The new Williams School building does not have trash cans in individual classrooms or study spaces like other buildings on campus do. Instead, each floor has one centralized structure of bins with different compartments to recycle or compost.
Jane Stewart, the Director of Sustainability at Washington and Lee, says this choice was intentional.
“People typically are just going to throw their trash in whatever spot is closest to them, and the more you put receptacles out in random spaces, the less intentional they are about it,” she said, “Research indicates that when you put small bins in classrooms, it increases the amount of litter on the ground.”
Students have noticed the change and complained about the inconvenience, questioning if it will cause students to litter more.
“It is really frustrating when I am sitting in class and have to leave the room and search for a trash can,” said Catherine Grasso, ’26.
“It is not something you really notice until it’s not there anymore,” said Avery Hannah, ’28. “I don’t think about where I throw out my trash often, but it is something I have noticed in the new building and it has been an inconvenience for me.”
W&L’s sustainability department used data from a survey on the best key practices to improve waste diversion. The study found that bin color, clear signage, designated bin models and placement of the bin are all factors contributing to how students and faculty members dispose of their trash. Over 170 universities participated in this survey, and it found that universities that took trash cans out of either somewhat or significantly improved contamination 64% of the time.
Stewart also brought up the decreased burden on custodians as a factor in the decision to implement the change. Instead of attending to 30 trash cans everyday, they only have to take out four, she said. This saves time and labor and lowers the cost of the bags themselves.
Stewart said she plans to check in with the custodians to see if the change has actually saved them time or made their jobs easier. She also said she is open to receiving student feedback.
“All of this research is great and we want to give it our best shot, but if it doesn’t pan out we obviously need to know that,” she said.
Since 2021, W&L has decreased landfill waste by 45 tons. The university composted 68,911 pounds of waste on site in 2021 and 162,234 pounds in 2024 — all waste that would have gone to a landfill.
According to Stewart, the university adopted a policy a few years ago that requires every new building on campus to meet the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) silver certification. This certification is a points-based system that demonstrates a building or community has met significant standards for sustainable design and energy efficiency, creating a healthy environment that is better for occupants and the planet.
All of the buildings on the Colonnade and the Alpha Delta Pi house currently meet this standard. The new Lindley Center building and the new Williams School building are still in the process of being reviewed, but Stewart says the expectation is that they will meet the silver certification.
There are many other sustainability features in the new building, like the dots on the glass windows and power outlets that shut off when they detect an empty room.
