Towson University and its partners are dedicated to making TU a more sustainable campus.

Over the past decade, TU has recycled more than 22 million pounds of material, composted 2.4 million pounds of organics and reached a 54.6% recycling rate.

Maureen Osuji, the new sustainability and well-being director for Aramark College Hospitality at Towson University. And she wants to assure students that sustainability efforts will only continue to grow on campus.

“I want students to know sustainability is a core priority for Collegiate Hospitality at Towson University,” Osuji says. “We continuously work to improve waste reduction, responsible sourcing and environmental stewardship. Student engagement and feedback are essential in shaping and enhancing these initiatives.”

One of the key efforts has been the introduction of the recycling program in the dining halls. It features dedicated bins for paper, plastic, metal and glass—supporting a single-stream recycling system for easier and more efficient waste diversion.

The food halls in the University Union and West Village Commons have labeled bins to separate recyclables, landfill waste and compostables. When recycling, to prevent contamination, students should empty liquids before throwing away containers. Students should also recycle responsibly and compost food scraps. 

And to help the program run smoothly, TU Campus Facilities and Aramark collaborate to improve collection and efficiency.

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Know before you throw

Check out Towson University’s waste directory to learn how to properly dispose of everyday items on campus. 

Waste Minimization

When asked what students can do to help support sustainability on campus, Osuji pointed out a few programs and initiatives they can easily take part in:

  • Support local sourcing initiatives, such as plant-forward dining
  • Practice proper waste separation in food halls and residence areas
  • Sign up for the ReUsePass program to reduce single-use container waste
  • Advocate for sustainability programs and participate in campus sustainability events
  • Reduce food waste by only taking what you can eat and using reusable containers
  • Engage with sustainability programs such as Food Recovery, the Food Hub and Urban Farms
  • Participate in university sustainability-themed events
  • Share feedback to help improve dining sustainability initiatives
  • Volunteer as a Waste Champion during onsite catered events to promote proper waste disposal and reduction efforts

“Sustainability on college campuses like TU is important because [institutions] consume significant resources and generate large amounts of waste,” Osuji says. “With sustainable practices like these, we can reduce cost while benefiting the environment.

“College campuses are also incubators for future sustainability leaders—students who adopt these habits now will carry them into their future careers.”

One of the things Osuji has seen at TU is students have already a strong understanding of the importance of sustainability.

“Students have shown strong engagement in our sustainability initiatives, actively participating in programs such as food recovery, waste reduction efforts and sustainability awareness campaigns,” Osuji says. “Additionally, students have been providing valuable feedback on dining sustainability efforts and are actively adopting reuse container programs to help reduce single-use waste.”