Desiree Scales Interviews John Bradburn and Stephanie Barger about Zero Waste

 

John Bradburn

John Bradburn is the global manager of waste-reduction efforts at General Motors. In this role, he leads the company’s landfill-free initiative, which has resulted in 110 GM operations around the world that reuse, recycle, and convert to energy all wastes from daily operations.  John is an established expert in waste reduction and recycling, and frequently mentors other companies pursuing zero-waste goals. 

John’s responsibilities also include directing the company’s design-for-the-environment activities, creating and implementing sustainable process and process technologies that reduce the company’s environmental impact and costs.  He collaborates with suppliers, product and manufacturing engineers, and external stakeholder groups. 

Under John’s leadership, GM recycled or reused 90 percent of  waste generated globally through various resource conservation efforts in 2012. Betweeen 2000 and 2010, the company reduced nonrecycled manufacturing waste by 73 percent. 

John is frequently called on to speak at various sustainability-focused events and has been recognized by the Society of Automotive Engineers with four Environmental Excellence in Transportation awards for material development and reuse and recycling projects. John has worked for GM for more than 36 years.

John earned a Master of Science degree in hazardous waste management from Wayne State University in Detroit in 1995 and a Bachelor of Science degree from Northern Michigan University. He is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager

Find John at http://uszwbc.org/2014-conference/conference-program/37-uszwbc/2014-national-conference/145-john-bradburn.

 

Stephanie Barger

Stephanie Barger is the Founder and Executive Director of U.S. Zero Waste Business Council.

 Miss Barger formed the U.S. Zero Waste Business Council (USZWBC) in January of 2012 to meet the growing need for educational resources, peer-to-peer networking and third-party certification for businesses across the nation.

She brings over 25 years of experience in environmental stewardship, employee training, management consulting and business relationship development.  She received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from San Diego State University.  In her spare time, she raises guide dogs puppies for the blind and avocates for humane treatment of all creatures great and small.

She has spent the last 15 years leading Earth Resource Foundation (ERF) which runs a dynamic high school environmental leadership program.  ERF’s campaigns include curbing plastic pollution through Zero Waste, native plant restoration, smokefree beaches, watershed management and creating a future that is hopeful. The campaigns have been a huge success because of Miss Barger’s ability to collabrate with a wide and diverse range of community stakeholders (indigenous tribes, interfaith, government, for profit, at risk-youth, trade associations, health, social justice and environmental organizations).

Because of her strong belief that Zero Waste systems and process can help create a new economy where everyone wins, she developed and launched the ERF “Zero in on Zero Waste – Don’t Let Your Bottom-line go to Waste” business conference and workshop training program in 2005.  A certified trainer with California Resource Recovery Association (CRRA), she teaches a class on Zero Waste Businesses. Some of her clients/partnerships include City of Newport Beach – implementing the Polystyrene Ban at all restaurants, City of Burbank – Zero Waste Plan for the restaurant and grocery store sectors, County of Orange (Pollution Prevention through Zero Waste) and many business clients including St. Joseph’s Hertitage Health Care, Whole Foods Market, Reel Chefs Catering and Kean Coffee. 

In 2009, ERF was awarded a Federal Stimulus Grant, the California Green Jobs Program in Orange County providing training for at risk youth in Zero Waste and Career Development.  She helped write another Department of Labor grant which expanded the CRRA training program to over 500 unemployed and under-employed individuals. The grant also developed a Recycling, Resource Management and Zero Waste certificate and AA degree prgrams at three community colleges in Southern California. By continuing to collabrate with the grant partners, she hopes to bring this Zero Waste education to high schools and colleges nationwide.

Find Stephanie at http://www.uszwbc.org/about-uszwbc/board-of-directors/16-uszwbc/board-bio-s/14-stephanie-barger.