By 2050, we’ll have more plastic in the ocean than fish according to our current habits. Plastic-free July is a movement to reduce our plastic use for cleaner streets, waterways, and oceans. Join Green Philly for a discussion about this plastic problem and what consumers and brands can do about it.
- Why plastic affects our waterways, streets, and neighborhoods
- What types of plastic are most problematic, and alternative solutions
- How brands are reconsidering their relationship with plastic
- What we can do to reduce our plastic use and reduce plastic around us.
SPEAKERS
Kelly Offner is the executive director of Keep Philadelphia Beautiful (KPB), which encourages Philadelphians to take a mindful and sustainable approach to living in the city. Prior to joining Keep Philadelphia Beautiful, Offner worked in a variety of operations roles at United By Blue before serving as UBB’s Head of Cleanups. During that time, Offner led the growth of UBB’s waterway cleanups program to 48 states and Europe, and organized the removal of 1.5 million pounds of trash from U.S. waterways.
Anthony Rossi is the VP, Global Business Development for Loop (TerraCycle company), a global platform that enables consumer product companies and retailers to shift from a disposable supply chain to a durable one. Anthony has been with Loop since its inception and with Loop’s parent company, TerraCycle, for 7-years. Before leading the global business development team for Loop, Anthony was the head of global business development for TerraCycle supporting the company’s growth in 21 markets around the world.
Maria Horowitz has been an Environmental Engineer for the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD) for over 10 years. She manages the Watershed Field Services Unit within the Office of Watersheds. This unit advocates for the protection of the environment and the enhancement of natural resources through field and water-based assessments and through the implementation of cost-effective practices that improve the quality and aesthetics of our surrounding riverine and wetland systems. This unit also oversees many pollution prevention/ reduction programs including managing one of PWD’s floatables skimming boat and volunteer watershed cleanups. In 2019, PWD removed over 620.6 tons of Litter/Human-generated debris from local waterways.