Talking Trash

Hopefully everyone is having a smooth first full week. All of you have probably noticed our many garbage receptacles around the dining areas. It may seem confusing at first, but please take the time to separate and throw your trash items in the appropriate bins. Signs with pictures and descriptions of what can be disposed of in each are located on top and on the front of the bins. All food scraps are compostable along with our eco-friendly paper plates, brown napkins, clear plastic cups, straws, utensils and salad to-go containers.

UWEC is proud to be selected as the first commercial composting site in Eau Claire and we are trying our best to become more environmentally responsible and conforming to our University’s strategic plan to become an eco-friendly operation. If you have any questions about what you can compost or recycle please let us know!

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Blugold Dining Composting Program

This January, Blugold Dining in partnership with Veolia Environmental Services, has become one of the first commercial facilities in Wisconsin to offer composting as an environmentally friendly, waste disposal alternative.

The composting program, which has been in development over the past several months, will conserve space in local landfills as well as reduce methane emissions by turning food and other waste materials into nutrient rich soil.

Compostable items include food scraps (no bones), Green Mountain coffee cups, lids and stir sticks, eco-friendly plates and napkins, and corn based soda cups, lids, straws, knives, forks and spoons. Other items such as soup and salad containers may be added to the list of compostable items as they become available.

Guests may dispose of food and several other compostable items in green composting containers located throughout Davies Center and Hilltop Recreation Center.

Trayless Days

As part of UW-Eau Claire’s Sustainable Week, Blugold Dining will go trayless from Tuesday, October 21 through Thursday, October 23. By not using trays we lessen the environmental impact we generate here on campus. A significant amount of water and electricity is saved, food waste is diverted from landfills and above all, we make a small dent in reducing carbon emissions.

Trayless Tuesday Savings

Blugold Dining is excited to share with you the most recent results of our ongoing Trayless Tuesdays program. On Tuesday, September 16th we disposed of 245 pounds of solid food and 14 gallons of liquid. Compared to the next day, Wednesday, September 17th, students disposed of 425 pounds of solid food and 21 gallons of liquid, resulting in a savings of 180 pounds of solid food and 7 gallons of liquids not wasted.

On the following Tuesday, September 23rd, 295 pounds of solid food and 14 gallons of liquid were disposed of. On Wednesday, September 24th , 370 pounds of solid food and 20 gallons of liquid thrown, a savings of 75 pounds of food waste and 6 gallons of liquids between the two days! We would like to thank students, faculty and staff for their cooperation, together we can make a difference!

Composting Arrives to UWEC

Another first for the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire! Blugold Dining has been selected to be the first commercial composting site in Eau Claire. Our elation in participating in this exciting new program underscores our commitment to reduce our carbon footprint on this campus. A trial run for this exciting initiative will be held the week of October 6th in Davies Center. Composting bins will be available in all Davies Center dining areas as well as other locations throughout the building. All food scraps are compostable along with our new Green Mountain coffee cups, lids, cup sleeves and stir sticks. Other compostable items include our eco-friendly paper plates, brown napkins, clear plastic cups, straws and utensils. All appropriate waste placed in the bins will be taken by Veolia Environmental Services to a local composting facility to be converted into bio friendly waste. If you have any questions about the composting trial, please let us know! We look forward to hearing from you.

Trayless Tuesdays

In an effort to protect our natural resources and support UW-Eau Claire’s Strategic Initiative of Sustainability, Blugold Dining is implementing Trayless Tuesdays this year at all our UW-Eau Claire dining locations. Trays account for a significant portion of our dishwashing – over 6,000 are cleaned each day on campus, resulting in over 396,000 gallons of water being used for this one purpose only. Going trayless lessens the environmental impact we generate here on campus. A significant amount of water and electricity is saved, food waste is diverted from landfills and above all, we make a small dent in reducing carbon emissions. So please join us every Tuesday in going treeless as we strive to become a more eco-friendly and sustainable campus.

Eco-Friendly Disposable Products

Many of you have noticed that knives, forks, spoons, plates, cold cups and coffee cups are different. The disposable products now being used at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire are eco-friendly and can be composted with ease. We at the UW-Eau Claire are trying our best to become more environmentally responsible and conforming to our University’s strategic plan to become an eco-friendly operation. The vast majority of the cost increase for the new disposable items is at exactly what it costs to bring these items onto campus, it is not a revenue generating product. The only exception is charging $.50 for ice water. The price for ice water is actually an effort to encourage the use of reusable water jugs or mugs because that is the most eco-friendly habit to process. Reusable jugs and mugs can be found at the bookstore as well as all retail dining outlets. Thank you for your help and understanding in our efforts to be more responsible with our environment.