Navy Federal Greens Up by Taking Out the Trash…Cans

When Navy Federal’s Credit Card and Consumer Lending teams move back into their newly renovated space on the third floor of the credit union’s corporate headquarters just outside of Washington, DC, one piece of office equipment will be conspicuously absent.

“We’re taking away everyone’s trash cans,” confirms Michael Kenney, Assistant Vice President for Facilities Management for Navy Federal’s Northern Virginia offices.  

Beginning April 22—Earth Day—500 employees will be responsible for taking their rubbish—from soda cans to Post-it Notes—to the centralized trash disposal area nearest their workstation. Stickers and signage will guide staff on what trash goes where, enabling Navy Federal to track how much recycling is taking place along with reductions in non-recycled trash. 

The trash can initiative is the latest move in Navy Federal’s push to test ways to “green up” its office space and operate more sustainably. This includes installing sensors, so window shades open and close based on lighting conditions, and converting light fixtures from AC/DC (not the band, the type of electrical current!) to DC only.

“DC lighting draws less power and requires less maintenance because there are fewer parts, so everything lasts longer, and there’s no more flicker,” Kenney explains, pointing to the existing fixtures, noting that fluorescent lights have been linked to eye strain and migraine headaches.

Other environmental initiatives under consideration at Navy Federal include greening the grounds of its offices, composting, adding more EV charging stations for cars and bikes, and tapping into geothermal as a potential power source.

Kenney joined Navy Federal in May 2023 after 30 years as a Navy civil engineer, where much of his work focused on energy efficiency and sustainability. He’s putting that experience to good use as a member of Navy Federal’s Greening Up Team. 

The reaction to the centralized trash stations has been largely positive within Navy Federal, although there’s been some skepticism, and Kenney has discovered people can be surprisingly possessive about their trash cans.

“Do. Learn. Grow. is Navy Federal’s mantra. This is a pilot and with any new adventure you’re going to learn new things,” Kenney said.

Even the doubters are impressed when they learn about the financial impact. If all goes to plan, the centralized trash stations will dramatically reduce the number of hours clocked by cleaning crews, resulting in significant cost savings.

“Every day, the cleaners have to go to every desk to check every can, even when no one has been working in that space,” Kenney says. “Now, instead of emptying 3,000 cans, they’ll only have to empty 45 or 50 cans."

During the initial 90-day pilot, Kenney will hold bi-monthly meetings with the business units to hear about issues and make necessary adjustments. At the end of the trial, the project will be assessed, and a decision made whether to extend it to the rest of the organization.

Change is never easy, he says. But by piloting the rubbish initiative in newly renovated office space, he’s optimistic that the process will be less disruptive, and staff will adapt more quickly.

“If it works, we’ll start deploying it at our second HQ building in Vienna, and then Winchester and Pensacola.” He smiles ruefully. “That’s the goal, at least. Things could change. Maybe there’s a follow-up article in 90 days. Ask me then how it’s going!”