Dining Services Expands Green Dining Program

Listen to an interview with Dining Service's Senior Assistant Director Joe Mullineaux about the new Energy Zone on campus and sustainability efforts at the University of Maryland. The new Frëshens ecotainer® cup is on his desk.

COLLEGE PARK, Md. - Dining Services at the University of Maryland is moving aggressively to become one of the greenest food service providers in the nation. Examples include water-saving dish washers and energy-saving range hoods. Dining Services is working with athletics to reduce waste at games (a 41% diversion rate from landfills was reached after just two Terp football games this fall).

Recycled materials are being used to build rooftop gardens fueled by dining hall compost. Triple filtered water - instead of bottled water - is now offered in the dining halls. Taken together, Dining Services is sending an emphatic message that going green on campus can not only save money, but have a big impact on the environment.

Senior Associate Director of Dining Services Joe Mullineaux says the green movement on campus really began ten years ago when new Maryland President, Dr. C.D. "Dan" Mote, Jr., started putting recycling bins in the President's residence. Vice President for Student Affairs Linda Clement is also a long-time recycling supporter. "I hope (our students) see that we are concerned citizens," says Mullineaux, "and it helps them become concerned citizens about the planet." Read more about Dining Service's Green Dining Program (PDF).

Monday Sept. 29, Dining Services celebrated the grand opening of the Eppley Recreation Center's new Energy Zone with partner Frëshens - featuring a green ecotainer® cup - the first renewable, compostable paper cold cup in the United States (press release - pdf). "One of the reasons we chose (The Energy Zone from Frëshens) is that they share our commitment to green dining." says Mullineaux.

Dining Service's efforts are part of a much bigger sustainability effort that the University of Maryland has undertaken the past few years. Last May, President Mote joined other higher education institution leaders in signing the American College and University Presidents Climate Commitment. Signatories of the Commitment pledge to take significant steps to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from campus operations and move toward the goal of climate neutrality (zero net greenhouse gas emissions).

Throughout campus, sustainability is becoming a focus. Green real estate development programs are taking hold. The annual Recyclemania competition pits Maryland against a growing number of schools to see who can recycle the most. The university's own Terrapin Trader has long been a leader in recycling a wide range of products not only for Maryland, but the University System and other colleges in the region. Facilities Management has set a goal to reduce energy consumption by 10% within five years. University President Dr. C.D. "Dan" Mote, Jr. offered a wide-ranging list of accomplishments in his State of the Campus address Sept. 15. Thanks to its efforts so far, the university has already been designated among the top 15 Green Colleges and Universities in 2007 by Grist, an environmental magazine.

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