With so many changes going on around campus, Xavier is indeed making an effort to stay within the parameters of today’s green standards. The Hoff Dining Commons puts forth a significant effort to be environmentally friendly and sustainable by buying locally grown produce and reducing waste, for example.
They have also acquired the resources to compost food in the cafeteria, and this process will be starting in February.
Composting food has many benefits for the environment. “It provides rich soil and saves waste from landfills so they do not fill up as quickly,” junior Sustainability club copresident
Elle Ross said. Composted waste can be converted to reusable soil, rather than sitting in a landfill and becoming toxic. Most leftover food can be composted, along with
paper napkins. In August, Xavier began providing green
To-Go takeout boxes for the cafeteria. Mike Ross, the senior director of dining said, “Last year students averaged about
400 takeout meals per day from the Hoff Marketplace. By switching to the reusable Green To-Go boxes, Xavier Dining is saving over 30,000 Styrofoam boxes from being
trashed each school year.” Additionally, the to go coffee cups in the cafeteria are recyclable. The Sustainability Club is actively working with the changes occurring on campus.
The Bike XU project put on by the Sustainability Club has been successful. A student can rent a bike for ten dollars for the semester. This project is sponsored by Women of
Excellence. The Sustainability Club will host a Recycle Mania competition later this semester. The event will last one week. There will also be a ride board available
on the Xavier portal so students can have access to local and long distance carpooling rides for breaks. In addition, Sustainability Week will take place April 16-20. “It’s going to focus on sustainable initiatives around campus, primarily regarding composting, recycling and trash,” Ross said.
The Sustainability Club strives to involve students in
Xavier’s “go green” initiatives and increase awareness of the small things that can be done to make a difference.