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Food & Dining Services

The production of food—including intensive farming, processing, transport, preparation, and the generation of waste—has major impacts on our environment through associated greenhouse gas emissions and pollution. These impacts can be minimized by purchasing organic, local, and seasonal foods, eliminating disposables, donating excess food, composting scraps, using eco-friendly cleaning supplies, and utilizing water and energy-efficient preparation methods.

 

What PSU is doing to lessen our impact:

  • Reusable to-go container program in Smith's Viking Food Court.

  • Partnership with Sequential Bio Fuels to recycle all cooking oil into bio-diesel. Every gallon of waste cooking oil recycled into bio-diesel prevents 16 pounds of carbon dioxide from being released into the atmosphere.

  • Food waste collected for composting in PSU's kitchens. 

  • Tray-less dining at Victor's at the Ondine.

    • Conserves water and energy used for washing trays, and reduces need for chemical cleaners.

    • Promotes healthier eating habits, reduces overconsumption and food waste. Aramark reduced food waste 25-30% per person when trays were removed from dining facilities.

  • Purchase of local food products such as beef, eggs, milk, and bread.

  • Discount from PSU Dining Services for refilling your reusable mug with coffee, tea, or soda.

  • Victor's dining hall aiming to be a zero waste facility.

  • Post-consumer food waste collected for composting and Elimination of individually-packaged condiments in Viking Food Court.

  • Portland Farmer’s Market on campus Saturdays from March through December. The market attracts over 15,000 visitors each week during peak season, and local farmers and food vendors from around the metro region. 

  • Food services contract specifies purchase of foods certified by Food Alliance and recommended by Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.

  • PSU Catering Services provides compostable service ware at events to minimize landfill-bound waste.

Sustainability in Dining Services (Aramark)

Food For Thought Cafe (FFT), is a student-run cafe and catering service featuring local and organic foods. FFT supports recycling and composting, affordable food, living wages and working conditions, and community-based management.