Sustainability

Campus Initiatives

As a guest, it is easy to make smart environmental choices when you dine with us. We know today's students want to do the right thing for the planet and we also understand you lead busy lives, so your CSUSM chefs and managers do a lot of the work for you behind the scenes!

From purchasing local seasonal produce whenever possible to reducing inorganic and organic waste, your campus team is dedicated to providing you with an exceptional dining experience that is good for you and good for the planet.

While some of the environmental challenges we face may feel daunting, the daily decisions we make about what and how to eat are some of the most impactful we can make. Here are a few helpful tips for making sure that your actions and choices align with what’s best for the health of the planet.

• Starting Jan 1 2022, all single use plastic water bottles will be phased out and replaced with aluminum recyclable water bottles. CSUSM plans to contribute to a future which is without single-use plastics, and stylish to boot!
• Choose plant-based dining options – Reducing the amount of resource-intensive animal products such as beef, lamb, pork, and cheese consumed is one of the single biggest things we can do to lower greenhouse gas emissions and help the environment. Lucky for you, we is committed to offering a wide range of enticing plant-based dishes, so you’ll be sure to find delicious options at every meal. Just look out for the Plant-Based icon
• Ditch disposables – The amount of plastic waste polluting our ecosystem is huge and continues to grow. Here are a few easy choices that you can make every day that will make a difference:
• If you’re eating on site, choose a China plate and reusable utensils instead of a take-out box and plastic fork.
• Use and refill a reusable water bottle. There are plenty of hydration stations around campus that will make this easy.
• Get in the habit of bringing a reusable bag with you so that you don’t need to use plastic bags.
• Prevent food waste – Approximately 1/3 of all food goes uneaten, all of which adds up to a lot of water, land, and labor that are essentially wasted. Do your part to prevent food waste by taking only what you actually plan to eat. If you’re not sure if you like something, ask for a taste first or ask for a smaller portion.
• Sort your waste – Take a few seconds to make sure that you put only recyclables in the recycling bin. Avoid putting things heavily soiled with food into the recycling (e.g. paper plates with food scraps or greasy napkins) because excess food debris may contaminate a whole batch of recycling, making it unusable. Similarly, try not to put things that can be recycled (like aluminum cans and clean paper products) into the landfill stream.

If you have questions about any of our practices contact General Manager Paul Reardon