| Overall Rating | Gold |
|---|---|
| Overall Score | 66.71 |
| Liaison | Christie-Joy Hartman |
| Submission Date | Sept. 13, 2024 |
James Madison University
EN-5: Outreach Campaign
| Status | Score | Responsible Party |
|---|---|---|
|
4.00 / 4.00 |
Meredith
King Sustainability Coordinator Dining Services, Aramark |
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at students and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Has the institution held a sustainability-related outreach campaign during the previous three years that was directed at employees and yielded measurable, positive results in advancing sustainability?:
Name of the campaign:
A brief description of the campaign:
Aramark (JMU's Dining Service contractor), the Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World, and Facilities Management collaborate annually to participate in the Food Organics Category of Campus Race to Zero Waste (https://campusracetozerowaste.org), formerly named RecycleMania. Efforts include an educational campaign to reduce wasted food and events in the dining halls where diners' waste is weighed and guests are encouraged to take only what they can eat. Weigh the Waste events in Spring Semester are coordinated with Campus Race to Zero Waste. The target audience includes employees, students, and guests.
Weigh the Waste takes place at all-you-care-to-eat dining facilities on JMU’s campus. While consumers (students and employees) enjoy dining at an all-you-care-to-eat facility, food waste is a concern. A Weigh the Waste campaign usually occurs during the lunch period for five weekdays although some single day events take place. A station is setup in front of the dish return. Interns have clear bins and a scale to collect and weigh food waste. Signage is displayed presenting food waste facts. During the lunch period, the food waste is weighed and the amount of food waste per person is determined. Each of the student-employees staffing the table are provided a script with facts and talking points to educate consumers.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign:
In 2022, the Weigh the Waste campaign ran February 28-March 4. There were two days with reductions in the amount of waste collected (14% and 69% decrease).
Due to staffing changes in 2023, information is not available.
In 2024, the weeklong event in DHall was February 26-March 1. No significant change was observed this week. There were visiting groups which likely affected the results since we often see considerable waste with visitors. A Monday, April 22, 2024 Weigh the Waste event in DHall produced an average of 3.7 ounces of waste per participant compared to the usual weekly range of 3.9 to 4.1 ounces of waste per participant.
Name of the campaign (2nd campaign):
A brief description of the campaign (2nd campaign):
Led by the Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World in close cooperation with Facilities Management Recycling, recycling information was updated and disseminated to stakeholders. The FY 2023-24 effort included: replacing all missing and incorrect signs in non-residence hall buildings on campus, redesigning the Facilities Management Recycling and Waste Management website, adding detailed information to the Building Coordinator Handbook, redesigning and distributing the deskside bin guideline, and promoting a plastics #1 pilot project.
A brief description of the measured positive impact(s) of the campaign (2nd campaign):
As part of a capstone project in the School of Integrated Sciences, two students conducted a scientific study of the effect of replacing missing and incorrect recycling signs. The study sample included a key academic building used for General Education and a large residence hall. In Fall 2023, the students made visual observations of all trash and recycling bins in these buildings for three weeks before and after addressing signage. For both halls, observable reductions occurred in recycling in the trash. Some results indicated statistically significant reductions. The residence hall plastics bins had up to 20% contamination consistently and the cardboard bins had full bags of trash. Recommendations made included moving the large, open cardboard recycling bins in the residence hall to the back of the building so that students who were not following the signs might be less likely to throw entire bags of trash in those bins.
A brief description of other sustainability-related outreach campaigns:
The Institute for Stewardship of the Natural World promoted student engagement in sustainability activities in AY 2023-24. Promotion included posting posters in the residence halls and on doors of large lecture halls, announcements in Dukes Weekly and Library bulletins, and news bulletins. An increase was seen from 19% of student respondents to the Continuing Student Survey (preliminary results) selecting often or very often participating in environmental activities outside of courses in 2019 to 28% in 2024, after a drop to 14% in years between.
Additional documentation to support the submission:
Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
Responsible party for Weigh the Waste: Meredith King, Sustainability Coordinator, Aramark/JMU Dining Services. Entered April 29, 2024.
Responsible party for Recycling Refresh and Other Campaigns: CJ Hartman, ISNW. Entered April 24, 2024.
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