If you have dined at the cafeteria recently, odds are you have noticed a slight change has been made.
While the food itself remains the same, the plates, bowls, cups and utensils used in the cafeteria have transitioned from disposable to reusable. This recent substitution is all thanks to the new dishwasher that has since been installed at the cafeteria.
For a prolonged period, the lack of a functional dishwasher prompted the use of non-reusable paper dinnerware and plastic utensils, which regulars at the cafeteria had grown accustomed to.
Now with the addition of a working dishwasher, dishes can once again be washed and used repeatedly, eliminating the need for single-use items.
While this may seem like a relatively insignificant development, it holds a notable influence.
The single-use items that were used in the cafeteria generated unnecessary waste, and this issue was exacerbated by the fact that there is no plastic recycling present on campus.
Making the switch to reusable items will serve to substantially reduce the cafeteria’s ecological footprint.
This adjustment is a major improvement for sustainability at Oklahoma City University, so it is only natural that Blue Goes Green was adamant in their support for the dishwasher. Blue Goes Green is an environmental club at OCU that advocates for increased sustainability across campus, so the dishwasher was considered a vital matter.
Blue Goes Green is continuing their efforts to implement more sustainable practices by engaging with the cafeteria and other on-campus facilities about further improvements that can be made. Specifically, they are showing interest in maintaining a composting system here on campus in the future.
To some, a dishwasher does not warrant much attention, but this marks a step towards minimizing OCU’s collective ecological impact.
Students can now enjoy a visit to the cafeteria knowing that it is slightly better for the environment.
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