Building on three decades of collaboration, Casella Waste Systems, Inc. (Casella), a regional solid waste, recycling, and resource management services company and the University of Vermont (UVM), an R1 research institution, announced that they are partnering to launch the Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability at UVM.
Casella has committed $1.5 million to launch the Center, which will bring together leading scientists, engineers, and materials management experts to serve as an industry-first interdisciplinary hub for research, workshops, and lectures on sustainable waste and materials management, resource solutions, climate leadership, and community engagement. This is the first research center that聽Casella聽has launched.
鈥淲e are deeply grateful to Casella for their investment,鈥� UVM Interim President Patricia Prelock said. 鈥淭he Casella Center for Circular Economy and Sustainability at UVM will be an international leader in research solutions for sustainable waste and materials management. This exciting new partnership pairs our world-class researchers and environmental leadership with Casella鈥檚 industry expertise to create urgently needed practical solutions for people and planet.鈥�
Established in Rutland as a single-truck waste collection enterprise in 1975, Casella began operating Vermont’s first recycling facility just two years later. It has grown to become one of the nation’s leading recyclers. As the only waste and recycling company among the founding members of the EPA Climate Leaders program, Casella鈥檚 climate leadership has been recognized by the EPA, the Association of Climate Change Officers, the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions, and the Climate Registry with a Climate Leadership Award for Excellence in Greenhouse Gas management. Now, in celebration of its 50thAnniversary, investing in the state鈥檚 leading research university is a critical step in helping shape the future of resource and materials management.
鈥淪ustainable materials management has been the foundation of our business for 50 years,鈥� said聽John W. Casella, Chairman and CEO of Casella. 鈥淲e鈥檝e made incredible progress toward a circular economy and recognize that there is always more we can accomplish as we continue along our sustainability journey while enabling our customers to achieve their own sustainability goals. Investing in research that results in economically and environmentally sustainable solutions to some of modern society’s most pressing issues is critical to our future. We’re thrilled to continue that journey with UVM and to combine our five decades of industry expertise with their academic excellence to help find those solutions.鈥�
UVM Prof. Eric Roy, an environmental scientist and engineer who has collaborated with Casella since 2016, will serve as the inaugural Director of the Center, which will be housed in the UVM Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources.
“This type of collaboration between industry and academia opens up a lot of potential,” said Roy. “With this new Center, we will be able to expand our circular economy research to find solutions that benefit the public and environment. We have an excellent working relationship with many partners at Casella, and I am excited to further our work with other industry partners, academic institutions, and policymakers.鈥�