As we observe the Thanksgiving holiday, we asked leaders across the waste and recycling industry: what are you or your company most thankful for this year?
"I’m thankful for the great glass markets we deal with. They share my company’s goals of maximizing recycling tonnage and not maximizing revenue as the priority. Glass recycling isn’t rocket science and it’s not the problem today’s media is making it out to be. It’s not the material, it’s the process. Recycling is about customer/market relationships and quality control, and I hope our markets are as thankful as we are."
— Ted Onufrak, executive director of Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority in Bellefonte, PA
"I am thankful that SWANA will be working with other associations and its members to reduce accidents and injuries in the waste and recycling industry."
— David Biderman, CEO of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
"I am most grateful this year for the progress being made in zero waste. Thanks to Mayor de Blasio, NYC became the largest city in the country with a zero waste plan. So, I am very hopeful that we'll finally make a dent in the 10,000 tons of trash we generate in this city per day, and be able to shift some of the $350 million we spend on shipping waste to all points south to infrastructure and other needed projects right here at home."
— Jacquelyn Ottman, founder of WeHateToWaste.com and certified Zero Waste Business Associate
"I am thankful our industry is embracing Sustainable Materials Management, and implementing policies, programs, and infrastructure that conserve resources, reduce wastes, slow climate change, and minimize the environmental impacts of the materials we use."
— Michelle Leonard, vice president of SCS Engineers and president of SWANA
"There's so much to be thankful for this year, but for Thanksgiving, we're especially thankful for the state legislators and our NWRA Chapters who worked to champion Slow Down to Get Around laws which went into effect in several states this year, and for the tireless work of our industry wide NWRA Safety Committee for their continuing work to develop the tools for industry that will help make our workers today and in the future safer as they serve America's homes and businesses."
— Christopher Doherty, vice president of communications for National Waste & Recycling Association
"I’m thankful to be an American and live in the greatest country in the world, and for all the members of the Rubicon Global family that helped make 2015 an incredibly successful year."
— Nate Morris, co-founder and CEO of Rubicon Global