Past Event: Reduce, Reuse, Rethink: The Future of Waste in NYC

Mayor Bill de Blasio has pledged to send zero waste to landfills by 2030, a formidable goal given that New Yorkers currently generate tens of thousands of tons of garbage each day.

How can one of the world's most wasteful cities eliminate its trash in just 12 years? Part of the answer lies in redesigning the trip from the trashcan to the landfill. However, achieving zero waste also requires fundamentally redefining the concept of "waste." Join leading experts Ana Isabel Baptista, Chair of the Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management program at The New School; Pam Elardo, Deputy Commissioner of the Bureau of Wastewater Treatment, NYC Environmental Protection; Christina Grace, CEO and Founder of the Foodprint Group; and Tom Outerbridge, General Manager of Sims Municipal Recycling, for a conversation about the future of waste and its impact on New York's diverse neighborhoods and communities.

Prior to the program, join us for happy hour on the Museum's Terrace from 6 to 6:30 pm. 

This is the fifth program in New York's Future in a Changing Climate, a new series of conversations exploring the challenges and opportunities presented in the Museum's Future City Lab, the interactive third gallery in New York at Its Core, our landmark permanent exhibition. To view all of the programs in the series, click here. 

About the Speakers: 
Ana Isabel Baptista, Ph.D., is chair of the Environmental Policy and Sustainability Management graduate program and associate director of the Tishman Environment and Design Center at The New School. Her research focuses on advancing environmental justice through collaborative work with communities on issues ranging from climate change, air pollution, and waste systems.

Pam Elardo, P.E., is the Deputy Commissioner for New York City Department of Environmental Protection, Bureau of Wastewater Treatment. DEP employs 1,800 people protecting public health and the environment for 9 million people by treating 1.3 billion gallons of wastewater with 14 wastewater treatment plants and associated infrastructure. Previously, she was director of the King County Wastewater Treatment Division in the Seattle area. Elardo holds a master’s degree in environmental engineering and a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. She is a licensed Professional Engineer and certified Group 4 Wastewater Treatment Plant Operator.

Christina Grace is the CEO of Foodprint Group, a services business that helps food companies design for zero waste through sustainable purchasing, recycling infrastructure, and integrated training. She has led waste reduction, recycling, and food waste processing projects for Google, Related Companies, and Eataly. 

Tom Outerbridge is the General Manager of Sims Municipal Recycling. Sims is a cornerstone of New York City’s recycling system, processing and marketing the more than 200,000 tons of plastic, glass, and metal that New Yorkers recycle each year. Outerbridge is also a board member at the Newtown Creek Alliance.