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BEST PRACTICES
Sustainable practices are important for the long-term health of the environment
and can be implemented in the cafeterias on your campus. Green procurement, or
“buying green,” as it is commonly referred to, is one way to benefit
the environment and your institution by minimizing environmental impact and costs
associated with purchasing and waste disposal. Prior to selecting/purchasing products,
it would be beneficial to consider the following questions:
- What is the environmental impact of the product? Is it recyclable and energy-efficient?
- What kind of packaging is used? How could the packaging be minimized?
- What are the primary raw materials used?
- Is the product life appropriate to its task features? Is the product durable?
- Are wastes minimized throughout the product’s life cycle?
- Does the product’s design minimize the use of nonrenewable resources?
- At the end of the product’s life, can constituent materials and components
be reused, recycled or recovered?
Sustainable practices that apply to a cafeteria facility include:
- Buying supplies and items that are durable, reusable, and recyclable.
- Procuring supplies and items that are non-toxic and made with recycled
content.
- Specifying that purchased items be delivered in bulk or with minimal packaging.
- Identifying environmentally preferable products that meet basic quality
specifications.
- Establishing environmental screening for all new purchases.
- Encouraging energy and water efficiency in cooking and washing operations.
- Providing washable, reusable dinnerware, and implementing recycling programs
for cans, bottles and other waste.
- Donating excess/leftover food to area homeless shelters and soup kitchens.
- Establishing composting programs for food wastes that cannot be donated.
- Encouraging water and energy conservation by employees.
- Maximizing energy efficiency in lighting, heating and cooling the facility.
- Using the least toxic cleaning materials and buying them in bulk.
- Informing students, faculty and staff about sustainable efforts and encouraging
them to participate.
- Providing recycling opportunities to members of the public that visit the
facility.
- Implementing water and energy saving mechanisms in the facility.
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