Now Collecting Coffee Grounds

With the help of facilities, Resource Recover Supervisor Steve Sweeney, and Assistant Director for Sustainable Programs Tyler Kidder, USM Dining is officially diverting all coffee grounds from the waste stream! Coffee grounds need no additional supplements, replicate a fast acting fertilizer, and are good for soil, house plants, and vegetable gardens. Coffee grounds are also high in nitrogen; by sprinkling them around trees and other plants before watering, they provide a slow release of nitrogen into the soil. They have even been known to guard off pesky pests! Coffee grounds will be collected from all residential and retail locations on both Portland and Gorham campuses. While we don't have exact numbers yet, we have estimated that this will save over 150 pounds of coffee from going into the trash, each week!

Holiday Shut Down Best Practices

As we approach the holidays and prepare to shutdown it is important to take energy and water conservation into consideration. The following is a list of ways to reduce use and waste in offices, dorms, and homes. 

You may also visit the University of Southern Maine’s “Green Up Your Space” webpage, created by the Assistant Director for Sustainable Programs, Tyler Kidder.

These lists are not exhaustive. If you have something that should be added please let me know. Thank you and happy holidays!

Office

• Turn off all lights (This should be done for shutdown but also whenever you leave a space for more than 15 minutes)
• Make sure all windows are closed and tightly latched
• Make sure all exterior doors and loading dock doors are securely closed and latched
• Unplug/defrost any mini fridges in the office
• Unplug coffee makers, humidifiers, dehumidifiers, space heaters, fans or other small appliances
• Unplug any adapters or chargers including those for phone, laptop, speakers, battery chargers, and task lighting – these draw energy even when the product is not in use
• Unplug calculators, desktop printers, TVs, digital signage monitors, paper shredders, label makers, pencil sharpeners, and other electronics
• DO NOT UNPLUG the fax machine!
• After proper computer shut-down, unplug tower and monitor of desktop machines
• To make all this easier: use a power strip if not already! Next time you’ll just have to flip a switch or two

Dining, Kitchen, Retail Locations

• Consolidate all products into as few coolers as possible & unplug/defrost unneeded refrigeration equipment including:
• Small coolers in the serving area (at the stations and the Worry Free Zone)
• Reach-in and Ice Cream freezers
• Dairy and Milk dispensers
• Air Screens should be completely shutdown and product moved to a more efficient refrigerator
• Walk-in refrigerators and freezers may be an exception because often they will require a huge amount of energy to reach temperature again. If you do not need your walk-in over break, speak to your maintenance crew about powering it down for you (this may be a time for them and your team to do some needed cleaning and maintenance as well!)
• Unplug unneeded small appliances in the serving area such as microwaves, coffee brewers, hot chocolate machines, hot water taps, waffle irons, toasters, drink fountains, warmers, blenders, slicers, etc
• Be sure all taps are completely shut off and not dripping
• Turn off all lighting including lights in bathrooms, seating area, serving area, kitchen, walk-in coolers, plus warming lights, track lighting, etc
• Partner with Facilities & Maintenance to shut down as much kitchen equipment as possible such as:
• Ovens, hoods, hot water kettles, mixers, char broilers, fryers, stove tops
• Shut off gas (if used) for shutdowns longer than 10 days
• Drain, clean, and completely shutdown dish machine
• Ice machines require a large amount of energy to refill so:
• If operations are shutdown for LESS THAN 10 days leave the ice machine fully operational.
• If shutdown is LONGER THAN 10 days drain, clean, and unplug ice machine

America Recycles Day - Tuesday, Nov. 15th

USM Dining Services is celebrating America Recycles Day to increase recycling, improve education on campus of what is recyclable, and motivate people to recycle more! There will be a table at Brook's Dining Hall in Gorham and the Woodbury Campus Center in Portland (11am-2pm) displaying recycling information. Stop by and enjoy free promotional materials, an opportunity to sign the America Recycles Day pledge, and tell us what you think about a wrapper collection program called TerraCycle. Additionally, we are taking this opportunity to provide drop off locations for printer cartridges, and any unwanted books or clothes. In support of Hunger and Homeless Awareness Week, all books and clothing will be donated to Preble Street.

For more information, please visit:

The official America Recycles Day Website

Terra Cycle Website

Sustainability at USM Website

Thank you! Hope to see you there :)

Last harvest of the season!

Dining Services hope you enjoyed the fresh produce throughout this years season! We served spinach, carrots, chives, squash, jalapenos, cherry tomatoes, snow peas, and more! If you weren't one of the lucky ones to try the organic lettuce mix from Johnny's Selected Seeds, today is your chance! Stop by for lunch and enjoy your salad today with lettuce cut fresh this morning!

Reusable containers, mugs, cups, and bags, oh my!

Reusable take out containers, Coffee By Design coffee mugs, USM Dining cups, and reusable bags...

Have you been wondering where your peers are buying and using these great products? Your questions are finally answered!

Reusable take out containers may be purchased at the C-Store or the Husky Hideaway in Gorham and at the Woodbury Food Court in Portland, only $2.99!!! They may be used at the Husky Hideaway in Gorham or the Woodbury Food Court in Portland.

Reusable Coffee By Design coffee mugs may be purchased and used at any of our retail locations for $4.29! When you buy one for the first time, you get a free coffee! Additionally, when you use your reusable mug, ask for the discount price, only $1.29!!! You can also pick up a frequency coffee card, buy 9 coffees, get the 10th one FREE!!!

Our newest addition: USM Dining reusable cups! Purchase these gems at any retail location for $4.99 and enjoy a 99 cent refill price on fountain beverages at the Husky Hideaway!!!

Last but not least, if you now need something to carry all of your reusable containers in, try one of our USM Dining reusable bags. They are also available at any retail location for $2.99!

Reusable Display at the Husky Hideaway in Gorham

Thanks for helping USM Dining Go Green!!!

"Vampire Loads"

Have you ever heard the term phantom loads or vampire loads?

Even when your electronics are off, if they're plugged in, they're still drawing power.

USM Dining does our best to unplug whenever we can, especially when we're on vacation!

Want to learn more? Read this blog by Roger Guzowski





http://mapawatt.com/2009/06/08/vampire-loads/

Questions, Comments, Concerns?

Are you interested in sustainability? Do you have any questions about what sustainability is or how Dining Services contributes to sustainability? Would you like to suggest an option to improve our sustainability initiatives? If you have something to say, we want to hear it!

Email me, Dining Service's Sustainability Coordinator at: kbubar@usm.maine.edu

Take our Sustainability Survey

Or simply leave a comment here. Any information provided will be kept confidential!

We appreciate your thoughts. :) Have a fun and safe Halloween weekend!