Biography
Elisa Seltzer joined RRS in March of 2019 as a senior consultant. Prior to RRS, Elisa spent 30 years with Emmet County, Michigan, as the public works director. During her tenure she helped the county reach a diversion rate approaching 50%, spearheaded the successful bin-to-cart transition for six municipalities, and managed a regional facility that included a material recovery facility (MRF), a transfer station, and a compost facility. She also collaborated with private haulers and government stakeholders, oversaw the solid waste management planning process, developed markets for many hard-to-recycle materials, and developed and oversaw the residential and commercial curbside routes and drop-site recycling sites in Emmet and four partner counties. In her role as an RRS senior consultant, Elisa will focus on assisting communities in developing and improving recycling and composting programs, cultivating public-private partnerships, and strategically connecting the right resources to move communities toward zero waste and sustainability goals.
Check out Elisa’s story from the University of Michigan This is Michigan feature: https://youtu.be/7_w2HUk5-Dc
Affiliations/Memberships
- Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
- Michigan Recycling Coalition (MRC)
- National Recycling Coalition (NRC)
- Paper Stock Industries (PSI)
Topical Expertise
- Municipal Solid Waste/Recycling/Composting
- Recycling/Composting/Food Scrap Collection
- Material Management Planning & Materials Marketing
- Public Sector Engagement
- Policy Development
- Public/Private Collaboration
- Enterprise Funds
- Zero Waste
Recent Speaking Engagements/Publications
- Michigan Sustainability Conference (Nov 2019): Current Recycling Market
- Southwest Michigan Consortium (Sep 2019): Recycling Contamination & Education: Where are We Now?
- Michigan Recycling Coalition Annual Conference (May 2019): It’s Time to Take Back Control of Your Recycling Program
- WasteExpo Conference (May 2019): Reducing Food Waste and Increasing Organics Recovery in Municipal, Regional & Commercial Programs
- SWANA Wastecon (Aug 2018): Using Sound Policy to Maximize Recycling Rates in Rural Communities (Poster Session)
- Michigan Recycling Coalition Conference (May 2018): Developing and Funding a Sustainable Residential Recycling Program
- Resource Recycling Conference (Oct 2018): Hacking Recycling Tools & Tips
- WasteExpo Conference (May 2017):
- Michigan Recycling Coalition Conference (May 2017): Planning for Action: Plans, Programs, Progress
- SWANA Road to Zero Waste (Mar 2017): Rockin’ Rural Recovery! Incentivize and Maximize Your Program to be Comprehensive, Convenient, and Cost Effective!
- BioCycle REFOR (Oct 2016): Rockin’ Rural Food Scrap Commercial Collection
- Michigan Recycling Coalition Conference (May 2016): Best Practices – The Art & Science of Recycling
- Michigan Recycling Coalition Conference (May 2016): MRF Material Flow Study
Education/Certifications
- Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management & Environmental Advocacy, University of Michigan