This is a past event.

Our Journey to Zero

ME-EM Graduate Seminar Speaker Series

proudly presents:

Darwin Baas
Director of Public Works for Kent County

Abstract: The Kent County Department of Public Works was directed to establish a refuse disposal system for Kent County in the 1960's. Once only providing landfilling, today this integrated solid waste management system includes a Waste‐to‐Energy facility, Single Stream Residential Recycling Facility, Transfer Station and Landfill. With a vision to reduce disposal of municipal solid waste (MSW) to landfill and settng a bold goal to divert 90 percent of trash from the South Kent Landfill by 2030, a Sustainable Business Park (SBP) Master Plan was created by local and national experts over the course of 12 months including concept site plans, costs, funding sources and implementation schedule. The SBP positions Kent County to be a national leader in implementing practical, innovative solutions and sustainable materials management plan. The presentation will cover the history of refuse disposal since the late 1890's and a vision for 2030.

Bio: Darwin (Dar) has a bachelor’s degree in business administration from Davenport University and Master’s degree in public administration from Grand Valley State University and brings 25 years of environmental management experience in the public and private sectors with experience in emergency response, hazardous waste transportation, environmental contracting, industrial cleaning, landfill, transfer station, material recovery facility and waste‐to‐energy operations. Darwin’s work is centered in West Michigan and he is involved in energy and waste policy at the local, state and national level and currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Energy Recovery Council, Energy Michigan and past trustee for West Michigan Sustainable Business Forum and Michigan Recycling Coalition.
Invited by: Ezra Bar‐Ziv