today's announcement substantiates need for investment in recycling

a previous blog post touched on the need for investment in recycling. it is critical to recognize how recycling can be a catalyst for economic development in a community willing to make that commitment. announced today, i am proud to have secured a $1 million grant for Austin before I departed and disappointed to not be present today for the news conference:  http://www.austintexas.gov/news/city-receives-1-million-economic-development-administration-develop-eco-industrial-park

indianapolis announces dirty mrf deal with covanta

today, the city of indianapolis announces a plan for a dirty mrf (material recovery facility) whereby trash will be collected and recyclables segregated out for recycling after the fact. haven't we learned from years of dirty mrfs that very little marketable commodity can be gleaned from co-mingled trash. paper can't be recycled after a soda has been spilled on it. cardboard can't be recycled when it sits in a bin for days with food scraps next to it. plastics are very expensive to recycle when they are covered with coffee grounds and grease. in order for a materials to be sold as commodities, it must be treated like commodities. this plan is bad for indianapolis, bad for manufacturers who depend on recyclables for feedstock, and bad for the future of recycling everywhere if cities can be sold this bag of goods.  http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/2014/06/18/deal-will-increase-recycling-city-mayor-says/10802431/

investment needed to grow recycling...

austin is aggressively pulling materials from the waste stream until its zero waste goals, but few local markets for those recyclables exist, and most recyclable materials collected in austin land in markets around the world. as such, austin is losing those opportunities for local investment and jobs.

as i depart as the city of austin's first recycling economic development liaison, i was pleased to organize a unique local event that brought together recycling manufacturing companies with the investment community in hopes of bringing awareness and funds to grow recycling in austin. you can learn about the ten (10) companies who presented, as well as see photos and a complete video of the event here. six of the companies to date have been approached by one or more investors. the hope is that this event will result in helping existing austin companies grown, new start-ups, as well as attract national and international companies to expand. over 100 companies, investors and observers attended the event.

while i resigned my position with the city of austin effective june 6, 2014, my sincere hope is that some of my efforts there will have lasting effects towards positive change.

coming home y'all

after spending 18 months in austin, texas, doing some amazing work as the city of austin's first recycling economic development program liaison, i'm coming home, to indy, to once again work on a wide variety of projects. 

i plan to take it light this summer (with one or two small contracts) and spend some time with my son. in the fall, i'll be seeking out a few more projects, much like i'd done for the 10 years prior to leaving indy -- working on policy, program development, project implementation, research, fund development, business planning. my clients have always been very diverse -- small business, large business, governments, regional and national policy workgroups, and non-profits. 

i love that my professional life can allow me to follow my passion and contribute to really cool and meaningful projects on all levels. as such, i have the opportunity to work with some of the most talented and dedicated people in the world! 

in case you are interested, here are just a few of the projects that i initiated while in austin:

• austin recycling economic development program
• austin [re]manufacturing hub
• shop zero waste austin
• austin recycling innovations investment forum.

It was a fun ride, but am happy to be back in indy - at home!

after 10 years of consulting....

after 10 years of consulting, working with a wide variety of local and national clients, tackling efforts towards cleaner water, air and land, collaborating with some of the most amazing people and organizations -- i will be ending my consulting business to take a full-time position with the city of austin's resource recovery agency to help implement their zero waste strategy.

zero waste? how is that even possible? only through the dedication of elected officials, focused leadership, committed staff and a progressive community, can zero waste (or the diversion of at least 90% of all waste from landfills and incinerators to waste reduction, reuse and recycling) truly be possible. we has witnessed a ground swell -- a movement in some of the country's most forward thinking companies and organizations and people and commmunities -- a commitment to not just recycle bottles, cans, paper, glass, but to look beyond a few commodities and towards the elimination or diversion of a wide variety of commodities from electronics to tires to carpet to organic materials. we know that for every one job created in waste disposal, there are 10 jobs created in recycling-related jobs - recycling is a better economic driver than disposal. we know that recycling can be an economic stimulator for not just job creation, but for capital investment and entrepreneurial opportunities. we know that while the earth's resources seem abundant and endless, that they are actually limited. we know that it is not simply the raw materials for making stuff that is limited, but that the energy and water to make stuff is also limited. we know that through waste reduction, reuse, recycling and composting, we can reduce pollution, greenhouse gas emissions and energy use. so, there in lies a new opportunity for me as the city of austin's new recycling economic development liaison. in the position, i have the privilege of assisting one of the most progressive cities in the united states with their development and implementation of a zero waste strategy to take the very waste materials that austin residents, businesses and organizations are generating, and turn that waste into a local asset for jobs and investment for business and industry. as i wind down my client work in indiana and look to a new horizon in austin, texas in 2013, i am excited to be chosen as one of few people in the country who can be a cog in the engine towards zero waste and to join the ranks of the handful of communities who believe that there is a genuine opportunity for a new paradigm shift towards less waste and more economic development efforts that are good for our cities and its people -- not just to reach 20 or 25 or even 30 percent waste reduction through recycling. but, instead, to stretch our arms as far as they can possibly be stretched to steadily and incrementally take diversion to 50, 75 and to 90 percent diversion of waste. this is an exciting time for me and i look forward to being one of a team of people in austin who will make that zero waste goal a reality! thank you to all those who i had the honor of working with and for over the past 10 years leading julie l rhodes consulting. i truly would not trade that time of my life and my professional career for anything. just a few of the clients that i was lucky enough to work with include: * city of indianapolis * indiana recycling coalition * patachou, inc * association of indiana solid waste management districts * hoosier environmental council * palm beach county solid waste authority (florida) * reuse industries (ohio) * cereplast, inc (california) * indy food cooperative * product stewardship institute (massachusetts) * resource recycling (oregon) * architectural salvage warehouse of detroit (michigan) * mid-america council of recycling officials * and many others.

happy earth day

twenty-one years ago, we celebrated the rebirth of earth day -- at that time, the 20th anniversary of the original event held in 1970. more than forty years of environmental efforts and we have incrementally made progress towards a greener, cleaner planet and society. back in the early '90's, i was just beginning my journey towards awareness about our planet, people, habitats and ecosystems. intuitively, i felt connected to the earth with a desire to reduce human impacts and was eager to learn the science behind doing so. since that time, i have moved from simply a personal advocate to working professionally in the field for local and state government, for a national environmental non-profit, with companies and other organizations, to make our world more sustainable. in essence, i was able to realize my dream through a passion for doing what i believed was right -- for this generation and those to come after me. and, i sit here more than two decades later, on earth day, feeling just as driven and hopeful, still learning of ways that our planet has been damaged and ways that we can be a force in the healing. i've been so privileged to work to help clean and preserve our water resources, on efforts to improve air quality and increase energy efficiency, on greening building and deconstruction, on transportation issues, on land and waste management challenges, and towards building more sustainable, healthier food systems. yes, i live my dream each and every day, believing that one person doing one single positive act can make a positive difference. on this earth day, i invite you to do the same!

indianapolis moving towards sustainability....

did you know that the city of indianapolis has moved into the 21st century and striving to lead the way on environmental sustainability in the midwest? since mayor ballard announced two years ago that he was developing an office of sustainability, many may be wondering what that office is up to. the truth is that the leadership and staff of that office are up to a lot of things that are good for our people, habitats and environment in indy.

when i moved to indianapolis about 24 years ago, there were no bike trails, no food co-ops, no urban garden programs, no green buildings. but, the current political environment is leading to a better natural environment. we still have a ways to go, but as an life long environmentalist who has worked all over the country on sustainability issues, it's great to see this city finally sitting up and taking notice of the benefits of treading more lightly on our earth!