Green Cuisine: Finalist in 2024 Green Gown Awards
Mannix College’s sustainability initiative, “Green Cuisine: Waste Not, Want Not,” has been shortlisted as a finalist in the Student Engagement category of the prestigious 2024 Green Gown Awards Australasia. This recognition highlights the College’s commitment to environmental stewardship and its innovative approach to managing food waste, setting a benchmark for other institutions.
Since 2022, Mannix College, in partnership with Monash City Council, has taken significant steps to transform food waste from its dining hall into valuable compost. This initiative, which involves over 300 university students, has successfully diverted a remarkable 9,600 kilograms of food waste from landfills in under a year. To put this into perspective, that’s the equivalent weight of six to seven medium-sized family cars.
The process begins with organic waste bins strategically placed in the dining hall, where students are encouraged to dispose of food scraps responsibly. These bins are then emptied into larger Food and Garden Waste bins serviced by the Council. The collected waste is transported to local commercial composting facilities, where it is converted into nutrient-rich compost. This compost is then used to nourish Victorian gardens and farms, closing the loop on food waste.
Managing food waste from the three daily meals served at Mannix College was no small feat. It required strong environmental leadership, ongoing education, and active student participation. The College’s decision to join the Council’s School Food Waste Recycling Program in 2023 was a turning point, enabling the institution to overhaul its waste management practices and significantly reduce its environmental footprint.
As a finalist in the Green Gown Awards, Mannix College’s Green Cuisine project stands as a testament to what can be achieved when a community comes together with a shared commitment to sustainability. The College eagerly awaits the Stage 2 judging and remains hopeful that this initiative will inspire other institutions to adopt similar practices, contributing to a more sustainable future.