As of June, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa has begun its participation in the Food Waste Challenge, a program designed to diminish food waste on campus.
“UH Mānoa represents a large population of O‘ahu and diverting food waste from our campus would have a tremendous impact on the environment,” said Doorae Shin of the Hawai‘i Student Sustainability Coalition.
According to an EPA press release, food waste accounts for 25 percent of all material sent to landfills and incinerators — the most of any type of waste. The Sustainability Council, Sodexo and Food Services are working together to determine food waste baseline numbers and will commit to a minimum 5 percent decrease in the food waste designated for landfills.