Town of Vail environmental plan wins major award

The Town of Vail has been recognized as a recipient of a 2014 SHIFT Sustainability Award for its Environmental Sustainability Strategic Plan. The plan includes the community wide recycling ordinance that became effective in July. SHIFT is an annual festival held in Jackson Hole that celebrates the future of conservation. An integral part of the festival is the SHIFT Summit, which showcases leading sustainability and conservation initiatives from communities across the country whose economic and cultural vitality relies on the health of their environment.

The 2009 Town of Vail Environmental Strategic Plan was adopted to maintain and improve environmental quality in the Vail Valley and to ensure the prolonged economic health of the region. The Town of Vail was chosen from more than 600 submissions around North America. The 50 winners of the Sustainability Awards were identified as having the most effective and innovative sustainability initiatives currently underway in their communities.

The winners were first identified by SHIFT researchers based on their ability to produce a measurable, meaningful contribution in one of the following areas:

• Increased efficiency
• Decreased toxicity
• Reduced consumption
• Increased transparency
• Healthier ecosystems
• Healthier communities

The initiatives were then evaluated by subject matter experts for significance, innovation and ability to be replicated by other GEMS (Gateways to Environments of Major Significance). Such communities attract visitors from around the world, and have a unique opportunity to influence national and international approaches to modern conservation.

Accepting the award on behalf of the Town of Vail last week was Kristen Bertuglia who has been recently promoted to the new position of environmental sustainability manager in the Community Development Department after leading the town’s environmental initiatives since 2008. The town’s environmental staffing will double once Bertuglia’s former position, environmental sustainability coordinator, is filled.

For details about the award, contact Bertuglia at 970-477-3455.