Hanley Sustainability Institute

By Lia Schmidt

This summer, with the addition of a lunch period to the new student orientation, The Hanley Sustainability Institute's (HSI) summer fellows were able to talk to incoming first-year students about sustainability at the University of Dayton.

The fellows primarily focused on sustainability in dining, highlighting the Go Green container program. There are several aspects of dining at UD that have a steep learning curve for new students, like the location of tray returns, where to put trash and how to use a Go Green container. The first two problems were directly addressed at the orientation lunches with large signs directing students and parents to drop everything off at the tray return. Students becoming familiar with this process before they arrive on campus in August will likely reduce a significant amount of confusion and waste. 

The HSI table, set up close to the tray return in Kennedy Union, featured five signs briefly describing the basics of refuse, reduce, reuse, recycle and compost. We set out HSI stickers and examples of Go Green containers.

Students and parents, particularly those who already had an interest in sustainability and the environment, came up to chat and learn more about sustainability at UD. We had several students tell us about their own interests in the environment. With them, we were able to discuss all the ways to be involved on campus, including sustainability club, the Sustainability Activation Program, Food Recovery Network, and HSI’s Student Leaders Program, as well as the major and minor in Sustainability. Most students were not aware that UD offered degrees in sustainability, let alone that there were so many ways to be active in campus sustainability.

Two things we wanted to emphasize while talking to the new students were the importance of dining in and how to use Go Green containers. Dining in, and making sure to say “for here” when ordering food, will always be the most sustainable option. If students mention they will be dining in, they can get real silverware and ceramic plates or bowls. This will prevent takeout containers from even being used in the first place. Of course, many students are always on the go, and they have to use takeout containers. In this case, when ordering food to go at UD dining locations, students should ask for a reusable Go Green container. The containers can then be returned at any of the tray drop-off locations in KU, Marycrest and VWK, or they can be placed in return bins around campus. Dining employees will make sure the containers are properly checked in and cleaned, so the process is very easy for students. Reusing these containers can minimize the amount of waste produced by disposable containers.

Most incoming students who may want to support the use of reusable containers don’t know what that looks like at UD, and many new students avoid using Go Green containers because they don’t know what they are or how to use them. Our primary goal of attending the orientation lunch was clarifying that process and reducing the learning curve for incoming students. 

We want to keep the momentum going by promoting Zero Waste Move-In. In past years, HSI student leaders have helped with reducing waste at move-in by collecting cardboard at collection corrals near each first-year residence hall. The cardboard is then picked up and recycled by Rumpke. This year, with the introduction of Rumpke’s partnership with the Hefty Renew program, we will also be able to collect styrofoam and other hard-to-recycle materials. Our collection corrals will be located near the dumpsters by Stuart, Marycrest and Marianist Halls. In Fall 2023, 1.86 tons of cardboard were collected and recycled. We are hoping that that number will only continue to grow, especially with the addition of styrofoam. 

Recycling isn’t the only way to reduce waste at move-in, though. Students can reduce what they bring to campus by coordinating with roommates to ensure people aren’t bringing the same items when it isn’t necessary. When wrapping fragile items, use sheets, towels or shirts instead of bubble wrap and styrofoam. Reusing or buying secondhand items can also reduce waste. Make sure to check with older siblings or shop at thrift stores to look for things that are no longer being used by others.