Since 2011, Virginia Wesleyan University has participated in , a friendly competition that encourages colleges and universities throughout the United States and Canada to increase their recycling rates and promote waste reduction. Each spring more than 630 schools track recycling efforts for an eight-week period. In 2012, Virginia Wesleyan recycled a total of 26,966 pounds of material as part of the initiative, placing 168th in the Competition Division.
In addition to the competition, VWU committed to the following waste minimization efforts:
- Reusing and/or redistributing packing materials from central stores and campus distribution centers.
- Promoting inter-office reusable envelopes for campus mail and reviewing/improving campus systems for reclaiming reusable envelopes.
- Creating an active program to educate faculty, staff and students about waste minimization practices (e.g. incorporating waste minimization information into new employee/new student orientation programs; presenting regularly to campus groups and departments; creation of public displays, etc.)