Waste Reduction
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- RIT Dining/
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- Waste Reduction
Our Efforts
Our waste comes from product packaging, food preparation, uneaten scraps, napkins, and disposable containers and utensils. We aim to minimize our ecological footprint by five measures: food sourcing, menu design, plant-based offerings, plastic reduction, and net zero goal.
- Thoughtful food sources by using local produce and supporting nearby farmers to reduce transportation emissions and promote community resilience.
- Smart menu design with health-focused, balanced, and minimally processed dishes. We consciously limit saturated fats, high fructose corn syrup, and sodium.
- Diverse protein options with more plant-based choices and less red meat to improve environmental impact.
- Paper bags, straws, and wood coffee stirrers replace plastic ware* and leverage fine china where possible.
- Minimize food waste and divert it from landfills to reach a net zero goal.
*Plastic straws are available upon request only.
321,300
pounds of pre-consumer and post-consumer waste composted
90%
of dining purchases are from locally operated businesses
75,000
containers eliminated from the waste streams annually with reusable containers
![composting dirt](/dining/sites/rit.edu.dining/files/images/paragraph/image-card/14243896_l_normal_none.jpg)
Composting
We partner with Impact Earth to compost all of our pre-consumer organic matter and hope to expand this initiative to include post-consumer composting in the near future.
![ozzie box](/dining/sites/rit.edu.dining/files/images/paragraph/image-card/BCC_OzziBox2.jpg)
Reduction of Polystyrene
We have minimized the use of polystyrene (Styrofoam) in our locations and have replaced it with recyclable containers made from polypropylene (number 5 plastic).
Our Partners
![Foodlink logo](/dining/sites/rit.edu.dining/files/images/paragraph/image-card/Foodlink-temp.png)
Foodlink
We composted over 514,000 pounds of pre-consumer and post-consumer waste, and donated over 8,300 pounds of food to date. Learn more >
![EcoCraft logo](/dining/sites/rit.edu.dining/files/images/paragraph/image-card/ecocraft_square.png)
EcoCraft
We utilize EcoCraft products made from recycled natural kraft paper using an FDA-approved chlorine-free manufacturing process and a soy-blended eco-wax, reducing dependence on the use of petroleum based products.
![Ecolab logo](/dining/sites/rit.edu.dining/files/images/paragraph/image-card/ecolab-square-temp_0.png)
Ecolab
We use the Apex ware-washing system from Ecolab, which contains no phosphates and minimal packaging. Each dish machine has a computerized monitoring system which tracks usage and efficiency, allowing each machine to be adjusted to minimize water and energy consumption.
![Regional Distributors logo](/dining/sites/rit.edu.dining/files/images/paragraph/image-card/reg_dist_square.png)
Regional Distributors, Inc.
Regional Distributors provides paper, plastic, and cleaning supplies that reduce our impact on the environment. Learn more >