ARAMARK Higher Education Celebrates Earth Day Every Day
One initiative, trayless dining (removing trays from college dining halls), is having a measurable impact on reducing waste and conserving natural resources. According to a national survey conducted by ARAMARK Higher Education, trayless dining reduces waste by approximately two ounces per person, per meal. As of spring 2012, more than 300 colleges and universities served by ARAMARK throughout North America have removed trays from their dining halls, diverting more than 15 million pounds of food waste from landfills this year, while reducing trash hauling needs, decreasing water and chemical use, and reducing electricity consumption.
‘Trayless dining is just one high impact example of how engaging an entire community can yield significant results for the environment,’ said Christopher Stemen, Associate Vice President of Sustainability, ARAMARK Higher Education. ‘Our goal is to involve the campus community in sustainable practices that they can incorporate into their daily lives. By making Every Day Earth Day, we can positively impact our campuses, local communities and planet all at the same time.’
Throughout Earth Week, ARAMARK is hosting several campus events that highlight the importance of environmental stewardship, including: