Dining & Culinary, Purdue Student Government collaborating on sustainability efforts for fall

Purdue Dining & Culinary and Purdue Student Government are working together to improve sustainability in food service venues. Recyclable packaging and cutlery will be available in all residential dining facilities before the beginning of fall semester. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood) Download image

Purdue Dining & Culinary and Purdue Student Government are collaborating to improve sustainability in food service venues as they enact measures to ensure a safe dining environment in accordance with the Protect Purdue Plan.

Dining & Culinary will offer recyclable packaging and cutlery in all residential dining facilities before the beginning of fall semester. Dining & Culinary has partnered with Anchor Packaging on environmentally neutral food packaging products produced in a sustainable manufacturing environment. Anchor recycles 100 percent of its raw materials.

Recyclable cutlery will be available through a partnership with Cutlerease, which provides individually dispensed utensils rather than the prepackaged sets that are common in carryout service. The individual utensils will allow students to select only those they need.

“We have spent a lot of time coming up with operational plans to serve our students in the best way possible,” says Azrielle Nunnally, director of dining operations. “This includes moving students through lines quickly, taking into account social distancing and other health and safety guidelines as we work to Protect Purdue. Selecting and procuring recyclable, durable to-go containers is another decision we have made with the student’s best interests in mind. PD&C values sustainability and we will continue to work with the campus community to be good stewards in all phases of our operations.”

Purdue Student Government (PSG) is anchoring efforts to represent the interests of students and educate the student body on the need to recycle. PSG plans to have educational signage and other materials directed to students in and around areas students will be dining this fall, including residence halls.

“We are working on a protocol or a system of best practices that every student on campus can follow,” says Myles Chapman, sustainability director for PSG.

Because a high number of students are served daily, using recyclable materials and following a recycling program has the opportunity to greatly decrease waste produced this fall. Dining & Culinary serves an average of more than 19,000 meals per day during the school year.

“We really want the student body to care,” Chapman says. “It’s really about caring and understanding what kind of difference can be made, especially with regard to the increased use of plastic on campus. I think if the student body understands, then a set of actions will come pretty simply.

“PSG is being careful not to impose any harsh or unusual changes on top of those laid out in the Protect Purdue Plan, but we are moving forward with simple changes requested by the student body."

Fulfilling the need for recyclable, takeout food packaging and cutlery is consistent with food service measures adopted by Dining & Culinary in conjunction with the Protect Purdue Plan. Under the plan, all dining services are currently carryout only. Students are encouraged to eat in outdoor spaces set up to observe social distancing measures or to take their meals to their rooms.

Dining & Culinary’s mission is to nourish and inspire the Purdue community. The department embraces a focus on co-curricular education and leadership development as an integral part of the Purdue experience. Dining & Culinary offers more than 250 internships and intentional learning opportunities as part of its commitment to partnering with Purdue students.

Purdue Student Government serves as the primary representative organization of the undergraduate student body at the University. PSG acts as a liaison between the Purdue University administration, governmental authorities and the student body to serve the needs of Purdue students and to enhance the student experience at Purdue University.