Minimize Food Waste

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We reduce food waste across our operations with the dual goals of conserving resources and keeping food out of landfills. Our practices include back of house operational practices to reduce waste before it’s generated, programs to help consumers decrease food waste, feeding those in need during instances of excess safe, unserved food, and finally implementing composting programs wherever possible.

 

WKU Composting

WKU composts pre-consumer food in all locations and post-consumer food waste in Fresh Food Company and Hilltopper Hub. Composting prevents thousands of pounds of food waste from entering the landfill and creates compost, a nutrient-rich soil amendment. WKU compost is used on campus, at the WKU Farm, Baker Arboretum, and sold to the community.

 

  

 

Food Recovery Network

In January 2019, a partnership with WKU Food Recovery (a student-run organization) and the WKU Restaurant Group began recovering leftover food that was not used in daily service. The WKU Restaurant Group is able to donate food to organizations that give to individuals facing hunger or food insecurity. Volunteers recover leftover food from dining locations across campus in an effort to mitigate the environmental and social impacts of food waste. As of April 2023, we have recovered over 9,000 pounds of food which has been donated to the community and been diverted from landfills!

 

 

Currently, WKU Food Recovery Network picks up from DaVinci's, Einstein's Bagels, Pit Stop Convenience Store, and Subway. Our weekly tracking of donated pounds can be seen here.

Contact wkufoodrecovery @gmail.com for more information and to volunteer.