Virginia Tech
OP-18: Waste Diversion

On June 1, 2009 the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors approved “The Virginia Tech Climate Action Commitment” Resolution. The 14 point resolution may be viewed at: http://www.facilities.vt.edu/documents/sustainability/climateAction.pdf Point #8 states “Virginia Tech Recycling will adopt a goal of 35% recycle rate by 2012 and 50% by 2025. For calendar year 2009, Virginia Tech achieved an overall recycling rate of 36.5% using the Commonwealth of Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality Locality Recycling Rate Report. This surpassed the 35% recycling rate goal three years ahead of schedule. For calendar year 2010 the university continued a seven year upward trend achieving a 37.5% recycling rate. Simultaneously the municipal solid waste trend has been steadily downward from 4,764 tons in calendar year 2008, to 4,108 tons in calendar year 2009, and to 3,664 tons in calendar year 2010. In 2008 Virginia Tech established a partnership with Poplar Manor Enterprises, LLC and introduced a composting pilot program at our Southgate Food Processing Center. Results were very impressive. The following year composting was introduced at the Owens Hall Dining Facility and these two facilities composted 131 tons of food waste. During calendar year 2010 the university introduced composting at the Dietrick Dining Hall (the largest dining facility on campus), several other small dining venues, and at the Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center. Over 325 tons of food waste was composted at Virginia Tech in calendar year 2010. Dining Services has the goal of expanding its composting program to include all 12 dining facilities in the future. Y-TOSS 2011 captured over 20,000 pounds of reusable products during student move-out. Revision 2 to University Policy 5505 “Campus Energy, Water, and Waste Reduction” was approved on February 28, 2011 which included a new section on waste reduction. The Facilities Services Department was tasked to develop a Comprehensive Waste Management Plan for Virginia Tech which was completed on July 15, 2011. To view University Policy 5505 “Campus Energy, Water, and Waste Reduction” please see: http://www.policies.vt.edu/5505.pdf To view the Comprehensive Waste Management Plan for Virginia Tech, please see: http://facilities.vt.edu/documents/sustainability/unlinked/Comprehensive_Waste_Mangement_Plan_Virginia_Tech_7_15_2011_Final.pdf