As part of sustainability and an effort to contribute to the better future of the environment and our university, Reeve Union is doing its part by practicing eco-friendly actions in order to reduce its impact upon the environment and reduce its carbon footprint.

Reeve Union continues to make a difference through actively engaging in efforts to reduce consumption and waste, generate and purchase renewable energy, curb pollution, green building and purchasing, sustainable landscapes, as well as promoting sustainability through outreach.

Sustainable Actions

1. Food: By batch cooking we are able to minimize food waste, thus saving money and energy.
2. Energy: The Energy Star Rated dishwashing machines conserve water and energy. Blackhawk Commons also utilizes several solar panels that help offset energy consumption.
3. Organic Waste Collection: Reeve Union and Blackhawk Commons collects organic waste and sends it to the University’s bio-digester. In addition, Blackhawk Commons utilizes a pulper to squeeze water from post-consumer food waste making it lighter to transport. These efforts support the bio-digester which produces methane gas, which is used to generate electricity.
4. Motion Sensors: Reeve Union & Blackhawk Commons incorporated motion light sensors throughout the buildings in different offices and areas to reduce energy waste.
5. Renovation Special Efforts: In past renovations, special efforts were made to preserve or reuse elements of the former spaces. Many tables in Reeve Marketplace were made from trees that were felled during construction. Counters in the Titan Underground were repurposed from the former bowling alley in the lower level of the building.

The Harvest Room

Located in Reeve Union, The Harvest Room grows a significant amount of lettuce consumed on campus (over 300 lbs per month). We also will grow fresh herbs, including basil, parsley and cilantro. Supporters like The Green Fund, Midwest Foods and Fork Farms have helped The Harvest Room expand over the past years. The operation is fully sustainable, overseen by university and student staff.

Serving Up in a Sustainable Way

• Blackhawk Commons is trayless and primarily uses dishware and silverware, to reduce waste.
• Introduced by The Green Fund, the Ozzi Program helps reduce the number of single-use containers in Reeve Marketplace. Patrons can opt to use a reusable Ozzi container at Clash Burger, Chilaca and Grains & Greens. Once finished with their meal, the container is returned to a receptacle to be washed and reused.
• Silverware is available in Reeve Marketplace.
• All dining locations use compostable paper products, where possible.

Local Sourcing

Click the map to see some local vendors.

By producing our own bakery items on campus, we can ensure fresh, out of the oven baked goods from scratch with no distance shipping of the product. Reeve Union and University Dining works hand-in-hand with other local businesses to provide students with fresh and local produce. View a list of products that are bought locally and are used throughout Blackhawk Commons and Reeve Marketplace.

1. Lakeside Foods, Milwaukee, WI; Petite corn cob, carrot slices, whole green beans
2. Cedar Crest Ice Cream, Oshkosh, WI; ice cream products
3. Maglio, Glendale, WI; Fresh Tomato Cherry, Fresh whole melon watermelon seedless
4. Borzynski Bros Dist. Franksville, WI; Fresh large green bell pepper
5. Gehl Foods Inc, Milwaukee, WI; Sauce chili, Jalapeno cheese sauce
6. Belgiosio Cheese Inc., Green Bay, Wi; Fresh Cielegene mozzarella cheese
7. Klement Sausage, Milwaukee, WI; Sausage summer all-beef
8. Birchwood Foods, Green Bay, WI; Taco Beef
9. Custom Cuts FreshLLC, Milwaukee, WI; Chopped Romaine Lettuce
10. Royal Kitchens Inc., West Allis, WI; Bread Focaccia Tomato Herb
11. Emmi Roth USA, Madison, WI; Wisconsin cheese kit course
12. Taylor Enterprise of Wisc, Ixonia, WI; Breading mix
13. Sunrise Farms Inc, Neenah, WI; Tofu firm extra
14. Bakers Qty Pizza Crusts Inc, Waukesha, WI; Dough Pizza Crust
15. Sturm Foods Inc,  Milwaukee, WI; Non-fat Milk dry instant granulate
16. Russet Potato Exchange, Bancroft, WI; Red potato
17. Milmar Food Group, Brookfield, WI; assorted mini-quiche appetizer, vegetable eggroll, spring roll,
18. Farmers Organic Food Intl LLC, Blair, Wi; Egg Shell
19. Quaker Bakery, Appleton, WI,; Silver dollar roll
20. Kikcapoo Valley, Wisconsin Rapids; Sliced Monterrey Jack Cheese, sliced sharp yellow cheddar cheese

Fair Trade

The University of Wisconsin Oshkosh is the first campus in the U. S. declared a Fair Trade University. Fair trade is a system of international trade that works for financial security, social justice, and environmental stewardship for growers and producers in the developing world. Here is a list of dining areas on campus that provide Fair Trade products:

Blackhawk Commons, Reeve Marketplace, Einstein Bros. Bagels, Reeve Coffee House and all the other to-go locations on campus serve Fair Trade Certified coffee, tea and sugar. Corner Convenience Store: Chocolate. University Books and More: jewelry, arts and crafts.

Choose To Eat Meatless

Did you know?
Recent data from a Harvard University study found that replacing saturated fat-rich foods (for example, meat and full fat dairy) with foods that are rich in polyunsaturated fat (for example, vegetable oils, nuts and seeds) reduces the risk of heart disease by 19%.

Did you know?
Red and processed meat consumption is associated with increases in total mortality, cancer mortality and cardiovascular disease mortality. Studies have proven that by including more fruits and veggies in one’s diet, it can lower blood pressure, increase metabolism, and improve digestion overall.

And what are the benefits of eating more fruits and vegetables?
Just consuming beans or peas results in higher intakes of fiber, protein, folate, zinc, iron and magnesium with lower intakes of saturated fat and total fat. If you think this is crazy, imagine how many more benefits your body will get if you eat other fruits and vegetables!

Sustainable Ideas

Have some of your own ideas about new sustainable practices in Reeve Union or Blackhawk Commons? Share them with our staff:

• Reeve Union – Nathan Scott, Director of Reeve Union and Student Rec & Wellness (scottn@uwosh.edu).
• University Dining – Brian Warzynski, Assistant Director for Dining Operations (warzynskib@uwosh.edu).