Dining Services at the University of Maryland is a campus and national leader in sustainability programming and impact. We are committed to supporting the University Strategic Plan to move fearlessly forward in pursuit of excellence and the public good, and to comply with the campus' ambitious sustainability commitments, such as achieving net-zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2025. We continuously collaborate and innovate with students, colleagues and partners to:
- Lead to a healthier community
- Protect the environment
- Support sustainable behaviors
- Promote education about the interrelationship between food, agriculture, the environment and health
- Meet our guests’ needs in a cost effective, safe and responsible manner
Learn more about our practices, projects and partnerships that form the foundation for our award-winning sustainability program: UMD Green Dining. Get involved with us through student projects, jobs and volunteer service.
Our Sustainability Initiatives
Projects
Learn more about current and ongoing areas of focus for Dining Services sustainability program, including our work with student projects.
The Campus Food Pantry, on-campus Maryland Farmers Market and Terp Farm strive to make nutritious and sustainable food available to the entire community.
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Partners
Linking our efforts with those of leading national organizations helps us achieve success while promoting a replicable standard. We are proud to work with the Food Recovery Network, the Menus of Change University Research Collaborative and the World Resources Institute to connect our campus with national and global initiatives.
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Practices
What does Maryland Dining do to minimize the environmental impact of operations? Find out how the implementation of practices such as sustainable food purchasing, reducing single use packaging, designing green buildings and empowering student leaders makes our Dining program one of the nation’s best.
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Grants
Here is a look at grants Dining Services has worked on and won over the years. Highlights of projects funded by sustainability grants include Terp Farm projects, the Campus Pantry, and most recently the South Campus pollinator gardens. Read about how each project was formed and what they've done for the UMD community.