A three-part series on how to build a better community via zero waste practices sponsored by Alliance for Regional Cooperation, EcoAction Arlington, Faith Alliance for Climate Solutions, Leaders in Energy, and the Sierra Club Potomac River Group.
All programs are virtual and begin at 7 p.m.
Building a Circular Economy: Breaking the Produce, Consume and Dispose Paradigm
Tuesday, October 11, 2022
7 p.m. Via Zoom
EcoAction has teamed up with FACS and others to host this webinar which will explore how products and business practices can be redesigned to reduce the impact on the environment, promote durability and reuse, and ultimately be recycled into new products for a more resilient community.
This is the first part of a three-part series moderated by Janine Finnell, Exceutive Director of Leaders in Energy.
Speakers:
Jamie Rhodes – Interim Chief Strategy Officer, Upstream Solutions
Jim Schulman – Executive Director of the Alliance for Regional Cooperation
Beyond Recycling: Reduce, Reuse, Repair
Tuesday, November 29, 2022
7 p.m. via Zoom
Learn how new local businesses and community services are helping to reduce waste by supporting reuse and repair. Hear from a panel of entrepreneurs who are setting great examples in reducing waste by supporting reuse and repair.
Speakers
Theresa Esterlund, Upcycle Creative Reuse Center – Collecting cast-offs from our community to serve as creative materials
Chiara D’Amore, The Repair Café at Freetown Farms, MD – Giving new life to broken items
Justin Marino, Mason & Greens – A place to find products packaged in old ways to move beyond the throw away culture
Moderator
Joan McIntyre, Chair, Climate Change, Energy and Environment Commission
Resources
Tips for Reducing Single-Use Plastics
Businesses Supporting Zero Waste and a Plastic Free Lifestyle
Reimagining Our Waste Management System
Tuesday, January 17, 7-8:30 p.m.
Webinar
In a circular economy, local waste management services will need to be transformed to emphasize overall waste reduction and facilitate reuse while more efficiently collecting, sorting, and recycling what’s left. This program will explore how zero waste municipalities can reduce waste and maximize diversion of waste from landfills and waste-to-energy facilities for reuse and recycling.
Topics/Speakers
Andy Smith, Interim Recycling and Environmental Services Section Manager, King County WA
Andy is co-sponsor of the County’s Re+ program and he leads the King County Solid Waste Division’s (SWD) team working on recycling programs, environmental stewardship and compliance activities. Notable programs include extended producer responsibility, resource recovery, market development, transfer station recycling, waste prevention, green building, hazardous waste, product stewardship, outreach and education, permit compliance and reporting, and special waste programs. Recognizing the central role people, opportunity and markets play in a responsible recycling system, SWD aims to help facilitate an interactive community of businesses, public agencies and other organizations, to co-deliver the growth, low carbon and equity opportunities of the circular economy. Before joining King County, Andy was a Senior Policy Advisor for the UK Government working on various policy portfolios including UK, EU and International climate targets, clean growth, sustainable trade, UK natural resources strategy and women’s rights.
Sophia Hosain, Zero Waste Manager, Department of Public Works, Baltimore MD
Commentator: Erik Grabowsky, Chief, Solid Waste Bureau, Arlington VA
Erik Grabowsky has been the Chief of Arlington County’s Solid Waste Bureau (SWB) since 2004 after serving as the County’s Utility Billing Manager and Refuse Collection Supervisor. Over the past 18 years, he has initiated a 4 Cs strategy of providing convenient, comprehensive, cost effective and conservation minded services to the community. Since 2004, the SWB has executed the County’s Solid Waste Management Plan resulting in several successes which include the introduction of curbside single stream recycling, organics and food scraps collection, and e-waste collection. During this period, the commercial and multi-family sectors also initiated single stream recycling collection. The County currently has a recycling rate of 51% and is in the process of creating a zero-waste plan with the goal of diverting 90% of municipal solid waste from incineration or landfilling. The County’s solid waste management program is recognized as a regional leader and has won numerous awards including a SWANA Gold Award, Governor’s Environmental Excellence Award, National Association of Counties Awards, Virginia Association of Counties Achievement Award and Multiple Virginia Recycling Association Excellence Awards. He holds a BA degree from the University of Virginia, a JD degree from Catholic University and is a certified Public Manager.
Moderator
Carrie Thompson: Chair, Arlington’s Solid Waste Committee
Carrie Thompson served for over 30 years as a Foreign Service Officer with the U.S. Agency for International Development. Her final leadership role at USAID involved responsibility for the Agency’s global environment and economic growth programs. Carrie currently sits on the Board of EcoAction Arlington and the Marine Debris Foundation, as well as co-chairs Arlington’s Climate Change, Energy and Environment (C2E2) Commission. In this latter capacity she chairs the Commission’s Solid Waste Committee which is advising the County on development of a new zero waste plan that will launch in 2024. Carrie also works as an external advisor to a management consulting firm on issues relating to climate change and international development. She holds a MA from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, an MS in National Security Strategy from the National War College, and BA in American Studies from Northwestern University.
