{"691262":{"#nid":"691262","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Georgia Tech Earns National Recognition for Sustainability Innovation","body":[{"value":"\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s commitment to transforming waste into a valuable campus resource has earned national recognition. The Institute recently received the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award, honoring the Office of Sustainability\u2019s pioneering in-vessel composting program, which is helping Georgia Tech reduce waste, lower emissions, and create a more sustainable campus. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe award is presented by APPA: Leadership in Educational Facilities, an international association that serves more than 1,300 educational institutions and facilities professionals. APPA\u2019s Sustainability Innovation Award recognizes educational institutions that implement transformative programs or processes that enhance service delivery, improve environmental performance, reduce costs, and support student success through environmental stewardship. Recipients are selected based on innovation, sustainability impact, adaptability to other institutions, and measurable benefits to their campus communities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ETurning Food Waste Into a Campus Resource\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s award-winning in-vessel composting program exemplifies how innovative infrastructure can support ambitious sustainability goals.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe Office of Sustainability received a Recycling and Waste Diversion grant from the Georgia Environmental Protection Division in 2024 to implement the composter, which arrived on campus last year. A student-staffed collection program (using e-bikes and an electric golf cart) captures food scraps and compostable materials from campus housing and dining facilities, and processes them on-site using a specialized in-vessel composting system. This reduces the weight of material by approximately 80%, decreasing the demand for off-campus hauling. \u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EUnlike traditional composting methods, the enclosed system carefully controls temperature, airflow, and moisture, accelerating decomposition while minimizing odors and reducing the space required for processing. In just over six months, three student assistants have collected more than 5 tons (10,000 pounds) of materials from various campus locations.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cGeorgia Tech has grown a strong composting program thanks to high levels of commitment from Tech Dining, Housing, and Campus Services, plus a strong hauling partner,\u201d said Abby Bower, program and portfolio manager in the Office of Sustainability. \u201cThe in-vessel composter has added an exciting new layer to our composting services. It\u2019s been fun to see our students embrace the technology and share their ideas for how to improve campus operations.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBy processing organic waste on campus, Georgia Tech diverts significant amounts of material from landfills, where food waste would otherwise generate methane, a potent greenhouse gas. The program supports the Institute\u2019s broader sustainability and circular economy objectives by keeping resources in use and reducing environmental impacts.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EWhy Georgia Tech Stood Out\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EAccording to APPA, Sustainability Innovation Award recipients demonstrate creativity, measurable environmental and economic benefits, community impact, and the ability to serve as a model for other institutions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s in-vessel composting initiative stood out because it:\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022ec49378c2bd1e73372f573e0b50fd0c7f\u0022\u003EDemonstrates an innovative approach to campus waste management.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e0fb1e24c65e7d05c995aaf454877731b\u0022\u003EDiverts food waste from landfills and reduces greenhouse gas emissions.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022eb8f78d77f9c65872249b27522fa43fb0\u0022\u003ECreates a closed-loop system that turns waste into a useful resource.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e4f311330b3cde5c36955c1aee7ea8bf1\u0022\u003EProvides educational opportunities for students and the campus community.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cul\u003E\u003Cli data-list-item-id=\u0022e3f1207bd346794c92e2525fb9b556dbd\u0022\u003EOffers a scalable model that can be replicated by other colleges and universities.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/li\u003E\u003C\/ul\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EThe program reflects the collaborative work of the Office of Sustainability and campus partners to create practical, measurable solutions that advance Georgia Tech\u2019s sustainability commitments.\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EA Model for the Future\u003C\/strong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E\u003Cdiv\u003E\u003Cp\u003EReceiving the APPA Sustainability Innovation Award highlights Georgia Tech\u2019s role as a leader in sustainable campus operations and environmental stewardship. As institutions across the country seek innovative ways to reduce waste and meet climate goals, Georgia Tech\u2019s in-vessel composting program demonstrates how thoughtful investments in infrastructure can deliver lasting benefits for both the campus community and the environment.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003C\/div\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s in-vessel composting program earns national recognition.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"Georgia Tech\u2019s in-vessel composting program earns national recognition."}],"uid":"35028","created_gmt":"2026-07-27 17:28:52","changed_gmt":"2026-07-30 18:28:08","author":"cbrim3","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2026-07-27T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2026-07-27T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"680681":{"id":"680681","type":"image","title":"Compost-Award-01--2-.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EFrom left to right: Steve Place, campus sustainability program manager; Abby Bower, program and portfolio manager; and Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of the Office of Sustainability are pictured with Georgia Tech\u0027s Sustainability Innovation Award in front of the campus in-vessel composter.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1785173637","gmt_created":"2026-07-27 17:33:57","changed":"1785359595","gmt_changed":"2026-07-29 21:13:15","alt":"From left to right, Steve Place, campus sustainability program manager; Abby Bower, program and portfolio manager, and Jennifer Chirico, associate vice president of the Office of Sustainability are pictured with Georgia Tech\u0027s Sustainability Innovation Award in front of the campus\u0027s in-vessel composter.","file":{"fid":"264981","name":"Compost-Award-01--2-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/27\/Compost-Award-01--2-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/27\/Compost-Award-01--2-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2415636,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/27\/Compost-Award-01--2-.jpg?itok=3p7bk-f_"}},"680684":{"id":"680684","type":"image","title":"Compost-Award-10--1-.jpg","body":"\u003Cp\u003EKatherine Sanders, compost student assistant, at the in-vessel composter site.\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1785173877","gmt_created":"2026-07-27 17:37:57","changed":"1785173877","gmt_changed":"2026-07-27 17:37:57","alt":"Katherine Sanders, compost student assistant, at the in-vessel composter site.","file":{"fid":"264983","name":"Compost-Award-10--1-.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/27\/Compost-Award-10--1-.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2026\/07\/27\/Compost-Award-10--1-.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":2630815,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2026\/07\/27\/Compost-Award-10--1-.jpg?itok=AaooHnZ6"}}},"media_ids":["680681","680684"],"groups":[{"id":"383831","name":"Infrastructure and Operations"},{"id":"1214","name":"News Room"},{"id":"660398","name":"Sustainability Hub"}],"categories":[{"id":"129","name":"Institute and Campus"}],"keywords":[{"id":"192081","name":"office of sustainability"},{"id":"168693","name":"campus sustainability"},{"id":"175824","name":"composting"},{"id":"195205","name":"in-vessel composting"},{"id":"195206","name":"APPA award"},{"id":"195207","name":"Sustainability innovation"},{"id":"166890","name":"sustainability"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39491","name":"Renewable Bioproducts"}],"news_room_topics":[{"id":"71871","name":"Campus and Community"}],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003ECathy Brim\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003ECommunications Officer II\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInstitute Communications\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInfrastructure and Operations | Office of Sustainability | Planning, Design, and Construction\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["Cathy.brim@gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}