Each incoming freshman receives a thermal mug thanks to the Oberlin Alumni Association. These mugs may be used in the dining halls (DeCafé and Dascomb), as well as in some stores down-town to receive discounts on beverages. The CDS Recyclers are currently working on promoting knowledge about these discounts, and thereby the use of the mugs.
Currently CDS buys a portion of all its produce from local farms through AgAccess, Premiere Produce. Additionally, CDS buys apples and peaches locally from Miller's Orchard. The CDS Recyclers have an on-going objective of increasing the presence of local foods in the dining halls, ensuring that students are aware of what foods are local, and keeping track of the expenditures by the dining halls on local foods.
CDS has recently made some forays into using biodegradable disposables when possible for take-out food. Utensils made out of corn-starch, and their packaging bags made out of cellulose are currently in use in the science center Snack Cart. Although biodegradable clam-shells are not economically feasible for the dining halls, an effort has been made to increase the availability of china and washable plastic cups for those eating-in at Dascomb as opposed to those getting take-out. New puffed-up-paper cups are in use for coffee at both Dascomb and the DeCafé. According to the company, these cups are relatively environmentally friendly; however, the CDS Recyclers plan to research these claims, and the availability of other products.
Although the waste audit provided useful information, it has not gotten us much closer to a solution, or any substantial improvements, on the volume of food waste produced by the students and kitchens in CDS. Making students more aware and conscientious with regards to food waste is an interminable goal of the CDS Recylcers. A poster for the dining halls has been designed and will hopefully be posted within the near future.