Colin O'Brien Email & Phone Number

New York, United States

Washington, District Of Columbia, United States

I oversee George Washington University's commitment to achieving Zero Waste through a broad portfolio of waste reduction and diversion programs and work to strengthen the circular economy in our community. My key achievements in this role over the past three years include:Offered strategic advisory services to key university divisions including Facilities, Dining, Procurement, and others, driving cost savings and improved sustainability outcomes.Spearheaded holistic assessments and financial evaluations of waste management programs and presented high-quality deliverables to Facilities leadership.Proposed and established several new waste diversion streams based on research and analysis of programs at the institutional, corporate, and municipal levels.Cultivated strong external partnerships to bring innovative technology to the university and secure over $13,000 in grant funding for circularity programs.Launched the Reuse Market to redistribute dormitory essentials donated during the spring move-out back to students free of charge, advancing equity and sustainability on campus.Consolidated out-of-date university recycling policies into a new Zero Waste Policy, identifying over $200,000 in annual savings from increased surplus reuse and waste diversion.Monitored and analyzed local regulations to maintain compliance with solid waste management requirements for Washington, DC.Unified all campus stakeholders involved in waste management and convened monthly meetings that achieved tangible improvements towards waste diversion targets.Recruited and supervised a team of 10 student-staff to create new event series, social media campaigns, and peer education workshops with a Zero Waste focus.