The December 2004 waste audit revealed that on average EACH student threw away approximately 0.26 lbs of food PER MEAL. This adds up to about 710,000 pounds of wasted food per year by Miami University students.........your food waste in one year could feed a small town 2 meals per day, and is worth over $200,000!!!

In 1982, the Department of Residence Halls initiated a Waging War on Waste program, with an objective to create awareness among both students and employees and reduce the quantity of food wasted.

A survey on food waste was done in all dining halls starting September 15, 1982. The average cost of food waste per tray was 10.5 cents that amounted to $315,000 based on 3,000,000 lunch and dinner meals that were served during the year.

Following the survey, various promotional materials were used to educate the university population on how to change their wasteful habits. Employees working at the serving line, check stands, dining rooms and managers all wore WWOW buttons, and posters, table tents, and paper napkins had WWOW reminders printed on them.

The WWOW program was revitalized in 2002, with the first "secret" weigh ins in December 2002. They took place at Harris, Hamilton, Martin, Alexander and Erickson Dining Halls. 1472 trays from patrons of the dining halls were weighed to reveal a total waste of 473 pounds of food, 79.5 gallons of liquids, and 878 clean napkins. In the following month we put on a publicity blitz to educate students, staff, and faculty on the amount of food wasted in dining facilities, and to encourage them to take smaller portions, try samples before choosing their meals, eat all of what is purchased, and take fewer napkins. The second "secret" weigh in was in February 2003 and showed a dramatic decrease in food, beverage and napkin waste, and a marked increase in Waste Wise awareness and interest.

The WWOW program is now a part of the university's Waste Wise tradition, and dining and recycling staff will continue to conduct "secret" weigh ins and publicity campaigns to further improve awareness and participation in Miami University's efforts to REDUCE, REUSE, and RECYCLE!! Be on the look out for WWOW promotional material, and remember to be Waste Wise.