Recycling

UVA Sustainability is working with the Sierra Club and the community to collect reusable bags for low-income individuals. With a new plastic bag tax instituted in Charlottesville and Albemarle County, reusable bags are important to promote environmental justice and sustainability as a whole.

UVA students are increasingly interested in service opportunities with a sustainability focus, so the Office for Sustainability now provides three volunteer initiatives that allow students, staff and faculty to contribute directly to our waste minimization, civic engagement and food access goals.

The Office for Sustainability assisted UVA's Morven Kitchen Garden to make their annual "Gazpacho in the Garden" event a Zero Waste affair. Our staff were on hand to help make sure all the waste items made it to the correct bin. And, oh yeah, to enjoy the gazpacho!

UVA Health clinicians are working to increase efficiency, reduce waste and generate cost savings, while continuing to ensure outstanding patient care, by incorporating sustainability into their departments.

For the first time, all home football games this season will be “Green Games,” with student volunteers helping fans recycle and compost as much waste as possible.

Piles of unwanted furniture destined for the landfill inspired UVA students to create a platform that connects folks giving furniture away and those in need.

UVA wins gold in the Virginia Environmental Excellence Awards for efforts to reduce single-use plastics, such as beverage bottles, cutlery and dining ware. Proliferation of plastics in the environment is a growing problem for health and wildlife.

Look for the new compost bins at the Ampitheater in January to dispose of your food scraps and compostable plates, cutlery and cups.