Caught Green-Handed: Washington & Lee Student Compost Crew

Rockbridge Conservation is honored to announce that the W&L Student Compost Crew has received the Caught Green-Handed Award for diverting over one hundred thousand pounds of food waste from the landfill every year – 167,376 pounds in 2025 – transforming the waste into rich compost instead of rotting in the landfill, where it would contribute to methane gas emissions. 

The 16-student Compost Crew collects pre- and post-consumer food waste and compostable to-go ware every day from all dining venues, residence halls’ trash pads, and catered events on campus and brings it to W&L’s aerated static pile compost system, where it breaks down into rich compost to be used on campus grounds and garden.

This program started with a small staff and student volunteer venture over ten years ago and has grown, to W&L’s knowledge, to the largest on-site compost operation on a Virginia college or university campus.

The program is overseen by the University’s Office of Sustainability and Energy Education’s Jane Stewart and managed by Nicole Poulin, Campus Garden and Compost Program Manager.  Excellent part-time operations staff members, Mike Tolley and John Kuder, perform daily collection and compost management, assisted by the outstanding student Compost Crew, currently including 16 students, led by Emma Scott ’26, Clara Avery ’27, and Simon Rozsa ’28.  

Nicole Poulin, excited, explained, “The dining hall just started tracking detailed food consumption with Leanpath software, making it possible to reduce food waste in the first place!”

Photo caption: Melody Tennant, Rockbridge Conservation Chair of Waste Reduction, presenting the award to Nicole Poulin, Campus Garden and Compost Program Manager, with Compost Crew Leadership Team, Emma Scott, Clara Avery, and Simon Rozsa.

Caught Green-Handed is a Rockbridge Conservation initiative that shines a spotlight on local businesses, organizations, and individuals who are taking meaningful steps to protect and improve our environment. Whether through sustainable practices, conservation leadership, or everyday actions that reduce environmental impact, honorees are publicly recognized for doing the right thing when no one was looking. Those selected earn the distinction of being Caught Green-Handed Certified—a mark of local environmental leadership and community stewardship.