We're covering the entire spectrum of composting in NYC—from homegrown solutions, to microhaulers, to commercial organics services. And for those of you that have been composting for years and want to know how to take it to the next level, we'll be talking about advocacy and how to engage your community in one of the easiest (yet biggest) ways to lower your impact on the planet.
Panelists:
Anna Sacks: Waste Reduction & Diversion Expert. Anna is forming a coalition to advocate for bipartisan, common sense #donatedontdump policy on the federal level. She previously worked at Think Zero LLC, a waste reduction & diversion consulting firm, and is head of messaging for the #SaveOurCompost coalition, which formed in response to COVID-related composting budget cuts. In 2019, she started a change.org petition asking CVS to #donatedontdump, which has received over 440k signatures. On social media, as the @thetrashwalker, Anna documents the usable items that she finds in both corporate and residential waste to raise people’s consciousness about waste and consumption.
Vandra Thorburn: Founder and President of Vokashi, an innovative, eco-living compost collection service. Vandra is a senior-preneur learning how to apply beneficial organisms for easy composting in an urban environment.
Bob Guarnaccia: Vice-President, Major Accounts at Royal Waste Services. Royal Waste is a commercial waste management hauler that provides services in recycling, dumpster rental, and waste removal to thousands of area businesses. In addition to providing recycling services, the team at Royal Waste educates customers about sustainable waste and recycling options and practices to help achieve the ultimate goal of eliminating waste. Their team of eco-consultants also work with commercial businesses to significantly improve operations, meet regulatory requirements by complying with new NYC sanitation laws, and increase diversion rates.
The NYC Compost Project: created by the NYC Department of Sanitation (DSNY) in 1993, works to rebuild NYC’s soils by providing New Yorkers with the knowledge, skills, and opportunities they need to produce and use compost locally. NYC Compost Project programs are carried out by teams of DSNY-funded staff at seven partner organizations: Big Reuse, Brooklyn Botanic Garden, Earth Matter NY, LES Ecology Center, The New York Botanical Garden, Queens Botanical Garden, and Snug Harbor Cultural Center & Botanical Garden.
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COVID-19 Guidelines: This event is in person and will be held outside on the rooftop of Brooklyn Solar Works office in Gowanus, Brooklyn. Unvaccinated individuals who attend the workshop will still be responsible for maintaining proper social distancing of six feet and wearing a mask as per federal CDC guidance. We will ask for vaccine proof upon entry, or a negative PCR test within 3 days prior to the workshop, or a negative rapid test within 24 hours prior.