The GSA’s Public Service Committee is piloting a new campaign that will use monthly GSA Council Meetings as a “Drop Off” location for donated food and food scraps!
GSOs that participate will be entered into our 2019-2020 Public Service Competition – more details to come!
- Pre-packaged food/care items will be given to the Rutgers Food Pantry
- Food scraps will be put into the Rutgers Composting bins
- You can participate on behalf of your GSO, or as an individual
- Please arrive a few minutes early if possible so that we ensure enough time to collect and record.
See below for more details about what to bring!
Food Donations
The following list is acceptable for donation. Please check that the item is unopened and not expired!
- Cereal
- Individual Packets o
f Oatmeal - Peanut Butter/Jelly
- Tuna/Canned Meats
- Canned Pasta/Prepared Meals
- Pasta Sauce
- Pasta/Mac & Cheese
- Rice (Small Bags/Boxes)
- Canned Goods (Soup, Beans, Fruit, Vegetables)
- Potatoes (Instant, Canned Potatoes, Yams)
- Condiments (Salad Dressing, Mayonnaise, etc.)
- Snacks (Granola Bars, Dried Fruit, Crackers, Jello, Pudding, etc.)
- Beverages (Shelf-Stable Milk, Juice, etc.)
- Paper Products (Toilet Paper, Napkins, Paper Towels, etc.)
- Personal Care Items (Toothpaste, Deodorant, Shampoo, Soap, etc.)
See the RU Student Food Pantry’s website for more about them!
Food Scraps & Composting
The U.S. generates astronomical amounts of food waste – 50% of produce alone in America is thrown out! Food does not “biodegrade” in landfills and makes up the majority of garbage in the landfills (The Atlantic, 2016)
Composting catalyzes the breakdown of food scraps and turns it into rich organic material added to soil for plant growth. The GSA is partnering with the RU Composting club, which collects food scraps and manages the compost bins for fellow students. Follow RU Compost (@rucompost) on Instagram or find them on Facebook to learn more about what they do!
| Acceptable Scraps | Unacceptable Scraps |
| Fruit Peels/cores (not pits) | Meat and dairy |
| Vegetable scraps | Oils, fats, butter |
| Egg shells | Produce stickers |
| Tea leaves/tea bags (NO plastic tags/staples) | Fruit pits (plums, peaches, etc.) |
| Old/moldy bread, pasta, grains | Plastic tags/staples form tea bags |
| Coffee grounds and filters | Pistachio/walnut shells |
| Shredded newspaper/cardboard | Plastic and metal |
Helpful Tips:
- Forgot to eat your veggies and now they’re moldy? You can compost that!
- Concerned about smells? Store your scraps in a reusable jar/bucket with a lid OR keep your scraps in the freezer!
- Reduce plastic waste and bring your composting in a paper bag or cardboard box!