Biography
David Refkin joined RRS in January of 2017 as an associate senior consultant bringing 37 years of business and environmental experience with CPGs, water providers, recyclers, energy and paper companies, trade associations, environmental groups, and publishers. His work focuses on increasing recovery of valuable commodities, creating sustainability strategies to minimize business risks and improving bottom line results, implementing sustainable materials management strategies, and building resilience from the impacts of climate change.
Recent Team Projects
- Nestle Waters North America: RRS developed strategies to increase recycling of single use bottles and cans including development of a range of innovative approaches that are company specific as well as collective solutions.
- Consumer Technology Association: In conjunction with the Golisano Institute for Sustainability, and Staples, initiated a sustainable materials management study to promote best practices for promoting material efficiency, design for reuse, refurbishment, and recycling and more. (work performed during tenure with GreenPath Sustainability Consultants)
- Aquarion Water Company: Developed sustainable water environmental and economic assessment tool (SWEEAT) to predict changing water needs related to climate change. (work completed during tenure with GreenPath Sustainability Consultants)
Affiliations/Memberships
- National Recycling Coalition
- H. John Heinz III Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment Executive Committee
- World Business Council for Sustainable Development
- World Resource Institute’s Forest Legality Alliance
- American Water Works Association
- Ridgewood New Jersey – Green Ridgewood, Chairman
- Ridgewood New Jersey – Member of Planning Board and Master Plan Implementation Committee
Topical Expertise
- Corporate Sustainability Strategy
- Corporate Social Responsibility
- Recycling Program Design
- Water Sustainability
- Forest Sustainability
Recent Speaking Engagements/Publications
- Northeast Recycling Council Fall Conference (Nov 2017): Sustainable Materials Management
- Before the Green is Gone (Jun 2017): Sustainable Forestry
- AMERIPEN (May 2017): SMM Workshop: Exploring Policy Options
- Print Media Conference (Nov 2016): Sustainability – Growing Curbside Recycling: The Recycling Partnership
- Sustainable Water Management Conference (Apr 2014): Building Resilience and Managing for New Normal Weather in the Northeast
- In Flow – Line (Winter 2014): The Times They Are A-Changin’
- Pinchot Institute and The Heinz Center (Jun 2010): Forest Sustainability in the Development of Wood Bioenergy in the U.S., co-authors Dr. Al Sample, Brian Kittler, Dr. Anne Marsh
- Local Authority Recycling Advisory Council UK Annual Conference (Oct 2009): Recycling and Environmental Policy in the Obama Administration
- Sovereign Publications Limited (Nov 2008): Climate Change: Addressing the Challenge – The Issue of Our Time
Education/Certifications
- Master of Business Administration in Financial Management, Iona College
- Bachelor of Science in Accounting, State University of New York at Albany
- Certified Public Accountant, New York State License