TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2014

Natural Organic Process Enterprises (NOPE) collects compostable waste from institutions, restaurants, schools, and businesses, and through an agreement with Enrichmond, turns the waste into compost for use by Enrichmond's participating partners. Companies that qualify but have no use for the compost get credits instead, and they can use the credits to donate compost to non-profits.

Recently, for instance, Watkins Nursery matched the Hilton Garden Hotel's donation to the Richmond Grows Gardens program for use at the Crafty Kids community garden at 404 Broad Rock Road and the Owl Orchard community garden at 801 W. 44th Street. The goal is to get all the community gardens as much compost as they need.

Organic waste recycling is a growing trend and is part of a comprehensive sustainability plan. Organic waste is anything that once lived or grew. NOPE focuses primarily on food waste and provides the logistical know-how for companies and institutions to support organic recycling by separating food waste from recyclable and non-recyclable waste. NOPE provides instruction and materials to partners to get them started, schedules and provides small batch collection and transportation to accredited compost facilities.

The Hilton Garden Inn in downtown Richmond composts all of its food waste, supports recycling projects in local schools, and collects used soap for recycling in support of international mission projects. The hotel won the 2013 Virginia Green Travel Star award.