In 2019, the University of Kentucky began capturing organic waste from the UK Dining halls and UK Grounds. In 2025, composting operations expanded with a new composting system on the University of Kentucky's campus.
Food waste that is gathered on campus is composted and used as a soil amendment at UK Farms and on campus. Watch UK's new composting systems in action!
Since 2019, the Organics & Food Waste Diversion program has expanded to capture food waste from all retail locations. UK captures coffee waste from all retail coffee shops, prep food waste from all retail dining locations, and post-consumer food waste only from Champion's Kitchen and The Fresh Food Company.
Since 2023, UK began capturing food waste from Kroger Field.
All organic yard waste (leaves, plants, weeds, branches, twigs, tree trunks, etc) is captured by UK Grounds and is diverted to the City of Lexington’s composting facility and UK College of Agriculture, Food, and Environment’s C. Oran Little Research Center in Woodford County for composting.