Tackling Food Waste on Campus

February 25, 2015

Bradley kicks off a new initiative to raise awareness about food waste on campus with the Food Waste Tree program.

The amount of food wasted in campus cafeterias will be reported weekly on posters throughout the residence halls. This allows the students, every day when they walk into their cafeterias, to see how much food is being wasted. They will be able to see if the amount declines or increases weekly. The hope is that this will serve as a visual reminder and encourage them to not waste food.

Last year, on Earth Day, Bradley's Dining Services held a food waste awareness campaign in an effort to show students how much food they were wasting. They weighed food waste in both residence hall cafeterias and found diners wasted an average of 260 pounds per day. They then rolled out an education campaign and with in two weeks, the average for both residence hall cafeterias was roughly 70 pounds per day.

Another effort to raise awareness involved students painting murals in the cafeterias. The wall in Geisert Hall near the dish return is now covered in bold colored designs and flowing patterns which brighten the space. Artist Allison Walsh says there are a few elements, like the plate and world, that directly relate to sustainability. "There is a quote on the plate that says, 'Reduce your daily impact.' This is a small thing that every student can do. If everyone could be a little more conscious of their plate, taking only what they know they are going, to eat to avoid wasting food, it could powerfully improve the sustainability of the entire campus." Walsh goes on to say the plate is the beginning of the mural, the first, small step that each person can do themselves. Then the mural eventually flows into shapes of the world, showing that doing the little things can end up making a big difference when joining together.

While these campaigns were successful, the battle against food waste is an ongoing one that requires continued awareness.

Gayle Hanson, Director of Dining Services at Bradley, says food waste affects a business's bottom line which might end up costing consumers more money in the long run, there are health benefits because it encourages portion control, and it impacts the environment because less waste means less going into landfills.

The Food Waste Tree program will continue through the end of the semester.

Food Waste Tree