Mid-Atlantic Chapter

Notice: JavaScript is disabled in your browser; this website is JavaScript intensive and to get the best possible experience we recommend that you enable it.

Sustainability

A Letter from Our Chair...
Welcome to the APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter Sustainability Committee page. The Sustainability Committee was formed as an ad hoc group in the fall of 2010 at the urging of current APWA President Diane Linderman. In 2011 we became a full-fledged Chapter committee under the leadership of Chapter President Dave King. Our purpose is to function as a bridge between the APWA Center for Sustainability and the Mid-Atlantic Chapter to promote sustainability best practices and help address pressing sustainability issues facing Chapter members. Our outcome goals include the following:

• Raising awareness among Chapter members of the work of the APWA Center for Sustainability and the resources being made available to Chapter members. Communicating Chapter member resource needs to the Center on a regular basis via the Center’s regional representative.

• Strengthening partnerships with local chapters/regional offices of national associations such as USGBC, ICLEI,ICMA, NACo, and APA; statewide municipal associations such as, VML, VACo, MML, MACo; and regional offices of industry associations such as WEF, AWWA, and AEE, by supporting issues of mutual concern; co-sponsoring activities; and mutual participation in partner events.

• Organizing events such as lunch seminars, workshops, webinars, annual APWA Chapter conference technical sessions, etc. having a focus on sustainability related issues of interest to chapter member.

• Surveying Chapter members to monitor awareness of sustainability best practices, gauge support for Committee initiatives, and identify sustainability resource needs.

We encourage you to browse the information included in the Sustainability Committee page and return often to see what has been added. We also encourage you to reach out to the committee members and start a conversation on how we can partner to become a more sustainable Chapter.

Sincerely,

Kelly Mattingly, Chair

APWA Mid-Atlantic Chapter: Sustainability Committee Sustainability follows the triple bottom line: Environmental protection and resource conservation, social well-being and equity, and economic prosperity and continuity.		What Is Sustainability? “Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” – Brundtland Commission
We would like to recognize our Chair, Kelly Mattingly, and our Vice Chair, H. Reed Fowler, for leading an outstanding team in our sustainability efforts throughout the community. The Mid-Atlantic Chapter of The APWA strives toward improving environmental stewardship not only in our own business practices, but across our communities. Take a look at a recent survey taken by the Public Works departments in our chapter: *For View of Complete Survey Results, Click Link Below		*In The Words of...* In 1858, President Theodore Roosevelt said,"I recognize the right and duty of this generation to develop and use our natural resources, but I do not recognize the right to waste them, or rob by wasteful use, the generations that come after us." It is this same mindset that we must all adopt to keep us motivated. The bigger picture involves assessing what you can do in present time to preserve our resources for the future.

We received 30 responses to the survey and most respondents indicated that the major barriers to implementing sustainability programs were a lack of staff resources and a lack of a dedicated sustainability budget. Overcoming institutional resistance was the next highest reported barrier. The responses also indicated that there was a considerable interest and need for information to help our members with their sustainability efforts. Examples included:

• Best practices, case studies, and news stories from other localities.
• Real life examples of what other organizations are doing.
• Performance guidelines and benchmarks for progress.
• Reviews or investigations of “sustainable” products and services.
• List of green products other PW organizations are successfully using.
• Regular “how-to” seminars on sustainability.
• Cost effective sustainability actions.
• Newsletters and information on the Chapter website.

We, as a chapter, have efficiently responded to the needs based off survey results.

Sustainability Across Our Chapter
If Your Locality Is Not Mentioned, Please Send Us Your Website.

Blacksburg, VA

Chesapeake, VA

Cumberland, MD

Newport News, VA

Richmond, VA

Virginia Beach, VA

Roanoke, VA

Join Now Membership Overview National Contacts

Change Log

What Is Sustainability?“Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” – Brundtland Commission

What Is Sustainability?

“Sustainability is meeting the needs of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their needs.” – Brundtland Commission