The Story of "Stuff" - Transitioning from Waste to Resource
SB CAN’s Continuing Series of Workshops on Best Practices in Sustainability
The Story of "Stuff"
Transitioning from Waste to Resource
Tuesday, February 9, 6:30 - 8:30 PM
Santa Maria Public Library, Shepard Hall
421 South McClelland Street
Presented by Joerg Blischke, an environmental engineer working with
AECOM, an international environmental engineering and consulting firm
Last year “Zero Waste” was cited as one of the three hottest sustainability trends by Terry Tamminen, the author of Lives Per Gallon: The True Cost of Our Oil Addiction, who advises world leaders on how to design and implement climate-change solutions.
“People are beginning to understand that CO2 and greenhouse gas emissions are a measurement of waste at their very core,” explains Tamminen. “If your product is being shipped with a lot of waste in it, that's adding to fuel and shipping costs, which adds to your carbon footprint. . . . Nobody wants to have waste in their business.”
This workshop will explore some of the newest concepts in waste reduction and resource management, including the philosophy behind “zero waste,” “closed-loop” life cycles, and “product stewardship.”
A slideshow presentation will provide a diverse overview of what various communities in North America and Europe are doing to move towards managing resources more wisely.
The workshop also will feature video clips of Annie Leonard’s entertaining talk on “The Story of Stuff,” and William McDonough and Michael Braungart’s inspirational vision of “Cradle to Cradle” product design.
Workshop presenter Joerg Blischke is an environmental engineer working with AECOM, an international engineering and consulting firm. Mr. Blischke holds a Masters Degree in chemical process engineering from the University of Stuttgart, Germany, and has more than 15 years of work experience in various environmental engineering disciplines, including the design and construction of a commercial-scale anaerobic digestion and composting facility in Europe. He also has taught classes in Physical Sciences and Environmental Studies at Allan Hancock College and has been a guest speaker on various environmental topics [e.g. Global Warming; End of Cheap Fossil Fuels; Alternative Transportation Fuels].
This workshop is part of SB CAN’s “Best Practices in Sustainability” series begun last fall. For more information, contact Deborah at 722-5094 or deborah@sbcan.org/
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