The Circular Economy as a Concept for Creating a More Sustainable Future
On Wednesday, September 22, at 9:30 AM ET, the Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a business meeting to consider several of President Biden’s nominees, legislation to rename federal buildings, and several General Services Administration resolutions.
Immediately following the business meeting, the committee will hold a hearing on the importance of promoting a circular economy.
Witnesses:- Elizabeth Biser, Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality
- Roberta Elias, Director, Policy & Government Affairs, World Wildlife Fund
- Brian Hawkinson, Executive Director, Recovered Fiber, American Forest & Paper Association
- William “Billy” Johnson, Chief Lobbyist, Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Research: Moving from Staggering Statistics to Sustainable Systems
The purpose of this hearing is to discuss federal research and development and standards development needs to help address the plastic waste crisis and barriers to the current recycling system. In addition, the Subcommittee will explore challenges and opportunities for adopting sustainable upstream plastic waste reduction solutions and efficacy of existing lifecycle analysis models for assessing the impact of plastic waste and metrics for sustainability. The Subcommittee will also consider the role that the Plastic Waste Reduction and Recycling Research Act can play in addressing these important issues.
Opening Statements- Chairwoman Haley Stevens (D-MI) of the Subcommittee on Research and Technology
- Chairwoman Eddie Bernice Johnson (D-TX)
- Keefe Harrison, Chief Executive Officer, The Recycling Partnership
- Dr. Marc Hillmyer, Director and Principle Investigator, University of Minnesota National Science Foundation Center for Sustainable Polymers
- Dr. Gregory Keoleian, Director, Center for Sustainable Systems, Peter M. Wege Professor of Sustainable Systems, School for Environment and Sustainability, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering, co-Coordinator, Engineering Sustainable Systems Program, University of Michigan
- Joshua Baca, Vice President, Plastics Division, American Chemistry Council
Efforts to Address Marine Plastic Pollution Through Recycling
- Winnie Lau, Senior Manager, Preventing Ocean Plastics, The Pew Charitable Trusts
- Ginger Spencer, Public Works Director, City of Phoenix, Arizona
- Nicole Collier, Senior Director, Corporate Affairs, Nestlé USA