CSAIL Food Policy

CSAIL Food Policy

PURPOSE 

 

To define the requirements for food and cleanup in CSAIL located in the Stata building.  This policy also provides clear guidelines for disposing of trash, cleaning areas after lunches/events, and assisting with health concerns and remediation of mice within Stata. 

 

SCOPE

This CSAIL Food Policy applies to all students, faculty and staff working in Stata, and will rely on the goodwill and efforts of all groups within CSAIL to maintain it. 

POLICY

  1. All food stored in offices should be secured in Glass Lock containers that CSAIL will provide. Storing food in floor refrigerators is acceptable. It is the responsibility of each person to clean up the kitchen area after use, this would include wiping down countertops and washing dishes; and to do so promptly otherwise, unwashed cups and dishes will be disposed of.  Regular deep cleaning will be scheduled through custodial services and communicated to all through email.
  2. Each PI should develop local guidelines for organizing meetings with food and cleaning after a meeting with food. The guidelines should be consistent with the CSAIL and MIT policies, and should be discussed and adopted by all the group members.
  3. All food for lunches and conference deadlines during the day, evening and weekend hours should be consumed only in lounges, with any leftovers and food delivery packages disposed of on the first floor, on the Student Street.
  4. Food may be served in the large conference room (e.g, Patil, Star, Hewlett Room and 32-370.) If not using custodial services, it is the responsibility of the attendees or designated person to do the cleanup following the instructions and using the cleaning products available in conference rooms and kitchen areas.
  5. No food is allowed in the small conference rooms in research space.  This aspect of the CSAIL food policy will be reviewed once the pandemic is over.
  6. Any meetings with food in large conference rooms would also have the responsibility for scheduling cleanup afterwards. Cleanup includes disposing of the food containers and leftovers in the kitchen areas, wiping all surfaces, and vacuuming the floors (vacuum cleaners will be available in each kitchen area).
  7. Administrative Assistants should not be asked to clean up after food meetings. Their responsibilities include ordering food and ensuring that the space is clean after each meeting by organizing the cleanup and giving instructions to the attendees and or designated people for cleanup.  It is critical that everyone adhere to doing their part to control the rodent issues within CSAIL.
  8. Food can be consumed at one’s desk, but it is your responsibility to clean the desk thoroughly, remove crumb droppings from the floor and dispose of trash in the kitchen area.  Do not leave food in trash bins under the desk. Vacuums are provided in each kitchen.
  9. All kitchen areas and conference rooms allowing food will provide instructions for cleaning.  Cleaning products will be provided with garbage bags after food consumption to dispose of trash.  TIG will be responsible for ensuring each kitchen has cleaning supplies. MIT Eating Indoors Policy is available here  https://now.mit.edu/policies/eating-indoors/

RESPONSIBILITY

Every member of the CSAIL community is responsible for maintaining our spaces in a professional state.  We are all responsible for cleaning the lab areas after food consumption. This is a policy that we all must work together to maintain for a clean and healthy environment for our students, faculty, and staff. 

Instructions

INSTRUCTIONS FOR CLEANING UP AFTER FOOD IN CONFERENCE ROOMS

We must all do our part to ensure that we have a clean, healthy environment to do our important research and work each day.  It will be up to all of us to adhere to these new policies and health requirements. The CSAIL Food Policy and instructions for cleanup applies to day, evening and weekend meetings.

  1. Please designate an attendee of each food meeting for ensuring the room is clean and the CSAIL Food Policy is met.  If it’s a group effort, you will all have the responsibility of adhering to the policy.  The designated person/group will contact the AA at the end of the meeting to make sure the cleaning requirements are met before leaving.
  2. After each meeting, the food trash will go into the garbage bags provided and taken off the floor.  Leftovers are not to go in the kitchen or any other areas. If you want leftovers, you must pack up and bring with you.
  3. After each meeting, the conference table should be wiped down using the antibacterial wipes provided.
  4. After each meeting, any visible food or crumb droppings on the floor should be vacuumed up by the designated person.  You will find vacuums in the kitchen areas.
  5. After each food meeting, the trash will be taken off the floor and brought down to the first floor on the Student Street for custodians to pick up.  DO NOT LEAVE YOUR TRASH BEHIND or in kitchen areas as this is a violation of CSAIL policy.  This must be done to ensure that no food is left on the floors for health/rodent concerns.

 

INSTRUCTIONS FOR KITCHEN AREAS

It is important that we continue to clean up after ourselves to keep the rodent issues under control.   

  1. If using the kitchen area to prepare your food, please wipe down all counter areas, microwave after use and any other appliances you used.
  2. Do not leave your dishes in the sink to wash later, you must do so promptly or risk your items being disposed of in the trash.
  3. If you spill food, please use the cleaning products and vacuum to clean up after yourself.
  4. There will be regular deep cleanings scheduled to include the refrigerator and any items left in there will be disposed of in the trash.  An email will be sent out prior to deep cleaning to give everyone time to retrieve their items.