The plastic pollution crisis poses a monumental threat to human and environmental health, and to the climate. My role at Beyond Plastics is to help policymakers, activists, journalists, and the general public understand the repercussions of the crisis, and to advance legislative and regulatory solutions at all levels of government. These include: ambitious packaging reduction and recycling laws, new and modernized container deposit laws, bans on single-use plastic, restrictions on false… Show more The plastic pollution crisis poses a monumental threat to human and environmental health, and to the climate. My role at Beyond Plastics is to help policymakers, activists, journalists, and the general public understand the repercussions of the crisis, and to advance legislative and regulatory solutions at all levels of government. These include: ambitious packaging reduction and recycling laws, new and modernized container deposit laws, bans on single-use plastic, restrictions on false solutions such as chemical recycling, and urging the EPA to ban vinyl chloride—the toxic chemical used to make PVC plastic—through the TSCA process. Show less

My primary role was the research, analysis, and production of CRI's semi-annual "Beverage Market Data Analysis," a compendium of information on sales, recycling, and wasting trends and environmental impacts across all beverage categories and packaging types, for all 50 states and nationally. I co-authored the companion report “Tipping Point: Beverage Container Wasting, Plastic Pollution, and the Failed Promise of Curbside Recycling” (Container Recycling Institute, forthcoming in late 2022). I… Show more My primary role was the research, analysis, and production of CRI's semi-annual "Beverage Market Data Analysis," a compendium of information on sales, recycling, and wasting trends and environmental impacts across all beverage categories and packaging types, for all 50 states and nationally. I co-authored the companion report “Tipping Point: Beverage Container Wasting, Plastic Pollution, and the Failed Promise of Curbside Recycling” (Container Recycling Institute, forthcoming in late 2022). I also provided technical assistance to environmental advocates, policymakers, and recycling businesses around the country regarding the adoption or modernization of container deposit laws (bottle bills), and wrote analyses and letters of legislative testimony on a range of container-related subjects. Show less

Over the years, I have served as an environmental consultant to a number of organizations. Before becoming an employee of the Container Recycling Institute (Culver City, CA) in Jan. 2021, I consulted for them for many years in various capacities. Other clients have included: Super Law Group (NY), Flying Deer Nature Center (New Lebanon, NY), Moab Solutions (UT), State Attorneys General (MI & NY); Institute for Local Self-Reliance (DC); Regional Environmental Council (Worcester, MA); Industrial… Show more Over the years, I have served as an environmental consultant to a number of organizations. Before becoming an employee of the Container Recycling Institute (Culver City, CA) in Jan. 2021, I consulted for them for many years in various capacities. Other clients have included: Super Law Group (NY), Flying Deer Nature Center (New Lebanon, NY), Moab Solutions (UT), State Attorneys General (MI & NY); Institute for Local Self-Reliance (DC); Regional Environmental Council (Worcester, MA); Industrial Economics (Boston); Ecolo-Haul, EcoPod, Hard Rock Café, Pacific/West Communications Group, UCLA Extension (Los Angeles); the Earthworks Group, University of California (Berkeley, CA). Show less

Worked closely with the principals of this research and consulting firm on design and execution of online surveys, data analysis and reporting, and client management. Used SPSS software and proprietary in-house systems in data collection and analysis. Clients included major media companies, political polling organizations, and consumer product retailers.

As the Director of Environmental Assessment at Green Depot, I developed and managed the company's internal Green Filter for product vetting and guarding against greenwashing. I examined whether products contain toxic ingredients, if they saved the user energy, if they contributed to improved indoor air quality, and if they were made from rapidly renewable or recycled materials. We also looked for companies that exhibit corporate social responsibility. Other activities included writing… Show more As the Director of Environmental Assessment at Green Depot, I developed and managed the company's internal Green Filter for product vetting and guarding against greenwashing. I examined whether products contain toxic ingredients, if they saved the user energy, if they contributed to improved indoor air quality, and if they were made from rapidly renewable or recycled materials. We also looked for companies that exhibit corporate social responsibility. Other activities included writing website content, training staff, working with the owner and president on outreach and marketing, and selling product. Show less

CRI is non-profit clearinghouse for national beverage container data. Researched/wrote reports including "Trashed Cans," "The 10¢ Incentive to Recycle," "Water, Water Everywhere," and the semi-annual Beverage Container Market Data Analyses; analyzed data for media, policymakers, activists, businesses. Wrote web content, press releases, op-eds, articles; gave interviews. Coordinated seminars, gave legislative testimony, lobbied, supported state coalitions.

EnviroGLAS is a terrazzo tile flooring and counter manufacturer. Recruited/supervised architectural reps, dealers and showrooms; managed marketing, technical, design, pricing, and ordering in NE territory (21 states & provinces).

Managed non-profit coalition of businesses, organizations, municipal recycling directors, state officials and individuals interested in waste reduction. Secured funding from state agencies, corporate donors, and individual donors. Organized MA Recycles Day, other events. Lobbied gov't on to restore Clean Environement Fund monies to recycling.

Environmental Defense Fund, Oakland, CA (5-8/91): Researched and wrote background reports about James Bay Hydroelectric Project; International Rivers Network, Berkeley, CA (8/91-7/93): researched and published masters’ thesis on the aluminum smelting and hydroelectric industries; Natural Resources Defense Council, Los Angeles (2/90-8/90): founded solid waste program in new LA office. Organized conference with 375 attendees; defined solid waste policy objectives for NRDC/Los Angeles.

Designed/co-taught: “Recycling Design, Operations and Materials Marketing,” and “Principles of Solid Waste Management.”

Managed curbside recycling program, planned service expansion to 40,000 homes. Wrote processing/marketing RFP. Selected equipment, hired personnel. Initiated Block Leader program, trained Coordinator. Developed budgets, public outreach, won major program grants from the California Dept. of Conservation.

Researched and published on recycling policy, technology, and operations; and compost markets. Developed and implemented curbside recycling in Santa Barbara County; trained and supervised employees and volunteers. Organized conference "Recycling Markets: California and the Pacific Rim;" wrote White Paper and Synopsis.

I was one of three founders of the Joy of Garbage in 1985 (the others were Helen Thompson and Linda daSilva). This is the longest-running student-led course at U.C. Berkeley through a really cool program called Democratic Education at Cal (DE-Cal). We invited a wide range of speakers to talk to the class about what's in our garbage, about the operation of landfills and incinerators, recycling and composting facilities, sewage treatment, and much more. Integral to the course were multiple field… Show more I was one of three founders of the Joy of Garbage in 1985 (the others were Helen Thompson and Linda daSilva). This is the longest-running student-led course at U.C. Berkeley through a really cool program called Democratic Education at Cal (DE-Cal). We invited a wide range of speakers to talk to the class about what's in our garbage, about the operation of landfills and incinerators, recycling and composting facilities, sewage treatment, and much more. Integral to the course were multiple field trips throughout the East Bay, and student projects where they implemented something they learned. Leadership of the class has been passed on informally from student to student for 25 years. Many of the students who took Joy of Garbage have gone on to become municipal recycling coordinators, or composting consultants, etc. If anyone reading this has taken J.O.G. or has been a coordinator, I'd love to hear from you! --JennyJOG website: http://jogdecal.wordpress.com/Facebook JOG Alumni group:http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=418368175037&ref=mf Show less