1,600+ pounds per year.
That’s how much waste the average person in the United States generates according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
Do you know where it goes?
Before you buy something new for yourself or others, do you consider what will happen with it when it’s no longer useful? And in the near term, what will happen with the packaging it comes in?
We invite you to join us for this informative discussion with three women who are dedicated to reducing the environmental impact of waste. You will come away with a clearer understanding of the problem, and tools to help you reduce your own waste and join the movement toward a circular economy.
Patty Garbarino, president of Marin Sanitary Service, will give us a sense of what a waste collection agency receives, how they manage and process it, and how she’s contributing her perspective as a “hauler” to advocate for sustainable solutions.
Jan Dell, chemical engineer and founder of The Last Beach Cleanup, will share her insight into the impacts of plastics on the environment and her work to affect policy at the federal and state levels.
Heidi Sanborn, founder and executive director of the National Stewardship Action Council, will share recommendations for what you can do to make a difference – what to look for before you buy, how to get involved in the movement, and how to help educate the people you know so they can make a difference, too.
ABOUT THE CIRCULAR ECONOMY
Looking beyond the current take-make-waste extractive industrial model, a circular economy aims to redefine growth, focusing on positive society-wide benefits. It entails gradually decoupling economic activity from the consumption of finite resources, and designing waste out of the system. Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural, and social capital. It is based on three principles:
Design out waste and pollution
Keep products and materials in use
Regenerate natural systems
ABOUT OUR SPEAKERS
Patricia “Patty” Garbarino is a ground-breaking national leader in her field and in the community. Patty has blazed new trails in a heretofore male-dominated industry serving as president of Marin Sanitary Service, Marin Recycling Center and Marin Resource Recovery Center, and continued that trail blazing as the first woman president of the California Refuse Recycling Council.
Her background in the education field has been a major benefit to Marin Sanitary Service’s Public Education Program. In fact, Patty worked closely with her father, Joseph, in establishing the company’s Environmental Classroom and its ongoing outreach to environmental organizations and public and private schools in Marin County.
Patty is responsible for policy development and implementation and the overall management and oversight of the operations of the Marin Sanitary Service. In addition to her administrative and management responsibilities, Patty remains directly involved in all aspects of the company’s governmental and community relations as well as the Public Education Program.
Marin Sanitary Service, Marin Recycling Center and Marin Resource Recovery Center have been lauded by the California Integrated Waste Management Board as having the highest recycling rate in California since 2002 and the Marin County Board of Supervisors rated Marin Sanitary Service, business of the year in 2006. In 2014, Marin Sanitary Service was honored with the Leaders of the North Bay “Paint the Town Green” environmental achievement award.
Jan Dell is an independent engineer with a master's degree in chemical engineering from the University of California, Berkeley, and founder of The Last Beach Cleanup. With experience extending across more than 40 countries, Jan has worked with global companies in the energy, chemical, manufacturing, food, beverage, footwear, apparel and entertainment industries to develop major projects, implement sustainable business practices and build climate resiliency in their business operations, their communities and their supply chains. Appointed by the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy, Jan was a member of the US Federal Committee that led the third National Climate Assessment from 2010 to 2014 and was the Vice Chair of the US Federal Sustained National Climate Assessment Committee in 2016-2017. Jan is currently a member of the California Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling.
Ms. Dell has led collaborative business and energy industry initiatives on managing water risks and adaptation to the projected impacts of climate change, including the creation of the WBCSD Global Water Tool which has been used by hundreds of companies to measure their water usage and map their risks on a global level. As an Independent Engineer on a quest to the Last Beach Cleanup, Jan is collaborating with environmental nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) and socially responsible investment (SRI) funds to lead catalytic initiatives to move from awareness on plastic pollution to wide-scale action and achievement.
Heidi Sanborn has been a leader in the solid waste industry for 30 years, focused on source reduction and implementation of cost-effective projects that support a circular economy. Heidi is the Founder and Executive Director of the National Stewardship Action Council since 2015 and was the founding Director of the California Product Stewardship Council for 12 years. These nonprofits are dedicated to reducing waste, increasing recycling and advocating for a circular economy. She was appointed by State Treasurer Fiona to the Green Bond Market Development Committee in 2019 tasked with efficiently raising billions of dollars in new and affordable capital to build climate-friendly infrastructure.
In May 2020, Heidi was appointed by the California Environmental Protection Agency to the Statewide Commission on Recycling Markets and Curbside Recycling and was elected Chair by the Commissioners. In June of 2020, she was appointed to serve on the Advisory Board for the Solid Waste Association of North America representing “Materials Recovery”. Heidi earned her B.A. in Political Science – Public Service from the University of California at Davis and a Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California.