Syracuse University Food Services and the Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency have partnered on a composting program that helps divert tons of food waste away from Food Services garbage dumpsters and return it back to its organic origins.
Food Services offer a Mug Club program whereby students can purchase a reusable mug at the participating campus cafes and receive discounted beverages. Students will initially receive a free fill-up with purchase of a mug. Students can also bring their mugs to campus cafes and receive a 20% discount on refills and a free fill-up on Fridays. Find a list of campus cafes here. (Starbucks and Dunkin Donuts do not participate in the Mug Club benefits.)
Students on a meal plan may take a meal-to-go in a reusable takeout container. Used containers may be exchanged for clean ones that Food Services has washed and sanitized.
Campus cafés, student centers and food courts use Polylactic acid (PLA) plastic and/or sugar cane based takeout containers. Polystyrene (Styrofoam) cups have been eliminated from the Dunkin’ Donuts and Freshens franchises on campus as well. All foam cups have been replaced by paper ones.
Food Services partners with local vendors whenever possible to reduce their carbon footprint. A list of local business suppliers with can be found here.
Food Services has taken measures to reduce its energy output by installing low flow sprayer heads, recirculating water supplies, LED fixtures, motion detectors, and energy efficient natural gas kitchen equipment. When dining centers, cafes, and convenience stores are renovated, new energy efficient practices are part of the planning and construction. Efforts are made to include sustainable materials in the project and make the new space more energy efficient.
Learn more about Food Services sustainable practices by heading to: https://foodservices.syr.edu/aboutus/sustainability/.
Food Pantry
All students are welcome to use Syracuse University’s two food pantries. One is located on the lower level of Hendricks Chapel while the other is on South campus located at 161 Farm Acre Road. The hours are as follows during the academic year:
- Mondays 1-4 PM
- Tuesdays 10 AM-1 PM
- Wednesdays CLOSED
- Thursdays 10 AM-1 PM
- Fridays 1-4 PM
- *Closed during spring break Mar. 9 – 15*
South Campus Pantry (161 Farm Acre Road):
- Wednesdays 1-3PM
- *Closed during spring break Mar. 9 – 15*
The South Campus pantry is open during the summer (hours subject to change).
Composting
Syracuse University composts pre- and post-consumer food waste from Food Services’ Commissary and all eight of its major campus dining locations. Additionally, students living on South Campus can drop off their compostable items in the bins outside of the Carriage House located at 161 Farm Acre Road. The University partners with Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency to compost the scraps at a nearby site.
Learn more about what is compostable on campus here.