Sustainability Measures at
DDS Quick Facts
*Customers purchase approximately 400,000 bottles of non-carbonated, non-flavored bottled water each year.
*Customers purchase approximately 80,000 bottles of Dasani water from campus vending machines each year.
*Annually customers use approximately 45,000 plastic to-go containers a year.
*Local food account for 4% of total food purchased at DDS.
*$40,000 worth of trays, silverware, plates and cups disappear from Thayer Dining Hall each year. 18,000 pieces of silverware, 4,800 plastic tumblers, 1,200 black plastic bowls, 1,500 trays and 2,000 pieces of Home Plate china.
David Newlove, Acting Director of Dartmouth Dining Services,
takes time out to address questions regarding DDS and sustainability.
Q) What is DDS’s role in the college's sustainability initiative?
A) Dartmouth Dining Services continues to run one of the top-rated college food services
in the country, while decreasing our eco-footprint every year.
Q) What are some changes that DDS has implemented to impact sustainability at
A) We’ve increased the amount of purchases of both “local” foods and foods that do not adversely affect the environment. Buying produce and fruits that are seasonal is one example. Buying fish, in keeping with the practice of seafood sustainability, is another example.
Additionally, we work with our purveyors to reduce the amount of waste (i.e. less packaging and more bulk) associated with products that we use. DDS has also increased our recycling rate. Since the recent implementation of an aggressive recycling program, Thayer Dining Hall has decreased its waste by one third.
Q) What are some choices that students can make to be a part of DDS's sustainability movement?
Practice some Slow Food movement philosophies—buy less take-out, drink tap water instead of bottled water, eat more local products, walk or bike to the dining halls instead of driving.
Q) How can students reduce the use of disposable containers at
A) Take the time to sit down and enjoy a meal, instead of taking food to-go. Bring your own reusable DDS coffee mug to the eateries. Use your DDS mug or a college Nalgene bottle for beverages instead of paper cups.
Q) What are some ways and products that students can use to help DDS reduce waste?
A) Topside has cloth tote bags for purchase. When needed, use paper bags instead of plastic bags. Reduce economic waste. Each year DDS purchases replacement items of up to $40k from losses of silverware, plates, cups and trays. Please make an effort to return these items to DDS.
Here is a look at our dining halls' recycling and composting programs
Thayer Hall behind the scenes:
Food Court:
Home Plate:
Pavilion:
Courtyard Café :
Collis Café: