Actions - Office of Sustainability

Aramark is working to list products that are local and encourage greater use of local supplies. Approximately 31 per cent of their food supply is sourced from the Maritime Provinces through its Farm-to-Table program. They provide organic fair-trade coffee in many of their campus locations and through their catering service. They have also made an effort to reduce packaging. Their initiatives are detailed here. Aramark and Sodexho (servicing the Student Union Building) offer a 10 cent discount on coffee and other hot drinks if you bring your own mug.

In 2008, all residence dining halls managed by Aramark removed the serving trays and went "trayless". This has eliminated the washing of 4,100 trays per day, or, 900,000 trays per year. Annually, it will save 870,655 litres of water and the associated energy needed to heat it, as well as reduce the use of washing chemicals.

In 2006, Dalhousie’s Student Union introduced a line of sandwiches into its Grad House that are prepared from ingredients that are sourced locally and organically to the greatest degree possible. They are provided by Terroir Local Source Catering.

In 1998, Dalhousie initiated an organic waste collection program which includes food waste and non-recyclable paper products. Collection sites are located outdoors adjacent to residence cafeterias, the Student Union Building, the Oxford Street warehouse, and various departmental lounges and buildings. 181.88 tonnes of organic waster was collected by Facilities Management in 2006, and the total from 1999-2006 was 1126.55 tonnes.

Since 1996, Seymour Green, a raised bed community garden, has been located on campus.