The Power of Local Governments: Product Stewardship Councils
Thursday, January 19, 2017 (2:00 pm - 3:30 pm EST)

Passing a strong extended producer responsibility (EPR) law – whether at the state or local level – starts with building multi-stakeholder support, including from industry, state and local governments, organizations, and legislators. In nearly 20 states across the country, product stewardship councils (PSCs), or groups of local government representatives working to reduce the environmental and public health impacts of consumer products, are a key conduit to building critical local support needed to pass effective, strong EPR bills across a wide variety of product categories. In non-regulatory states, PSCs are instrumental in creating and implementing voluntary initiatives that protect their communities: drug take-back programs, collection of mercury-containing products like thermostats and fluorescent lamps, and retail-based electronics collection programs. 

On this webinar, leaders from PSCs around the country – including those in regulatory and voluntary states – will discuss the benefits of coordinated local government support in passing EPR laws and initiating strong voluntary programs. They will share key tactics to building strong coalitions, important strategies for gaining momentum, and the most successful laws or initiatives they have pursued through their PSC. 

Pricing: 

This webinar is FREE for PSI Sustaining Partners, Full Members, and Affiliate Members. We are also opening this webinar up for FREE to ANY governments - regardless of membership. Please contact Suzy Whalen at (617) 236-8293 for more details. 

 

Speakers:

Andrew Radin

Chair, New York Product Stewardship Council

Director of Recycling, Onondaga County Resource Recovery Agency, NY

A Syracuse native, Andrew Radin has over 20 years of experience in the field of recycling and solid waste management. He coordinates a team of recycling professionals who manage a wide variety of environmental programs, including compost operations, household hazardous waste collections, electronic waste recovery, and community outreach. Andrew has testified before the New York State Legislature in advocating for expansion of the NYS Bottle Bill, and provided state elected officials with a real-world, local perspective as the State moved forward with passing Extended Producer Responsibility legislation for electronic waste. He is a long-time member of the New York State Association of Reduction, Reuse, and Recycling, and is a recipient of the organization’s Recycling Lifetime Achievement Award.

Andrew received a Masters of Public Administration degree from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs, and a Masters of Environmental Science degree from the State University of New York’s College of Environmental Science and Forestry. He looks forward to participating in efforts to advance product stewardship policies as a key component of an equitable, sustainable materials economy.

 

Jennifer Holiday

Chair, Vermont Product Stewardship Council

Environmental Safety Compliance Manager, Chittenden County Solid Waste District, VT

Jen Holliday has worked in the environmental field since 1985 and has developed and managed the household hazardous waste program for the Chittenden Solid Waste District, the largest solid waste district in Vermont, since the program started in 1991. She has served on numerous advisory committees concerning solid waste in Vermont. Currently she serves as the Vice-Chair of the State of Vermont’s Advisory Committee on Mercury Pollution. Committee members are appointed by the governor to advise the Legislature and public on matters related to mercury pollution. Jen has been a strong advocate for product stewardship in Vermont including educating local and state government officials on product stewardship and lobbying for EPR legislation. She is a founding member and Chair of the Vermont Product Stewardship Council formed in 2008 to work on EPR initiatives in Vermont.

 

Dan King

Nebraska Product Stewardship Council

Household Hazardous Waste Coordinator, Lincoln-Lancaster County Health Department, NE

Dan King received a BA (Environmental Studies with emphasis in Biology and Anthropology) from the University of Nebraska (1995) and has completed Masters of Secondary Teaching (MST) graduate work at Doane College (2004). Along with his normal duties, Dan is a first responder for the City Health Department and is trained as a hazardous materials technician. He serves on Lincoln’s Environmental Task Force along with holding board level positions in other environmentally-related local organizations. He was also recently elected to the position of Heartland Chapter President for NAHMMA. Dan has over 10 years of professional experience in the fields of environmental regulatory compliance, policy development, education and natural resource management. Dan is also a Scoutmaster and President of his local neighborhood association. He has been married for 16 years and has a 12 year old son and an 8 year old daughter. He enjoys cycling, camping, and other outdoor activities in his free time.

 

Walter Willis

Illinois Product Stewardship Council

Executive Director, Solid Waste Agency of Lake County, IL

Walter Willis has been the Executive Director of the Solid Waste Agency of Lake County since 2007 and is responsible for overseeing the Agency's solid waste and resource management programs, and implementing the Lake County Solid Waste Management Plan.  Prior to joining SWALCO, Mr. Willis worked in the waste and recycling industry as a consultant for approximately 20 years developing solid waste management plans and assisting with solid waste facility development projects throughout the United States.  He began his environmental management career with the Illinois Environmental Protection Agency back in 1987 after receiving his Masters in Public Administration from Southern Illinois University.  

Scott Cassel (Moderator)

Chief Executive Officer, Product Stewardship Institute

Scott Cassel has over 30 years of experience tackling waste management issues in the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Prior to founding the Product Stewardship Institute (PSI) in 2000, he served seven years as the Director of Waste Policy and Planning for the Massachusetts Executive Office of Environmental Affairs, where he developed and implemented solid and hazardous waste management policies and programs. Scott is a nationally renowned leader in the product stewardship movement and has experience across multiple product categories, including electronics, lamps, thermostats, pharmaceuticals, mattresses, packaging, and paint. As PSI’s CEO, he developed the widely acclaimed facilitation process that the organization uses for stakeholder engagement and consensus-building—a process that resulted in the nation’s first industry-run, government-mandated paint stewardship program.