UVA is continually expanding composting access throughout Grounds to make progress towards the University's ambitious waste reduction goal. 

Composting keeps food waste and other organic materials out of landfills, reducing greenhouse gas emissions and returning nutrients back to the soil.

UVA works with Black Bear Composting, a local company, to collect food waste and other compostable items. All material is composted at the company’s facility in nearby Augusta County, Virginia. Black Bear accepts: 

• Food waste: including produce, dairy, meat, bones, and more
• Uncoated paper: including napkins, paper towels, paper bags, and paper plates
• Certified compostable wares: Check to see if your to-go container, cup, bowl or utensils are compostable. Look for the Biodegradable Product Institute (BPI) Certified logo, “PLA 7” recycling symbol or the regulated terms "compostable" and "commercially compostable." Items with these labels may be placed in the green compost bin. (See graphic on the right)

Composting Services

On Grounds

Academic Buildings

Composting is available for paper towels in all bathrooms and through countertop composting in kitchenettes.

Outdoor Zero Waste Stations

Students, staff and faculty can find 24/7 accessible compost bins throughout the academic year. These bins should only be used for materials generated on Grounds.
 

• McIntire Amphitheater
• Observatory Hill
• Outside Runk
• Outside Bonnycastle

UVA Dine

• Dining Halls: Tray Returns and Back-End Composting (Preparation Scraps)

• Retail Locations: West Range Café, Fine Arts Café, and Twisted Tortilla at The Castle 

   

UVA Health

Compost bins are available at Wahoo West Café in the West Complex and Good Grain Café in the UVA Orthopedic Center Ivy Road. Leftover food and compostable wares (e.g., compostable cups, straws, food containers, utensils, napkins) from the cafés can be placed in the green compost bins. All food waste from meal preparation in medical center cafés is also composted.

Athletic Events

Food waste and packaging are composted at all UVA Football games and some other athletic events when volunteers are available.

Other 

• Center for Comparative Medicine (CCM): Vivarium
• Fabrication Labs: PLA Plastic (3D Printing)
• Garden Room Operated by Feast
• Zero Waste Events
• Pumpkins in October

Off-Grounds

Charlottesville City Market

Each Saturday from April to October, the Charlottesville City Market has compost drop-off stations for those who would like to participate. Compostable bags are provided free of charge at the City Market Composting Booth. 

McIntire Recycling Center

Drop off compostable items during regular facility hours. Free 3-gallon compostable bags are offered at the Center’s kiosks.

Black Bear Composting

Join the Black Bear Residential Composting program. Black Bear will provide a bin or tote (depending on your needs) with a compostable bag and will regularly pick-up compostable material for a monthly fee.

City of Charlottesville

Charlottesville City residents can sign up for 24/7 composting drop-off services by filling out this form on the City of Charlottesville's webpage.

Zero Waste Events

Interested in composting at your next event? Check out the Zero Waste Events page to learn more. 

Caution

Be wary of labels such as the following that make a product sound "green", but do NOT mean a product is compostable. Only the labels shown in the green box above designate a product as compostable.