Collaboration drives sustainability efforts at Virginia Tech
As Earth month takes center stage, Virginia Tech continues to be a global leader in sustainability. The university’s comprehensive and collaborative approach to advancing sustainability initiatives helps further its Climate Action Commitment.
These operational efforts are just a few examples of the ways Virginia Tech demonstrates impact as a global land-grant university – promoting sustainability in its surrounding communities, through Virginia, and around the world.
Taking out the trash
Through partnerships with the Montgomery Regional Solid Waste Authority, Student Affairs, Public Safety, and Auxiliary and Business Services, the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities’ Waste and Recycling team manages the trash and recycling operations and outreach programs for the university. In 2022, the most recently available data year, Virginia Tech saw a 60 percent recycle rate and 78 percent waste diversion rate. These numbers take into account a holistic approach to recycling, including practices such as turning wood from downed trees and pruned branches into mulch on the Blacksburg campus.
With students and employees coming from a wide range of locations with differing recycling practices, the Waste and Recycling team focuses outreach messaging on three key items for the university community to recycle: cans, bottles, and paper.
“If all bottles, cans, and paper were recycled at the university, we would see an approximately 50 percent recycling rate on a yearly basis,” said Teresa Sweeney, waste and recycling manager. “We can of course, recycle cardboard, which we include with all paper, and bottles should include glass bottles along with No. 1 and No. 2 plastic jugs and bottles. When we focus on the basics, we can be very effective in improving the quality of our recyclables and meeting our sustainability goals.”
The team has implemented other measures to improve waste and recycling systems on the Blacksburg campus including maintaining an inventory of all bins, performing maintenance in-house on all Big Belly bins, and routine analysis of pick-up routes to ensure efficiency.
Protecting the water
Virginia Tech’s Municipal Separate Storm Sewer System Program – led by the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities’ Site Infrastructure and Development team – furthers the university’s sustainability initiatives through education and awareness of stormwater management and collaboration with university and local partners.
The team is responsible for the administration, compliance, and enforcement of the university's stormwater management programs and permits. Additionally, its members spearhead the division’s stormwater education and outreach and implement water quality and quantity standards on the Blacksburg campus.
Embedded into the team is a stormwater pollution prevention program that aims to increase awareness among undergraduate students, housekeeping, heavy equipment operation, and grounds care employees. These groups are the primary focus for stormwater education because of their direct impact on stormwater runoff and their widespread campus presence.
The pollution prevention program is a collaborative effort, partnering with Montgomery County, the Town of Christiansburg, and the Town of Blacksburg to educate the local community during events such as Stormwater Education Days and Steppin’ Out.
The team works closely with Virginia Tech’s various construction and renovation teams to review erosion and sediment control and stormwater management plans for each project as well as inspect the construction sites for compliance. Examples of common erosion and sediment control measures that are used on these sites include black silt fencing to filter runoff and stone site entrances to remove mud from the tires of heavy equipment and trucks.
A greener campus
To further support a sustainable campus, the Division of Campus Planning, Infrastructure, and Facilities uses strategic grounds care to support pollinator habitats and promote plant longevity. Hardy flowers and shrubs are carefully selected for their abilities to thrive for long periods of time in the Blacksburg campus’ urban, mountainous environment with minimal additional watering. Pollinator gardens, developed through the Green RFP program, are found throughout the Blacksburg campus, including near the Drillfield and Duck Pond. Over 11,500 trees are meticulously cared for by the division’s award-winning urban forestry team.
A collaborative effort
Collaborative efforts between the division and faculty and students across the university - including the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences and College of Natural Resources and Environment - along with community partners have led to Virginia Tech’s Blacksburg campus being awarded Tree Campus Higher Education status for 16 years in a row and Bee Campus USA status for the last two years.
Collaboration also aids in the development of the university’s annual greenhouse gas assessment report. Created in partnership with numerous university and regional stakeholders, the report helps track progress toward achieving university sustainability goals as well as aid in planning, policy development, and operations. In 2022, the most recently available data year, the university saw an approximately 10 percent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from the prior year.
Throughout Earth Month, opportunities for further engagement in sustainability initiatives at Virginia Tech will be available, including an Arbor Day tree planting celebration and more.
Support the planting and care of flowers, shrubs, and trees on the Blacksburg campus with a gift to the Campus Beautification Fund.
