This project attempts to tackle the cumbersome issues inherent with food waste management in our campus dining halls. Food waste is an enormous contributor to the municipal waste stream, and its generation has significant immediate and long-term economic as well as environmental consequences that many Americans are oblivious to. Food waste is of particular interest to university administrators because nationally the cost of waste disposal has skyrocketed in recent years, and will likely only continue to increase. Additionally, there is a trend amongst universities towards reducing dining hall waste. If the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign wants to maintain its role as a leader in sustainability practices it will be necessary for our institution to consider our waste reducing options.
In light of all this, we must also consider that conducting research through food waste audits, best practice evaluations, or through contracting with external companies specializing in waste reduction techniques, such as using Lean Path software, could have a potential for minor negative effects. Food waste audits and best practice evaluations would require money to pay for those who do the research. Lean Path is more expensive due to the cost of the software and the training that is involved as well. Other negative impacts include taking time/support away from other projects around campus and that major planning is involved with improving UIUC’s waste reduction. However, these potential negative impacts are all minor and would be offset due to the knowledge gained about UIUC’s waste habits, the potential money saved on food and waste, and by the further “greening” the university and its practices.
Food waste is not only a problem on this campus, but it is also a big problem in this country as well. Not only does food waste adds to the landfill in our country, but the amount of excess food could’ve been used to feel others around the world. It should be no surprise that we’re one of the biggest polluters in the world. I like how you would like to university to implement some type of food waste reduction plan. Although, one thing I would work on is giving statistical evidence of the amount of food wasted in the US or on this campus.
This has a lot of great information in it, but I think this takes on a more “report” style of writing than the manifesto, in that it’s very objective and factual. You could add some buzz words and personal bias or opinion to make it more subjective, over-the-top, and in-your-face like a manifesto is.