Author: jmontilla6

New Composter to Enhance Campus Waste Reduction

A grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division enabled the acquisition of the large-scale compost vessel.

Pictured left to right: Members of the Office of Sustainability Abby Bower, Jennifer Chirico, and Steve Place welcome the new large-scale compost vessel to campus.
Pictured left to right: Members of the Office of Sustainability Abby Bower, Jennifer Chirico, and Steve Place welcome the new large-scale compost vessel to campus.

Georgia Tech recently received its first large-scale composter, providing a closed-loop mechanism for processing food waste and other organic materials on campus. The Georgia Environmental Protection Division awarded a Recycling and Waste Diversion grant to the Office of Sustainability in 2024, enabling the acquisition of the composter.

 

It is the first of its size for an urban campus in Georgia and one of the very few in the Southeast. By continuously mixing organic material to introduce oxygen under ideal temperatures, the composter accelerates the natural decomposition process within a contained vessel. This technology enables composting to occur more quickly and requires less space than other methods. With a 1,000-pound daily capacity, the machine is anticipated to process up to 175 tons of organics per year — nearly half of the approximately 400 tons that Georgia Tech composts annually.

 

Associate Vice President of Sustainability Jennifer Chirico identified the need for an on-site composting option to reduce food waste diversion costs. “We are thrilled to see this effort come to life in support of our zero-waste and circular economy goals in alignment with the Institute’s strategic plan and multiple other strategic initiatives,” Chirico said. “This project represents an incredible amount of hard work from our office. I want to thank Shan Arora, director of The Kendeda Building for Innovative Sustainable Design, for his support in writing the grant, and Program and Portfolio Manager for the Office of Sustainability Abby Bower for her hard work in bringing the compost to full implementation.”

 

Current compost locations include campus dining halls, Tech Catering, John Lewis Student Center Dining, Kaldi’s Coffee, Carnegie Kitchen, residence halls, and two academic buildings; however, expanding service is essential to diverting more waste from the landfill and meeting our Institute zero waste goals.

 

“Our first goal is always to reduce the total amount of waste we generate, but with existing technology and practices, we still need a way to sustainably dispose of unrecoverable food, compostable products, and landscape debris,” said Bower. “This technology will enable us to increase the amount that we compost and keep it here on campus. We are excited to share this initiative with our campus community.”

 

A ribbon-cutting ceremony is planned in the Infrastructure and Sustainability Resource Recovery Yard, located off Tech Parkway, on Thursday, Nov. 13, at 1 p.m. The Office of Sustainability invites students, staff, and faculty to join us to learn how the compost vessel works and tour the new yard. Please RSVP here. Operations are expected to begin this fall, with expanded collection starting in Spring 2026. For more information or to get involved, contact sustain@gatech.edu.

 

 

Office of Sustainability Hosts USG Energy Summit to Amplify Efforts in Energy Management

USG schools are working together to manage energy use on campuses.

On Oct. 1, the Office of Sustainability (a department within Infrastructure and Sustainability) led the second meeting of the University System of Georgia (USG) Campus Energy and Resiliency Group (CERG) summit to further the conversation around energy management for campuses statewide. Six Georgia schools participated: Georgia Tech, the University of Georgia, Emory University, Georgia State University, Kennesaw State University, and the University of West Georgia. Staff from the sustainability, utilities, and engineering departments of each of these schools gathered to discuss setting USG energy targets and best practices for reducing energy use, increasing energy efficiency, and establishing shared resources.

 

USG Vice Chancellor of Real Estate and Facilities Sandra Neuse was the keynote speaker. “I’m thrilled that the Campus Energy and Resiliency Group has come together organically to share their collective expertise in energy efficiency and sustainability,” she said. “Their focus on establishing energy efficiency targets and collaborating with other institutions across the USG will not only avoid costs — it is an investment in the future and a model for our students, who will be the next generation of leaders.”

 

The call for the development of the summit was inspired by the potential of collaboration throughout the USG, and the acknowledgment that each university has unique expertise, experience, and insight that can aid in energy management strategies for campuses across Georgia.

 

The key ideas discussed during the summit included:

  • Setting statewide USG energy targets.
  • Assessing Energy Use intensity, a metric that measures energy use per square foot per year at a building level.
  • Developing a framework for best practices within the USG to share strategies for increasing energy efficiency and conservation.
  • Developing standards for how utility data is tracked.

Increasing energy management efforts is critical right now as utility rates continue to rise. Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of Sustainability, presented Georgia Tech’s energy data at the event. “One of the most important aspects of campus sustainability is increasing energy efficiency and setting energy targets to advance progress. We are excited to partner with our peers across USG to share best practices and move this effort forward,” she said.

 

The Georgia Tech Office of Sustainability plans on continued engagement with other USG campuses across the state, and the next summit is scheduled for Spring 2026 at Kennesaw State University.

 

 

Additional Media

image of participants from the USG Energy Summit held Oct. 1
image of participants from the USG Energy Summit held Oct. 1

New Online Zero Waste Hub Provides Updated Guidance for Campus Recycling, Reuse, and Compost

This updated online source makes diverting waste from the landfill easier.

A guide to simplifying recycling, composting, and reuse at Georgia Tech.

 

The Georgia Tech Zero Waste Resource Hub, developed by the Office of Sustainability, a department within Infrastructure and Sustainability, provides an easy-to-use online platform that helps the campus community navigate locations and resources for diverting waste from the landfill. By bringing these services together in one place, the hub supports Georgia Tech’s goal of advancing zero waste practices throughout the campus community.

 

The hub is designed for students, faculty, and staff and can be used for identifying compost and recycling locations, reusing surplus furniture, and making more sustainable purchases. Key features of the hub include:

  • Campus Navigation
    Find drop-off locations for recycling, compost, and hard-to-dispose-of items like electronics, lightbulbs, and batteries.
  • Reuse Resources
    Discover how to participate in reuse opportunities around campus, from donating gently used items to sourcing reusable materials.
  • Sorting and Disposal Guidance
    Clear instructions to help reduce contamination and ensure items are properly sorted and processed.
  • Sustainability Support
    Direct links to relevant forms, procurement resources, and contacts across campus departments.

The Zero Waste Resource Hub was developed through the Living Learning Campus Fellowship program, an initiative within the Office of Sustainability that enables students to collaborate with campus operations and infrastructure. Gabriella Nguyen, a program fellow, worked on the hub as part of her fellowship with other campus units such as the Office of Solid Waste Management, Surplus, and Campus Services.

 

“Through my study abroad, I had the chance to learn about sustainability initiatives in the EU. As a fellow in the Office of Sustainability, I set out to centralize and simplify all campus zero waste programs and procedures into the Zero Waste Resource Hub. I’m grateful for the opportunity to work alongside the staff who exposed me to the incredible initiatives happening across campus. I hope the dashboard makes it easier for everyone to access these resources and get involved,” said Nguyen.

 

By making sustainability resources more accessible and actionable, the Zero Waste Resource Hub reflects the Institute Strategic Plan’s Foundational Priority 2 of becoming a Zero Waste Campus and our broader commitment to environmental responsibility and operational efficiency.