CRRA2019

Director North America

Sarah Edwards, the Director of Eunomia Research & Consulting North America is based in New York City and has over 20 years experience in the sector.  She has a masters degree is waste management and has worked to mitigate the impact of waste in the US, UK and Africa through progress policy and innovate collection and treatment options solutons. Sarah overseas projects that range from determining the benefit to the economy from the recycling sector to reviewing EPR program performance in Canada and redesigning recycling transfer stations in Massachusettes.

“What Can California Learn from the EU’s Approach to Single Use Plastic and the Circular Economy?”

Plastic packaging accounts for nearly half of all plastic waste globally, and much of it is thrown away within just a few minutes of its first use. Much plastic may be single-use, but that does not mean it is easily disposable. 

The EU is considered a leader in the transition to a circular economy due to its Circular Economy Package and the newly adopted Directive on Single Use Plastics and Fishing Gear.  Now the North American Director of the research consultancy at the center of these conversations in Europe, Eunomia Research & Consulting, will share her team’s insights into what went on behind the scenes.  Eunomia was a lead advisor to the European Commission on its circular economy and plastics strategy and provided policy recommendations for the Directive on Single Use Plastic. 

Based on Eunomia’s experience with EU policymakers, Sarah will share research on different policy measures that were evaluated and how the Top Ten Single-Use Plastic items to target were identified. Finally, Sarah will connect Europe’s effort to what is currently in place in California to draw out inspiration for what more could be done and how (e.g. enhanced container deposit programs).