Senior Director of Sustainability, Waste Management
Search every verified Susan Robinson interview, podcast appearance, and on-the-record quote — each transcript cross-checked by AI and human review to confirm speaker identity. Susan Robinson, Senior Director of Sustainability at Waste Management, participated in a webinar on August 25, 2020, discussing the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on waste management and recycling. She stated that Waste Management invested over $200 million over approximately two years to implement technology for producing cleaner recycled material. Robinson also said that during the pandemic the company prioritized continuing curbside collection and processing to supply mills and end markets with post-consumer feedstock. In a June 2019 podcast, Robinson noted that Waste Management was investing more than ever in programs and infrastructure, with approximately $110 million invested that year and similar investments anticipated for the following years to position for long-term market recovery. She commented that policy is not keeping up with consumer behavior around recycling and waste, and that policies are needed to create demand for recyclables and economic drivers for recycling.
“We as a company invested over $200 million in about two years to put technology in place so we could provide cleaner recycled material and keep recycling moving.”
“Throughout the pandemic we prioritized continuing curbside collection and processing so we could keep mills and end markets fed with post-consumer feedstock.”
“We're investing probably more than we've ever invested in our programs and our infrastructure; we invested about $110 million last year and anticipate similar investment this year and next as we position for long‑term market recovery.”
“I think we're working hard to use this opportunity to catch up — policy isn't keeping up with today's consumer behavior around recycling and waste, and we need policies that create demand for recyclables and the economic drivers for recycling.”
Aug. 25, 2020 Experts consider how crashing oil prices, increased demand for products containing plastic and the disruption of recycling sector supply/logistic chains could have severe consequences for global sustainability.
A 30-year career, an open mind, and an optimistic (yet pragmatic) viewpoint have made Susan Robinson, Federal Public Affairs Director at Waste Management, one of the most influential people in waste and recycling. Listen as she shares her invaluable insights on technology, diversity, environmental impacts, recycling, why we should have an optimistic outlook on the future, and so much more! #NothingWastedPodcast
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