Plastic Tensions Within Extended Producer Responsibility
Tuesday, Aug. 15, 2023
3:45 – 4:45 p.m.
Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer, Association of Plastic Recyclers | Anja Brandon, Associate Director – U.S. Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy | Megan Daum, Vice President of Sustainability, American Beverage Association | Jennifer Ronk, Sustainability and Advocacy Manager, Dow | Moderator: Dylan de Thomas, VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs, The Recycling Partnership
This session will cover:
The ways in which plastics management has come to dominate recycling policy conversations in some jurisdictions.
Stakeholder perspectives on how issues such as source reduction, labeling, chemical recycling technology and more can be most successfully addressed in legislation.
The latest on implementation in the four states that have passed EPR and how plastic concerns play into that process.
Speaker Bios
Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer, Association of Plastics Recyclers
Kate Bailey is the Chief Policy Officer for the Association of Plastics Recyclers. She has over 15 years of experience working with legislators, local governments, consumer goods companies, NGOs and other stakeholders to implement actionable, effective solutions to improve recycling. She has championed numerous local and state policies, including Colorado’s groundbreaking Producer Responsibility for Packaging program. Bailey previously served as the policy and research director for Eco-Cycle, a nonprofit pioneer in recycling and zero-waste operations and programs.
Kate Bailey
Jennifer Ronk, Senior Manager of Sustainability and External Engagement for North American Packaging and Specialty Plastics, Dow
Jennifer Ronk joined Dow’s Packaging and Specialty Plastics division as the sustainability and advocacy manager in early 2018. In this role, she collaborates with the entire value chain to promote and improve the sustainability value of plastic and packaging. She also supports global efforts to address marine debris, including collaborating with the Ocean Conservancy and others. Before joining Dow, Ronk was a senior research scientist for HARC, a sustainability research hub, where she led the environmental science and energy efficiency programs. Prior to joining HARC, she served as the deputy director for the Renewable Energy and International Law (REIL) network, a D.C.-based international think tank for clean energy and climate change law and policy. While at REIL, Ronk co-authored research on how international investment law affected investments in clean energy, which was published by Yale. Prior to joining REIL, Ronk was the vice president of applied environmental solutions, a consulting firm focusing on addressing soil and groundwater contamination.
Jennifer Ronk
Megan Daum, Vice President of Sustainability, American Beverage Association
Megan Daum is the vice president of sustainability at the American Beverage Association, where she oversees the industry’s sustainability programs, policies and activities. Prior to joining ABA, Daum was the vice president of sustainability at the Can Manufacturers Institute, where she headed the sustainability program for thirteen years. She has also sat on various U.S. and international committees on packaging, policy and sustainability.
Megan Daum
Dylan de Thomas, Vice President of Public Policy & Government Affairs, The Recycling Partnership
Dylan de Thomas leads the public policy and government affairs team at The Recycling Partnership (TRP), directing advocacy efforts for the organization at the local, state and federal levels. While at TRP, de Thomas has worked with all of the teams across the organization, serving as a spokesperson and stakeholder representative in numerous settings to communicate, collaborate and find consensus on complex issues. Prior to joining TRP, de Thomas worked for Resource Recycling for a decade, directing and producing content for three publications and three conferences covering various aspects of the recycling industry.
Dylan de Thomas
Anja Brandon, Associate Director of U.S. Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy
Dr. Anja Brandon is the associate director of U.S. Plastics Policy at Ocean Conservancy, working to advance policy at the state and federal levels to eliminate pollution and support the circular economy. Prior to joining Ocean Conservancy, Dr. Brandon was the AGU/AAAS congressional science fellow in the office of U.S. Senator Jeff Merkley (D-OR), where she served as the lead policy advisor on issues including plastics, water pollution and toxics. Dr. Brandon holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Stanford University and was awarded an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship for her work in understanding plastic waste management challenges and developing novel methods to degrade plastics.
Back to the full 2023 Detailed Schedule.
Anja Brandon