Endowments Institute evaluated the 332 colleges on their green efforts.
KU Dining serves up a night of ...
The three dining halls will serve food that comes from within a ...
Dining trays may cause students to waste ...
The Dining Services director would like to try the a tray theory ...
Brown: Why campus should keep going ‘trayless’
KU Dining Services supports local foods
University’s effort to save money, support sustainability includes rooftop garden and local ...
Group uses extra food from dining centers
Program donates unused food from KU Dining Services to area homeless shelters ...
Student studies abroad in small village
KU student Chelsea Cooley learns to appreciate the environment while studying in ...
Taking a bite out of poor nutrition
Dining Services reward students for taking better bites in campus dining facilities.
Students not cramming healthier food options
Frustrations arise from campus overcrowding
Students express their annoyances about the recreation center and The Underground being ...
Officials agree to Underground expansion
The popular lunch spot on campus will undergo a 139-seat expansion to ...
Bennett: Underground expansion unnecessary
The 139-seat expansion was a waste of student fees.
Campus calories no longer a mystery
KU Dining Services offers NetNutrition, a nutrition calendar, online.
On-campus food prices not increasing
After kicking a two-year trend, on-campus dining prices will remain the same ...
Dining Services offers local produce
New Farm to Cart program sells locally grown fruits and vegetables on ...
Campus cuisine now costs more
Recent increases in Dining Services prices and state sales tax combine for ...
Jayhawks are flocking to Twitter
KU groups on Twitter include coalitions, museums, Underground.
Eight things to do before you graduate
Ways to get the most out of your time at the University.
Sen. Roberts hears about KU teaching tools
KU education leaders say too much emphasis has been placed on elementary ...
University considers composting
Project could reduce waste, help the environment.
Requests for safe disposal increase
More departments are contacting eWaste to get rid of their unwanted electronics
Students open snack shop
University recycles more than paper and plastic
Besides the standard recyclables, the University also recycles bubble wrap, packing peanuts, ...
Dining halls add televisions
Campus dining halls added $8,000 worth of televisions to entertain students during ...
Where your waste goes after it’s disposed
Follow the process your trash and recyclables go through after they’re tossed ...
Campus, Lawrence put lid on trash
Student coalitions examine on-campus dining options
The new campus dining platforms aims to increase student involvement in dining ...
Green campus groups educate students
Many opportunities exist at KU to get involved with environmental groups and ...
Environs host panel to raise awareness
Educating the public and land preservation were hot topics at Monday’s panel.
University battles SPAM
New service recycles campus furniture
The University of Kansas Environmental Stewardship Program is developing a new way ...
Greening it
Your guide to greener living
From left: Kimberlee Hinkle, Libby Johnson and Hannah ...
1 comment
Kansas Jayhawk fans hold aloft a reproduction of ...
2 comments
Erin Saupe, a Ph.D. student from St. Cloud, ...
1 comment
0 comments
Armed robbers continue to threaten.
3 comments
Lecture from Greg Mortenson, co-author of New York ...
0 comments
Comments
Use the comment form below to begin a discussion about this content.
Sign in to comment
Or login with:
OpenID