As one of the largest trash generators on campus, CDS has instituted several initiatives to increase recycling in dining halls and reduce the amount of food and water waste. In the fall of 2000, CDS began composting food waste from Lenoir Dining Hall. In 2007-2008, 443 tons of food waste from Lenoir Dining Hall, Rams Head Dining Hall, and the Friday Center were composted and picked up by Brooks Contractors. The decomposed product is then sold to local farmers and gardeners. At Rams Head Dining Hall, used fryer oil is collected for pickup by the Piedmont Biofuelscooperative.

Opened in the spring of 2005, Rams Head Dining Hall contains a food pulper and dehydrator (shown right) for composting food waste from kitchen and dish lines. Compostable straws that won’t “contaminate” food waste are also used at Rams Head.

During the severe drought that Orange County suffered in the Fall of 2002, CDS began using Styrofoam serviceware, so they would not need to use their dishwashers. CDS began a Styrofoam recycling program at Chase Dining Hall with the help of the Office of Waste Reduction and Recycling. The program kept over 3,000 foam plates and 2,000 foam cups out of the landfill everyday. CDS switched back to reusable serviceware at the end of the drought.

As a result of these efforts, UNC-Chapel Hill is ranked third for the Gorilla Prize (gross tonnage of recycled material) and fourth in recycling Targeted Materials in the Recyclemania program.