CORRECTED NEWS RELEASE: DEQ Awards $8 million for Food Rescue and Composting Initiatives

Virginia Department of Environmental Quality sent this bulletin at 04/20/2026 12:39 PM EDT

DEQ.Virginia.gov

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2026

CONTACT: Irina Calos
(804) 659-1333
Irina.Calos@deq.virginia.gov

DEQ Awards $8 Million for Food Rescue and Composting Initiatives

CORRECTION: Washington and Lee, University of Mary Washington, and University of Virginia award amount added. Duplicates removed.

Richmond, Va. – The Virginia Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) has awarded nearly $8 million to 12 Virginia colleges and universities to reduce food waste across the Commonwealth. The funding, provided through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Climate Pollution Reduction Grant program, will support a wide variety of food waste prevention, food rescue, and composting initiatives – all designed to divert food from landfills.

“DEQ is pleased to provide funding and partner with Virginia’s higher education institutions to address food waste,” said DEQ Director Mike Rolband. “Reducing food waste and encouraging composting provides a range of environmental benefits that will extend beyond these campuses.”

These projects will reduce landfill methane emissions by preventing wasted food, recovering surplus food to feed people, and composting any remaining food waste:

· Christopher Newport University was awarded $176,000. This award includes support for an in-vessel composting system and additional supplies and equipment that will support food waste diversion.

· College of William & Mary was awarded $41,121. This award includes funding support for the purchase and installation of an industrial blast chiller to freeze excess food for repurposing.

· George Mason University was awarded $1,062,825. This award includes support for creating a dedicated food rescue hub, piloting waste tracking software in dining operations, and creating a new full-time compost coordinator position.

· James Madison University was awarded $243,387. This award includes support for the expansion of compost collection at catered events, the purchase of a dedicated food recovery vehicle, and funding support for student interns who will focus on reducing food waste.

· Radford University was awarded $203,000. This award includes support for an in-vessel composting system and hiring students to assist with food recovery operations and training.

· University of Mary Washington was awarded $432,215. This award includes support for food waste prevention education and outreach and the establishment of a campus-wide composting program in partnership with a new regional compost business.

· University of Virginia was awarded $536,539. This award includes support for food storage equipment, funded student positions for food rescue and composting operations, and new community compost drop-off locations to increase access to composting for Charlottesville residents.

· Virginia Commonwealth University was awarded $1,045,196. This award includes support for a coordinated university-wide initiative focused on food waste reduction and diversion on both VCU’s main campus and within the university’s hospital system.

· Virginia Institute of Marine Science was awarded $232,969. This award will help expand the diversion of research fish for composting, and support for staff and students who will focus on food waste prevention education and outreach.

· Virginia Tech was awarded $3,530,497. This award will support the construction of an industrial scale composting facility with an intended yearly processing capacity of 2,700 tons, processing campus food waste and improving VT’s manure management practices.

· Virginia Wesleyan University was awarded $140,000. This award includes support for compost collection, and a subscription to Free Food Alert, an app-based system that prevents food waste by alerting students when there is available food left at the end of an event.

· Washington and Lee University was awarded $324,829. This award includes support for expanding the capacity of food rescue and composting efforts and providing training and resources to event hosts that will focus on food waste prevention and diversion.

Visit the DEQ website to learn more about food waste reduction efforts.

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About DEQ

The Department of Environmental Quality protects and enhances Virginia's environment and promotes the health and well being of the citizens of the Commonwealth. We are committed to cleaner water, improved air quality, and the productive re-use of contaminated land.

For more information, please visit www.DEQ.Virginia.gov.

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DEQ does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, disability, age, or sex in administration of its programs or activities, and, DEQ does not intimidate or retaliate against any individual or group because they have exercised their rights to participate in actions protected, or oppose action prohibited, by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7, or for the purpose of interfering with such rights. Title VI Coordinator Melanie Davenport is responsible for coordination of compliance efforts and receipt of inquiries concerning non-discrimination requirements implemented by 40 C.F.R. Parts 5 and 7 (Non-discrimination in Programs or Activities Receiving Federal Assistance from the Environmental Protection Agency), including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended; Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973; the Age Discrimination Act of 1975; Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972; and Section 13 of the Federal Water Pollution Control Act Amendments of 1972 (hereinafter referred to collectively as the federal non-discrimination laws). If you have any questions about this notice or any of DEQ's non-discrimination programs, policies or procedures, you may contact: Title VI Coordinator - Melanie Davenport; Virginia Department of Environmental Quality; P.O. Box 1105; Richmond, VA 23218; (804) 698-4000 (phone); (800) 592-5482 (toll-free); Melanie.Davenport@deq.virginia.gov.