Students and faculty in the Environmental Technician Program at Blue Ridge Community and Technical College were involved in launching a successful campus recycling initiative through the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority’s Operation Greenlid program.

During the Fall 2026 semester, Pollution Studies adjunct instructor Cheyenne Smith challenged students with a midterm assignment to develop a recycling campaign for the college. What began as a classroom project quickly evolved into a student-driven passion project focused on implementing a sustainable recycling program at the Blue Ridge CTC Tech Center.

Through collaboration and community partnerships, connections were made with the Berkeley County Solid Waste Authority to establish Blue Ridge CTC’s participation in Operation Greenlid. Throughout the remainder of the academic year, recyclable materials were collected on campus and transported to the local recycling center, helping promote environmental stewardship and sustainability within the college community.

On May 7, Cheyenne Smith accepted a third-place award on behalf of Blue Ridge CTC during the Operation Greenlid contest recognition ceremony presented by the Berkeley County Commission.