Food & Waste

Food isn't just an issue of sustainability — it's intertwined with some of the most challenging injustices of our time. Some 40 percent of all food produced in the United States ends up in a landfill, and food waste contributes 22 percent of municipal solid waste in landfills. Food production and waste are also major drivers of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide. 

With initiatives that engage our student body, faculty and staff, as well as the larger community, we're targeting excess waste and educating our campus about recycling and composting. We're also developing new ways of sourcing the food we serve on campus, striving toward healthier options whose origins are in step with our commitment to environmental responsibility and social justice.

Tackling Food Insecurity

Food insecurity is a problem that affects communities around the world, as well as many members of our on-campus community. We believe that without equitable access to essentials like food, individuals and families will always struggle to maintain independence and improve their lives. 

The DU Food Pantry works to alleviate food insecurity on campus, providing supplementary food items to anyone who has self-identified a need for our services. Students are often referred to the DU Food Pantry as they seek additional support and resources on campus. The Food Pantry accepts donations from the community, and you can help your peers by organizing a food drive in your club, department, class, organization or team, or by bringing in any extra food individually.

DU Food Pantry

 

Swipe Out Hunger

Sodexo, our campus dining partner, accepts donations from students through their Swipe Out Hunger program, which helps provide food for those in need.

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Sustainable Food Initiatives

Bridge Community Garden

Managed by faculty in the Biology Department, the Bridge Community Garden provides raised beds that faculty, staff, and students can rent for the summer growing season for a small fee. The garden provides growing space for those who may not have such space in their homes, and allows our community to learn how to grow and care for their own food together.

ELC Garden

Managed by the Center for Sustainability, the ELC Garden offers community food-growing space for students and other individuals looking to contribute to a more home-grown paradigm. Located next to the English Learning Center on Asbury and Josephine, the ELC garden houses eight raised garden beds where we experiment with different herbs and vegetables that can serve as a cultural exchange between the international students studying at the ELC and domestic students who run the garden.

two students in DU gear eating outside

Sustainable Food Policy

The Sustainable Food Policy (SFP) creates concrete sustainability goals for all aspects of the University of Denver’s food system. The SFP aims to connect students, faculty, staff, and the greater DU community through education and operational practices as a way of improving the opportunity for campus food to be more inclusive, healthy, and sustainable, benefitting regional health, economy, and ecosystems.

“Food is often considered the ‘great connector.’ Food connects us to our cultures, the stories of our ancestors, and the recipes of our grandparents. Food also connects us to the land where it is grown and to the people and businesses who grow, transport, prepare, sell, or share it. Food is what brings us together as family, friends, and strangers.” – Denver Food Vision 2017

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Waste Reduction at DU

Waste is often one of the most visible sustainability issues in any setting, and is often the one that gets people first interested in being engaged around sustainability. DU has worked hard to reduce waste on campus, either by avoiding the waste in the first place or by increasing diversion of materials away from the landfills to either be recycled or composted.

 

Not sure how to sort your waste on campus?

Check out this handy guide
cta pattern

Learn to Live Sustainably

Here's how you can make simple adjustments in your life to reduce waste and cut your personal carbon footprint.

View Sustainability Tips