Fluvanna Teacher Works with Dunkin’ to Recycle Used Coffee Grounds

Fluvanna County, Va. has a new program that takes used coffee grounds and recycles them for use around the home and gardens.

“Sixty million metric tons of coffee grounds are dumped into landfills. So, I thought, ‘Well, you know, what is a little bit we can do to help out?’” said Gary Greenwood.

Greenwood, a teacher in Fluvanna County, got the idea to recycle the coffee grounds after reading an article. Greenwood has been working with Dunkin’ to collect their used coffee grounds.

“He asked if I would be willing to give him my used coffee grounds that we use in the store. Thought it was a little odd. Never had that request before,” Geri Anderson with Dunkin said.

Greenwood began collecting 80 pounds of coffee grounds from Anderson at Dunkin’ every week.

The coffee grounds are distributed to anyone who wants them, says Greenwood.

“Some people just put it in their compost pile,” he said. “Also keeps certain bugs away, like slugs and snails and that sort of thing.”

Greenwood’s goal is to recycle 2 metric tons per year.

“Whatever little bit helps,” Greenwood said. “We got a lot more to do, but we need to get more people involved in this kind of things. But this is good. If we can get the word out there, other places see it and get started.”

Read the full article here.