Composting

Virginia Tech Dining Services began to compost its pre-consumer food waste in January of 2009 at our pre-preparation food processing center on campus, Southgate Food Processing Center. Virginia Tech Dining Services diverted over 300 tons of food waste from the landfill in the year 2010. Instead, this waste was collected and processed into rich soil by Poplar Manor Enterprises LLC.

Some of this soil is also used at The Dining Services Garden at Kentland Farm run in collaboration with the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. In early 2011, the program was expanded further, with the new inclusion of Sbarro and all Au Bon Pain locations. Within a year, West End Market is expected to be participating in the program and the newest dining center, Turner Place, is expected to be composting from its first day in operation.

VT News Story: Dining Services composting program aims to reduce landfill waste