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Zero Waste

Fast Facts

  • UT currently diverts 26.4% of its waste through reuse, recycling, composting, and donations
  • Achieving 50% will save UT about $90,000 in waste collection and disposal fees annually
  • UT is one of the first schools in the SEC to formally commit to a Zero Waste goal of this kind

The University of Tennessee, Knoxville has committed to divert 50% of its waste from the landfill by 2030, as announced by Chancellor Donde Plowman in January 2020. Reaching this goal will be our first step toward becoming a Zero Waste institution. As of the start of 2022 we are currently only diverting 26.4% of our waste which leaves us only 8 years to double our efforts.

Read the Commitment Press Release



Current & Future Efforts