Up to 30-40% of edible food in the U.S. is thrown away instead of consumed and when food ends up in the landfill, it can produce methane which is a potent greenhouse gas, further negatively impacting our climate. College campuses across the nation generate 22 million pounds of food waste every year. As a leader in sustainability among higher education institutions in Florida, the University of South Florida has an obligation to the campus and the community to reduce the amount of food that gets thrown away across its three campuses and many dining halls in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.
While there have been student-led projects and groups like the Food Recovery Club, there are no policies or university direction on ensuring that food must be recovered or diverted from the landfill. We ask that you sign on to support our ask to the University of South Florida for:
- Formal commitment to reduce food waste across our campuses
- Regular assessment of food waste generated and the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and
- An action plan on campus food waste diversion from the landfill.
We ask for the University of South Florida to pledge its commitment to environmental sustainability and the efforts to become a zero-waste campus. Please support!
Updates
April 13, 2021
The petition reached 250 signatures this morning. I have drafted a formal letter requesting a meeting with the USF Dining administration to review current food recovery protocols.
Reached 250 supporters
April 12, 2021
April 11, 2021
We are currently moving toward the 250 signature mark which is the threshold required to trigger a formal meeting with the university dining services administration. Please verify your signature status and direct others to the petition link so we can secure this meeting request by the end of the week.
Reached 100 supporters
April 7, 2021
April 5, 2021
We are approaching one hundred signatures which will trigger our initial request for a formal meeting with university dining administration. Please direct this link to relevant student organizations or faculty contacts to push us past this threshold immediately.
43 Comments
Food waste is a major issue facing our society in terms of contributing to climate change, economic loss, and the fact that there are hungry people that could be fed! Please work to address this issue.
I am committed to making USF a zero-waste community. Why wouldn’t our directors be as well?
There needs to be more support from USF administration for food waste recovery initiatives.
USF should aspire to be a leader among universities fighting climate change and local poverty issues.
I have personally helped this project and I really do believe this is what is needed on campus. USF administration needs to really think about the benefits this program has offer our campus.
Very innovative and necessary initiative!
I support diverting food waste from landfills!
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Up to 30-40% of edible food in the U.S. is thrown away instead of consumed and when food ends up in the landfill, it can produce methane which is a potent greenhouse gas, further negatively impacting our climate. College campuses across the nation generate 22 million pounds of food waste every year. As a leader in sustainability among higher education institutions in Florida, the University of South Florida has an obligation to the campus and the community to reduce the amount of food that gets thrown away across its three campuses and many dining halls in Tampa, St. Petersburg, and Sarasota.
While there have been student-led projects and groups like the Food Recovery Club, there are no policies or university direction on ensuring that food must be recovered or diverted from the landfill. We ask that you sign on to support our ask to the University of South Florida for:
- Formal commitment to reduce food waste across our campuses
- Regular assessment of food waste generated and the impact on greenhouse gas emissions, and
- An action plan on campus food waste diversion from the landfill.
We ask for the University of South Florida to pledge its commitment to environmental sustainability and the efforts to become a zero-waste campus. Please support!
Updates
April 13, 2021
The petition reached 250 signatures this morning. I have drafted a formal letter requesting a meeting with the USF Dining administration to review current food recovery protocols.
Reached 250 supporters
April 12, 2021
April 11, 2021
We are currently moving toward the 250 signature mark which is the threshold required to trigger a formal meeting with the university dining services administration. Please verify your signature status and direct others to the petition link so we can secure this meeting request by the end of the week.
Reached 100 supporters
April 7, 2021
April 5, 2021
We are approaching one hundred signatures which will trigger our initial request for a formal meeting with university dining administration. Please direct this link to relevant student organizations or faculty contacts to push us past this threshold immediately.
43 Comments
Food waste is a global problem that makes up 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions. USF is uniquely positioned to tackle its own food waste, following the trails blazed by countless other universities in the country and the state of Florida. Composting, biodigesting, and direct food waste reduction efforts are CRITICAL for USF to prioritize sustainability on all campuses!
Food waste is a major issue facing our society in terms of contributing to climate change, economic loss, and the fact that there are hungry people that could be fed! Please work to address this issue.
I am committed to making USF a zero-waste community. Why wouldn’t our directors be as well?
There needs to be more support from USF administration for food waste recovery initiatives.
USF should aspire to be a leader among universities fighting climate change and local poverty issues.
I have personally helped this project and I really do believe this is what is needed on campus. USF administration needs to really think about the benefits this program has offer our campus.
Very innovative and necessary initiative!
I support diverting food waste from landfills!
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Food waste is a global problem that makes up 1/3 of global greenhouse gas emissions. USF is uniquely positioned to tackle its own food waste, following the trails blazed by countless other universities in the country and the state of Florida. Composting, biodigesting, and direct food waste reduction efforts are CRITICAL for USF to prioritize sustainability on all campuses!