Local Products

Our campus eateries routinely stock food and drinks from dozens of Humboldt County farms, bakeries, fisheries, restaurants and businesses. Buying local supports our county's many eco-friendly farmers and businesses, and reduces the energy required to bring you breakfast, lunch and dinner.

Green Dining Ware

• When not using reusable containters, Dining locations provide biodegradable paper plates and bowls, utensils and napkins.
• Where possible, compostable paper containers go to feed the colony of redwood wigglers at the Local Worm Guy.
• Campus catering puts on environmentally friendly events and includes reusable flatware, cutlery, and cups at no additional cost. Packaged lunches are served in biodegradable boxes and to-go containers are available for leftovers.

OZZI

Given the Covid-19 pandemic and regulations that do not allow indoor dining, we have reimagined our take-out solution to align with our sustainability goals. Rather than standard porcelain dishes or single-use containers, we will be utilizing reusable OZZI containers, which will be sanitized using our industrial dishwasher and detergent that is EPA-approved to kill Covid-19. We have done away with the exchange token system and OZZI machines to provide a complementary service that enables the campus community to join us in our sustainability efforts. We anticipate diverting an average of 2,000 single-use containers from the landfill per day! No need for a deposit, but please return reusable containers to any Dining location. Anyone can opt out of reusable OZZI containers. Just notify the server when placing your order.

Reusable Cups

Given the Covid-19 pandemic, personal reusable cups are not permitted therefore there will not be an upcharge for single-use cups. We plan to resume this durables program as soon as possible.

Composting

Plant-based Menus

• Meatless Mondays: Students advocated for a menu with more plant-based dishes, and we listened. The local version of a global movement, which raises awareness of the environmental and health benefits of a plant-based diet, debuted at the J in 2015.

Equipment

Energy-efficient appliances, including refrigeration units lit with LED lights, add up to major energy savings. A lighting timer conserves energy in the main dining hall. We’re saving water, too, by using a special liquid, rather than ice, to keep the J salad bar cool. Our new dishwasher is more energy and water efficient!