Vanguard Renewables Celebrates Campus Sustainability Month: A Focus on Food Waste Recycling at New England Colleges and Universities

By: Vanguard Renewables via Business Wire

October 30, 2024 at 07:00 AM EDT

October is recognized as Campus Sustainability Month by The Association for the Advancement of Sustainability in Higher Education (AASHE), an initiative designed to engage and educate students, faculty, and staff at colleges and universities about sustainability and climate action. This annual event fosters a culture of environmental stewardship on campuses and encourages institutions to adopt practices that lower their carbon footprint. This year, a significant focus is placed on food waste management, particularly the innovative solutions being implemented across New England's higher education institutions where food waste is being recycled through anaerobic digestion.

"Vanguard Renewables is excited to play a part in helping Massachusetts’ colleges and universities to reduce food waste and to repurpose that which can’t be eaten into something good for the planet – renewable energy,” stated Kent Bartley, President, Organic Solutions, Vanguard Renewables. “As Vanguard expands from coast to coast, it’s our hope that more colleges and universities will follow suit and realize there is a better way to dispose of food waste than landfills or incineration – and we are here to help.”

In Massachusetts, several colleges and universities are actively tackling the pressing challenge of climate change. From community tree-planting initiatives to vibrant campus gardens, this next generation of students is committed to finding solutions. College students today are echoing the passionate calls of their peers who marched for climate action, reminding us that “There is No Planet B.” They are increasingly aware of the food waste being generated on their campuses and are questioning the fate of that excess food.

Many schools are collaborating with organizations like Vanguard Renewables, a leader in converting organic waste into renewable energy. By processing food waste alongside dairy manure via anaerobic digesters, these institutions are addressing food waste management challenges while promoting sustainability.

Notable examples in New England include Smith College, Amherst College, and the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Each of these institutions is dedicated to cutting food waste, recycling surplus food, and raising awareness about the national food waste crisis.

"As college students, we’re in a critical habit-forming period of our lives, making it the perfect time to develop sustainable lifestyles,” stated Katie Lavrov, Class of 2027, Smith College. “By supporting both local food systems and the transition away from fossil fuels, this system demonstrates just how feasible it is to reduce our environmental footprints. Smith's commitment to these goals makes me proud to be a part of this community."

Through partnerships with Vanguard Renewables, they are creating a closed-loop system that promotes sustainability—connecting farms and campuses in a virtuous cycle.

Amherst College stands out by competing in the “Campus Race to Zero Waste,” competing against more than 80 colleges and universities in the waste diversion category, highlighting the commitment to send zero food waste to landfills. This accomplishment illustrates the determination of the younger generation to care for the planet, with Vanguard Renewables proudly contributing to this crucial endeavor.

"The campus waste data we collected for the competition was very revealing,” stated Wes Dripps, Director of Sustainability, Amherst College. “We were surprised to find that almost 50% of our waste stream was made up of organic food waste.”

Food waste significantly contributes to global greenhouse gas emissions, with approximately 40% of the United States’ food supply—around 133 billion pounds—going to waste each year. The decomposition of this waste in landfills emits methane, a greenhouse gas that is far more potent than CO₂. Addressing food waste is essential for effective climate mitigation; globally, if food waste were a country, it would rank as the third-largest emitter of greenhouse gases.

“We have worked diligently to steadily develop and improve an organic waste diversion program that combines onsite composting of materials for reuse on campus, to a large-scale food waste collection program that involves recovering materials from the campus dining halls and retail food location,” stated Michael Dufresne, Collection and Moving Manager, University of Massachusetts at Amherst. “Organics diverted from the waste stream are used locally to produce energy and fertilizer enhancing the sustainability programs at the University of Mass.”

During Campus Sustainability Month, New England institutions are not only enhancing their food waste management strategies but also engaging with their communities. Workshops, seminars, and initiatives promote understanding of food waste, climate change, and renewable energy's importance.

Students are encouraged to get involved with community gardens, composting programs, and participate in “Waste Audits” to directly measure and discuss waste generation on campus. Such educational efforts are crucial in raising awareness, community engagement, and paving the way for sustainable practices.

The collective efforts of these colleges and universities align with broader state and national climate action initiatives. New England states have implemented stronger policies aimed at minimizing greenhouse gas emissions and improving waste management practices. A recent study in the Journal of Science highlights that Massachusetts, with its organic waste bans, has achieved a 13.2% reduction in waste, but the need for enforcement remains critical.

Thanks to the students at Smith College, the University of Massachusetts at Amherst, and Amherst College, who are helping lead the charge in the Commonwealth, there is hope for change. As these students graduate and enter various fields, they carry forward their values and commitment to sustainability, likely fostering further change at home, in workplaces, and in government.

About Vanguard Renewables

Vanguard Renewables, based in Weston, Massachusetts, is a national leader in developing food and dairy waste-to-renewable energy projects. The Company builds, owns, and operates on-farm anaerobic digester facilities in the northeast and has three sites under construction in the Midwest and South. Vanguard Renewables plans to expand nationwide to more than 100 anaerobic digestion facilities by 2028. Vanguard Renewables is committed to advancing decarbonization by reducing greenhouse gas emissions from farms and food waste, generating renewable energy, and supporting regenerative agriculture on partner farms via Farm Powered^® anaerobic digestion. Vanguard Renewables is a portfolio company of Global Infrastructure Partners (GIP), a part of BlackRock. To learn more visit: www.vanguardrenewables.com