Virginia Green Restaurants is a self-certifying program where restaurants must verify that they are at a minimum practicing the Virginia Green Restaurants core activities and hopefully doing much more. The core activities include the following:

• Minimize the use of disposable food service products: use products that are made from bio-based or renewable resources and provide for recycling or composting of items
• Recycle Grease: handle grease in an environmental friendly manner
• Recycle and Reduce Waste: glass bottles must be recycled and additional recycling and waste minimization is encouraged
• Use Water Efficiently: have a plan for conserving water 
• Conserve Energy: have a plan in place to reduce overall energy consumption

Guests to Virginia Green Restaurants can expect that the facility has at least the core activities in place. Participants are encouraged to tell us about any green activities they have undertaken and these are included in the participant's profile, which appears on our website.  Consumers can then choose a facility that offers the green amenities they value. 

Participating restaurants

For a list of participating restaurants visit the Virginia Tourism Corporation's (VTC) Virginia Green Restaurant listing.  This listing will allow you to view Virginia Green Restaurant's in your area by allowing restaurants to be viewed by region, locality, or city. It also gives you more information about the restaurant and still allows you to check out its Virginia Green Profile. 

Also check out VTC's Virginia Green Travel page for more Virginia Green options.

Participating college and university dining halls

• Emory & Henry College Dining Services, Emory
• George Mason University - Pilot House, Fairfax
• George Mason University - Southside, Fairfax
• Hollins University - Moody Dining Hall, Roanoke 
• James Madison University - East Campus Dining Hall, Harrisonburg
• James Madison University - The Festival Conference and Student Center, Harrisonburg
• James Madison University - Phillips Hall, Harrisonburg
• Jonah's, a culinary emporium, VCU, Richmond
• Market 810, Shafer Court Dining Center, VCU, Richmond
• Mary Baldwin College Dining Services, Staunton
• Marymount University Dining Services, Arlington
• Radford University Dining Services, Radford 
• Randolph-Macon College - Estes Dining Hall, Ashland
• Randolph-Macon College - Macon Coffee, Ashland
• Shenandoah University Dining Services, Winchester 
• University of Mary Washington Dining Services, Fredericksburg 
• University of Richmond Dining Services, Richmond
• University of Virginia Dining, Charlottesville
• Virginia Wesleyan College Dining Service, Norfolk  
• Washington & Lee Dining Services, Lexington  

Joining is easy.  Participation in the program is FREE.  Simply complete the Virginia Green application online through the Virginia.org Administration Tool. If your facility is not already listed on Virginia.org, you will first need to create a listing which is a free way to advertise. If you have a listing on Virginia.org, log into the Administration Tool to complete a Virginia Green application. Once you are approved, we will send you a certificate for display at your facility and your Virginia.org listing will include the Virginia Green logo as a link to your profile of green activities.  

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: http://admin.virginia.org.  
   After filling in the form you will receive an email confirmation from a VTC Electronic Marketing staff member to let you know when your account is activated. This may take up to 1-2 days.
2. Once your account has been activated, log in here: http://admin.virginia.org and add your restaurant under the Dining Category.
3. After filling in the details of your restaurant, go back to the Listings Page, look for the Virginia Green logo and click "Apply" to being the application process for Virginia Green. Avoid using multiple tabs when completing the application. 
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. This may take 1-2 days after your Virginia Green Application has been submitted.

If your restaurant is already listed on Virginia.org

1. Log in to the Virginia.org Administration Tool here: http://admin.virginia.org.  
2. From the Listings Page, see the Virginia Green logo and click "Apply" to being the application process.  Avoid using multiple tabs when completing the application. 
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. This may take 1-2 days after your Virginia Green Application has been submitted. 

 Virginia Green is a partnership program supported by