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American University | College of Arts & Sciences

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

4400 Massachusetts Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20016

NEWS RELEASE

April 17, 2009  
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

 

 

 

Contact Information:
Sarah Sobecki, School of Communication Student
Cell: 202-997-6718
E-mail: sarah.sobecki@american.edu

 

AMERICAN UNIVERSITY ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT FINDS CAFETERIA WASTE REDUCTION IN TRAYLESS STUDY

Awareness About Carbon Footprint

Washington, D.C. – An environmental science class at American University led by Professor Kiho Kim, Chair of the Environmental Science Department, found that if you take less, you waste less in the Terrace Dining Room (TDR) cafeteria.

 

Between February 24, 2009 and April 7, 2009, the Seminar in Environmental Issues class of 23 students provided or removed trays in a randomly controlled pattern during lunch—at noon, and dinner—at 6 o’clock pm.  They selected the first 30 diners of each meal, and collected the solid waste left behind on their plates, weighed it, and recorded the results.

 

The class found that during lunch, there was a 14.4% reduction in solid waste when they removed trays, and during dinner, they found a 47.1% reduction in solid waste.

 

“There is a significant difference between meals,” said Professor Kim.  “The most food waste impact was during dinner—a very large, substantial reduction in waste.”

 

A second part of the study measured the reduction in dishes used, which the class hypothesized can lead to less water waste and energy use during washing cycles.  The students counted plates and bowls of the same 30 diners for each meal on the testing days.

 

The class found that during lunch, there was a 22.5% reduction in dishes used, and at dinner, there was a 30.8% reduction when trays were not available to diners.

 

The students concluded that tray usage in American University’s TDR significantly increased food waste.  They tied the results of the study in to their semester of class work, in which they examined how local issues can have a global impact.

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