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Eco Action Arlington

EcoAction Arlington

Solutions for a Sustainable Lifestyle

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  • News & Updates
  • Get Involved
    • Events
    • EcoExtravaganza
    • Group And Corporate Service Projects
    • School and Youth Group Programs
    • EcoAction Arlington Advocacy
    • Volunteer
    • EcoAction Arlington Board of Director Openings
    • Green Dining Arlington
    • Plastic Bag Tax Petition
  • Community Programs
    • Energy Masters
    • Arlington Solar and EV Charger Co-op
    • Tree Canopy Fund
      • Tree Canopy Equity Program
    • Rain Barrels
    • EcoAction Arlington Presentations
  • Join
    • Membership Levels & Benefits
    • EcoAction Arlington Gift Membership
  • Donate
    • Ways To Give
    • Become A Monthly Sustainer
    • Our Sponsors
    • Become a Sponsor
  • About Us
    • Mission & Vision
    • Staff and Board
    • Annual Report
    • Contact Us
    • Jobs
    • EcoAction Arlington Justice And Inclusion Policy
    • ADA Compliance and Non-discrimination Policy
    • E-Newsletter Subscription

Zero Waste: Building a Better Community Series

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 – October 11, 2022

Beyond Recycling – November 29, 2022

Reimagining Our Waste Management System – January 17, 2023


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

Watch a recording of the event on YouTube

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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

Watch a Recording of the Event on YouTube

Resources

Tips for Reducing Single-Use Plastics

Businesses Supporting Zero Waste and a Plastic Free Lifestyle

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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.


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EcoAction Arlington
3308 S. Stafford Street
Arlington, VA 22206
(703) 228-6427
office@ecoactionarlington.org

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