Food Recovery

Donation Guide for End-of-Semester Move-out

SCSU donates excess food from dining operations to local soup kitchens and emergency pantries. Since 2017, SCSU has donated more than 46,000 meals in the greater New Haven area, and is a proud member of the Food Recovery Network. Every day, sustainability interns and volunteers help dining staff to package and deliver food for donation.

Interested in volunteering? Contact our office at sustainabilty@southernct.edu

Food recovery representatives with food donations.

Composting

Blue Earth Composting Truck

SCSU launched composting at Connecticut Hall (SCSU’s dining facility) based on success of food recovery and the sustainability interns who lead it. SCSU diverted 45 tons of food scrap from the waste stream during the compost project’s pilot year, and more than 50 tons the following year. In partnership with Blue Earth Compost and Quantum Biopower, SCSU processes the food scrap at an anaerobic digester in Southington, CT where it is converted to renewable energy and landscape products.

Compost Happens!

A project to benefit the campus garden located behind Davis Hall, “Compost Happens!” involves volunteer offices and departments collecting compostable food scraps in bins provided by the Office of Sustainability. Interns collect the material weekly for processing at compost turners at the garden. 

Update: This program is currently paused, but if faculty or staff are interested, they should reach out to our office email. Thank you!