Overall Rating | Silver |
---|---|
Overall Score | 52.49 |
Liaison | Angela Oberg |
Submission Date | Feb. 27, 2023 |
Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey, New Brunswick Campus
OP-8: Sustainable Dining
Status | Score | Responsible Party |
---|---|---|
1.88 / 2.00 |
Joseph
Charette Executive Director Dining Services |
"---"
indicates that no data was submitted for this field
Part 1. Sustainable dining initiatives
Local community engagement
Yes
A brief description of the farmers market, CSA or urban agriculture project:
Rutgers has a farmers market on campus and we host a student run organic farm
Sustainability-themed outlet
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability-themed food outlet:
Yes, Rutgers has a foodservice operation in the Institute of Food, Nutrition and Health called Harvest that follows the Menus of Change Principles. Harvest Café serves dishes that are focused on whole, minimally processed food, with "from scratch" culinary techniques that develop flavor without additives, chemicals, sugars, and artificial enhancers found in most processed foods. All service ware is compostable and food is locally sourced when possible.
Inclusive and local sourcing
Yes
A brief description of the support for disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
Dining Services does business with small local businesses and minority owned businesses
Estimated percentage of total food and beverage expenditures on products from disadvantaged businesses, social enterprises, and/or local SMEs:
12
Low-impact dining
Yes
A brief description of the low impact dining events and/or plant-forward options:
Rutgers follows the Menus of Change principles in our student board operations as well as our catering operations
Vegan dining program
Yes
A brief description of the vegan dining program:
Rutgers dining services offers both Vegan and Vegetarian options at every meal
Labelling and signage
Yes
A brief description of the sustainability labelling and signage in dining halls:
Rutgers has Menus of Change posters up in every dining hall and we label food with carbon footprint information
Part 2. Food waste minimization and recovery
Food recovery program
No
A brief description of the food recovery competition or commitment program or food waste prevention system:
---
Trayless dining and portion modifications
Yes
A brief description of the trayless dining or modified menu/portion program:
Rutgers dining went completely trayless in 2014
Food donation
Yes
A brief description of the food donation program:
Rutgers dining donates to The Rutgers Food Pantry as well as three other local food banks
Food materials diversion
Yes
A brief description of the food materials diversion program:
Rutgers sends no food to a landfill and has not in well over 40 years. We have aerobic digesters in all dining halls and before that it was picked up for animal feed. Rutgers even reuses fry oil to generate electricity.
Composting
Yes
A brief description of the pre-consumer composting program:
Starting in the fall of 2022; Kitchen trimmings will be picked up and brought to our composting machine and then sold or be given away as a soil additive
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor have a post-consumer composting program?:
Yes
A brief description of the post-consumer composting program:
Post-consumer waste will also be brought to our composting machine
Dine-in service ware
Yes
A brief description of the reusable service ware program:
Rutgers washes, rinses, and sanitizes all service ware for reuse in our dining halls
Take-away materials
Yes
A brief description of the compostable containers and service ware:
Rutgers is not 100% yet but has 100% compostable takeout materials in almost every foodservice location.
Does the institution or its primary dining services contractor offer discounts or other incentives to customers who use reusable containers instead of disposable or compostable containers in “to-go” food service operations?:
No
A brief description of the reusable container discount or incentives program:
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Optional Fields
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Website URL where information about the sustainable dining programs is available:
Additional documentation to support the submission:
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Data source(s) and notes about the submission:
https://rutgersgardens.rutgers.edu/cooks-market/
https://www.moccollaborative.org/
https://ifnh.rutgers.edu/harvest.html
http://food.rutgers.edu/menusofchange/
https://www.moccollaborative.org/
https://ifnh.rutgers.edu/harvest.html
http://food.rutgers.edu/menusofchange/
The information presented here is self-reported. While AASHE staff review portions of all STARS reports and institutions are welcome to seek additional forms of review, the data in STARS reports are not verified by AASHE. If you believe any of this information is erroneous or inconsistent with credit criteria, please review the process for inquiring about the information reported by an institution or simply email your inquiry to stars@aashe.org.