VICKERY — Announced during the Wildlife Habitat Council’s annual symposium in Baltimore, Vickery Environmental, a Waste Management facility, was awarded the Wildlife at Work Certification. This certification recognizes outstanding native habitat management and environmental education programs developed through partnerships with local organizations.
“Our certified program provides the opportunity to work with our neighbors and local environmental groups on a project that is important to our community – enhancing the natural environment,” said Steve Lonneman, Vickery’s Senior District Manager. “These programs welcome children and adults to visit our site for a unique hands-on experience which they can’t get in a classroom.” 
The 500-acre Vickery Environmental site is located in the rural community of Vickery, Ohio. Habitats occurring on site include a 40-acre pond, mixed deciduous woodlots, open grasslands and several small wetlands. As part of the Wildlife at Work program, the Vickery wildlife team manages 250 acres of the property for wildlife.
One of the team’s priorities is the creation and use of a comprehensive database to track wildlife sightings on the property. The database tracks information such as species, location of the sighting, date, time, name of observer and number of the species observed. The second priority for the team is to enhance the habitats for native species. Working with Pheasants Forever, the Vickery wildlife team planted filter strips composed of warm-season grasses and forbs to reduce sediment loading in the nearby stream, improving water quality for wildlife. The team also placed five nest boxes around the property providing valuable nesting habitats for eastern bluebirds.
In addition to its partnerships with Pheasants Forever and Ducks Unlimited, the site maintains relationships with local colleges that tour the site, and has an open-door policy for members of the community wishing to schedule a visit to learn more about the site’s Wildlife at Work program. The team’s future plans include creation of a pollinator garden with bee blocks, and the construction and placement of raptor perches and wood duck nest boxes.
Vickery Environmental is one of 45 Waste Management locations receiving this award bringing the company’s total number of sites with Wildlife at Work certifications to 73.
Waste Management’s sustainability goal is to win Wildlife Habitat Council Certification for 100 sites and 25,000 acres by 2020.  To date, Waste Management has set aside a total of 24,000 acres for wildlife habitat and has earned more WHC certified sites than any other participating company. The company has also been recognized with prestigious awards from the Wildlife Habitat Council. In 2006, Waste Management was the first recipient of the Wildlife Habitat’s President’s Award, which is awarded for leadership attributes and an innovative strategic vision to building conservation programs within economically viable, sustainable communities; and in 2008 became the first recipient of WHC’s William W. Howard CEO Award recognizing the company’s efforts in conservation, education and outreach efforts.

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