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  Virginia Green Restaurants

New! The Virginia Green Restaurant Application is now online! To become a Virginia Green Restaurant , click here.

Red Hen Resaturant
Red Hen Restaurant,
Lexington

Fresh Tapas
Fresh Tapas & Tonics,
Virginia Beach

Houlihan's
Houlihan's,
Front Royal

The Lafayette Inn
The Lafayette Inn,
Standardsville

Hot Tuna
Hot Tuna,
Virginia Beach

Passion the Resaturant
Passion the Restaurant,
Chesapeake

Starboards
Starboards,
Portsmouth

Restaurants are an integral part of Virginia’s tourism industry, and they are certainly the most numerous sector of Virginia tourism! As such, Virginia Green Restaurants have the opportunity to have a significant impact on people’s daily lives and how they think about the environment.

What does it take to be a Virginia Green Restaurant? At a minimum, facilities must commit to:

  • Eliminate use of polystyrene foam & minimize disposables: Restaurants are required to minimize the use of disposable food service products and maximize the use of food service products that are recyclable or compostable in the service area. When disposable food service items are used, Restaurants are encouraged to use products that are made from bio-based or renewable resources, and to provide for the collection/ recycling/ composting of food service items disposed of on the premises.
  • Recycle Grease: Most restaurants are required by local ordinance to collect and recycle their grease. Grease filtering companies can also greatly reduce grease wastes (and costs).
  • Recycle and Reduce Waste: Glass bottles must be recycled for Virginia Green Restaurants. Recycling of steel cans, aluminum cans, cardboard, plastic, paper, and composting of waste foods are highly encouraged.
  • Use Water Efficiently: The facility must have a plan for conserving water that should consider water-saving dishwashers, faucets, and toilets; leak detection, and an effective landscape watering plan. 
  • Conserve Energy: The facility must have a plan in place to reduce overall energy consumption. The “plan” should consider replacing lighting and equipment with energy-efficient alternatives such as compact-fluorescent lighting, LED Exit signs, lighting sensors, efficient heating and cooling, and ENERGY STAR kitchen appliances and computers.

Participating restaurants:

Participating college and university dining halls

  • Market 810, Shafer Court Dining Center, VCU, Richmond
  • Randolph-Macon College - Estes Dining Hall, Ashland 
  • University of Mary Washington Dining Services, Fredericksburg 
  • University of Richmond Dining Services
  • Washington & Lee Dining Services, Lexington

     

     

    Virginia Green Restaurant Application Process

    To become a Virginia Green Restaurant, you must apply online through the Virginia.org Administration Tool. (Please note: at this time, only restaurants can apply online)
     
    You may wish to preview the Virginia Green Restaurants Application or print it for your own use. We no longer accept Virginia Green Restaurant Applications by fax, mail, or email, but we recommend using this preview to gather information on your green practices before applying online. 
    Application Preview (pdf) or Application Preview (MS Word)
     
    If your restaurant is NOT already listed on Virginia.org
    1)       Register for an account with Virginia.org here: https://www.virginia.org/admin/login.asp?type=edituser
    2)       Once your account has been activated, log in here: https://www.virginia.org/admin/ and add your restaurant under the Activities Category. You can review the instruction manual for the Administration Tool here: http://www.vatc.org/emarketing/manuals/start.htm  
    3)       After submitting your restaurant to Virginia.org, you will have the option of applying to become a Virginia Green restaurant
    4)       Check off your green activities on the checklist; these items will also be used to create your Virginia Green profile.
    5)       You will be notified by email when your Virginia Green application has been accepted.
     
    If your restaurant is already listed on Virginia.org
    1)       Log in to the Virginia.org Administration Tool here: https://www.virginia.org/admin/
    2)       From the Manage Listings Page, see the Virginia Green logo and click Apply to being the application process 
    3)       Check off your green activities on the checklist; these items will also be used to create your Virginia Green profile.
    4)       You will be notified by email when your Virginia Green application has been accepted.

     

     

     Virginia Green is a partnership program supported by

    Virginia is for LoversDEQVHTA

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