10 am-12 pm PDT / 1-3 pm EDT
Reduce and Reuse are at the top of the EPA, Pollution Prevention and Zero Waste Hierarchies to reduce and most efficiently use of resources and minimize environmental impacts. This work starts with changing consumption patterns and redesigning products, packaging, and buildings to be more durable, reusable and easily repairable. In recent years, communities and businesses have increasingly recognized the importance of reduction and reuse and have found innovative ways to implement new programs and policies.
This webinar will discuss some of these policies and programs, including: Right to Repair; Reuse and Repair Innovation; Measuring Reduction and Reuse; Engaging Employees to Reduce and Reuse; and Building Deconstruction.
Join this webinar for a moderated Town Hall-style event that will include the latest developments on these and other topics with leaders in the field, plus a lively Q&A session!
Feedback from panelists and attendees will be used to guide how NRC updates its policies on these issues. The NRC Policy Committee will compile the results of the National Zero Waste webinar and conference sessions into recommendations for action to the NRC Board of Directors to consider in updating NRC policies and programs.
All attendees will receive a Reduce and Reuse Greatest Links List.
Panelists
- Moderator: Timonie Hood, U.S. EPA, Region 9
- Nathan Proctor, U.S.PIRG – Right to Repair
- Leah Tischler, SBM Management – TRUE Zero Waste Implementation
- Samantha Sommer, UPSTREAM – Reusable Foodware Models
- Jacky Brown, Goodwill Industries of San Diego County – The Road to Zero Waste is Paved with Jobs
- Dave Bennink, Building Deconstruction Institute – Deconstruction and Building Materials Reuse

Samantha Sommer

Leah Tischler
As the Sustainability Manager for SBM on a large software company’s corporate campus in Redmond Washington, Leah works with a variety of vendors and other stakeholders to implement and expand Zero Waste initiatives. Leah also manages a sort and sustainability team tasks, conducting waste diversion practices throughout the site. As a TRUE advisor, she also maintains the campus Zero Waste certification. Leah was also able to certify the campus largest annual hackathon TRUE platinum in 2019 becoming one of the only events to hold that certification.
Prior to working for SBM, Leah was the Recycling Specialist for the County of Kauai, insuring diversion was maintained throughout the Island. She graduated from California Polytechnic University in San Luis Obispo with a degree in Environmental Management and Protection

Jacky Brown
Jacky Brown joined the Goodwill Industries of San Diego County leadership team in 2008 as the Director of Retail, Aftermarket and Bookstores. Jacky is recognized for many accomplishments including the growth of the organization’s Outlet facilities, Bookstores, and Sustainability Department. Jacky was asked to join the newly established Executive Team in 2017 as Vice President of Retail. In her role, Jacky is responsible for the strategic management of the Retail, Aftermarket, Bookstore, eCommerce, and Sustainability Departments. With more than 25 years of retail and nonprofit experience, Jacky understands the social enterprise model and is determined to generate as much revenue as possible to support the heart of the organization – its mission to provide training and employment to people with disabilities and other barriers to employment.
Jacky graduated Summa Cum Laude from San Diego Christian College with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Management. In 2008, Jacky earned a Retail Management Certificate from Grossmont College, and in 2018, she completed Goodwill Industries International’s Senior Leadership Program. Jacky received an Outstanding Leadership and Service Award from the San Diego Rescue Mission, her previous employer. She is also an active member of the Pathfinders Lions Club. Jacky reserves time to participate in Zero Waste initiatives. She is the catalyst for the implementation of sustainable initiatives at Goodwill San Diego. She enjoys collaborating with several recycling groups and jurisdictions.
Jacky spends her free time with her husband and four children. Her son recently graduated from San Diego State University. Jacky has instilled the importance of education in her children by acting as their role model. Jacky also enjoys collaborating with her husband, a local not-for-profit organization leader.

Timonie Hood
Timonie works for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Pacific Southwest office in San Francisco covering California, Arizona, Nevada, Hawaii, the Pacific Islands and 148 tribes. She treasures working with diverse teams on Zero Waste, Green Building and Climaterials policies and projects.
Recently, she has been working with Pacific Islands colleagues to develop and implement Zero Waste Plans and with the Bay Area Deconstruction Workgroup to develop safe deconstruction and building materials reuse policies and actions.
Previously, she Co-Chaired EPA’s Green Building Workgroup and co-created and managed the EPA/American Institute of Architects/Building Materials Reuse Association Lifecycle Building Challenge – an online competition on designing buildings for adaptation, disassembly and reuse.
Timonie holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Auburn University and a law degree from Arizona State University.

Nathan Proctor
U.S. PIRG is an advocate for the public interest. We speak out for a healthier, safer world in which we’re freer to pursue our own individual well-being and the common good. Our network of state affiliates, including CALPIRG, runs public education and advocacy campaigns that advance the public interest and protect public health.
As the Campaign Director for U.S. PIRG’s Right to Repair work, Nathan helps to coordinate state campaigns around the Right to Repair across the country, as well as connected efforts in the federal government.
A member of the 2020 Grist 50 “list of emerging leaders from across the U.S. who are working on fresh, real-world solutions to our world’s biggest challenges,” Nathan lives in Arlington, Mass. with his wife and two children.

Dave Bennink
Dave Bennink of the Building Deconstruction Institute has trained groups in 44 States/4 Provinces, helping start new sustainable businesses and diverting over 100,000,000 pounds from landfills. He focuses on growing the circular economy, zero waste/energy movements, embodied carbon, and sustainable building. Re-Use has completed over 1200 deconstruction projects, and has worked on 3600+ projects. To keep in practice, Bennink also runs a reuse store and deconstruction contracting firm, markets reclaimed wood, and salvages and sells mature landscaping from jobsites. Voted National Deconstructor of the Year, he also recently won a Sustainable Leadership Award and National Reuse Educator of the Year.