Improving snow removal operations with sustainable practices
January 29, 2025
Michigan State University is no stranger to the difficulties of Michigan winters; snow, ice and freezing temperatures can prove hazardous whether you're walking, biking or especially driving on a blustery day. To keep campus from freezing over during the chilly winter months, the MSU Infrastructure Planning and Facilities Landscape Services snow removal team is employing several tactics that both enhance safety and reduce environmental impact.
In support of MSU's Bolder by Design initiative, Landscape Services has adapted their snow removal techniques to improve operational performance in a sustainable way. Their biggest focus: decreasing the amount of salt they use during the winter season.
"Any time we can cut down on chlorides is better for the environment," Landscape Services Operations Supervisor Ross Weaver said. "Once that salt is in the water, it doesn't really come out. It just remains as pollution to the waterways."