uncommon to see people throw away plates half-full with food.

As someone who cares deeply about the environment, I know that constantly buying things in single-use packages or throwing food scraps into a trash can has a negative impact on the environment, and it’s hard not to feel guilty. I’m currently living in the dorms at PSU, which means I am on a dining plan. Every day, I swipe my ID card at various locations around campus, which include Smith’s Kitchen and Victor’s Dining Center. And every day, I throw away things like plastic containers, plastic silverware, paper plates, and paper cups. Sure, at Smith there are bins that separate recyclable materials and food scraps from other trash, but takeout containers are discouraged from being recycled.

The situation at Victor’s Dining Center is similar; although several attempts have been made to pass out reusable takeout containers to students and to use reusable dishes and silverware, none of the strategies have been successful for more than a few weeks. When I go to the Dining Center for dinner, I fill up a paper plate with food and grab a plastic fork. I fill up a paper or plastic cup with my choice of drink. Sometimes I might grab an extra paper tray for a salad or dessert; sometimes the desserts come in small plastic cups. After I’m done eating, I bring my small heap of plastic, paper, and food scraps to the only bins in the room; three large, plastic-lined garbage cans, usually already filled with heaps of mixed trash.

Single-use packaging and plastic aren’t the only things that need to be reduced at Portland State University. PSU Reuses, a materials reuse program at PSU, recently conducted a food waste audit during dinner at Victor’s Dining Center. They ended up collecting over twenty pounds of food throughout the evening, and most of that food wasn’t just food scraps like banana peels and apple cores - it was wasted food, food that could have been eaten but wasn’t. If you aren’t too squeamish, you can find photos of the food waste on the PSU Reuses instagram page (@psu.resues), where the caption reads “Let this be a reminder to not let your eyes be larger than your stomach.” These photos show the amount of food waste on a typical night at the dining hall; it’s not uncommon to see people throw away plates half-full with food. I myself have thrown away my fair share of food. By swiping my card at the door and then essentially walking into an all-you-can-eat buffet, I don’t feel the same obligation to only take what I need as I would if I purchased all the food individually.

In order to reduce both single-use packaging and food waste, we need to find a balance between focusing on systemic changes and individual behavior at PSU. At the dining hall, we need to adopt an alternative mindset when making choices about what we put on our plate. We need to acknowledge the resources, energy, and labor that led to the food on our plates and recognize the impact that throwing away uneaten food has on the environment. PSU’s various food locations need to brainstorm and implement new ways to reduce single-use packaging and disposable dishes without burdening food or custodial staff. Reducing takes time; there will be trial and error, and we won’t get it perfect. But I believe that if we come together as a school, we can make a difference in our community.