Free Product Stewardship Educational Calls

Learn more about product stewardship through this upcoming 6-part series of conference calls hosted by the Product Stewardship Institute.  These calls are free to all local governments in New York through a program partially funded by SWANA, NYC, and NYSAR3 through the New York Product Stewardship Council.  To register, follow the blue “Register Now” button to the registration page and choose the “PSI Full State and Local Government Members” option.

The first call serves as a great introduction to product stewardship.

The Product Stewardship Institute
Informational Networking Conference Calls – 8th Series

Interested in receiving in-depth information on cutting edge issues in the product stewardship field?  PSI networking conference calls offer a carbon- free alternative to in-person workshops and meetings.  PSI networking call participants can listen to expert presentations and ask questions on timely product stewardship issues from the comfort of the home or office.  Join us this season for yet another stimulating networking call series.

Don’t miss this upcoming call!

Product Stewardship 101
Wednesday, October 14th, 2009
2:00 - 3:30 PM EST

The growth of the product stewardship movement means that new people are getting involved all the time. This Networking Call will provide an introductory overview for policymakers and practitioners seeking a better understanding of the basic concepts of product stewardship and the evolution of the product stewardship movement. What is the origin of the product stewardship movement and what goals does it hope to achieve? How does it relate to extended producer responsibility? What are the expected roles of manufacturers, retailers, local, state, and federal agencies, waste management companies, and other stakeholders? How will your job change as a result of product stewardship programs and legislation? What is the status of the movement and where is it heading? How can you get involved? PSI staff, government members, and corporate partners will share their experiences and insights in a “virtual roundtable” format that will encourage questions from phone participants. We will outline examples of product stewardship programs at the local, state, national, and international levels, and explore emerging issues in the field.

Presenters: Scott Cassel (PSI), Sierra Fletcher (PSI), Ann Pistell (ME Department of Environmental Protection), Scott Klag (Metro Regional Government, Oregon), Mark Kurschner (Product Care Association), Chris Eaves (Ace Hardware)

Other Topics in this series include:
	Oregon's New Paint Stewardship Law: A Model for Public/Private Collaboration Thursday, October 22nd, 2009 1:00-2:30 PM EST		Deciding What Chemicals to Produce: Different Perspectives Thursday, November 5th, 2009 1:00-2:30 PM EST
Key dialogue participants, including Alison Keane (National Paint and Coatings Association), Barry Elman (U.S. EPA), Abby Boudouris (OR Department of Environmental Quality), Scott Klag and Jim Quinn (Metro Regional Government in Oregon), and Scott Cassel (PSI), will provide an overview and update of the Oregon paint law and the national paint dialogue, as well as discuss the project’s application to other products.		Hear from one of the fathers of green chemistry, John Warner (Warner Babcock Institute of Green Chemistry) as well as Greg Bond (Dow Chemical Company) about different perspectives on how best to ensure the safety of chemicals used in everyday products.
	Communicating with Consumers on a Score of 1 - 10: Emerging Developments in Sustainability Rating Systems Thursday, November 19th, 2009 1:00 - 2:30 PM EST		Boosting Battery Recycling in the US: Setting Goals and Measuring Progress Wednesday, December 2nd, 2009 2:00-3:30 PM EST
Explore the opportunities and limitations of sustainability rating systems with Dara O'Rourke (UC Berkley) and Rand Waddoups (Wal-Mart). Speakers will discuss their experiences with Goodguide.com and Wal-Mart's Sustainability Index.		Learn how battery recycling can be increased, ways to measure recycling performance, and the challenges encountered along the way from Carl Smith (Rechargeable Battery Recycling Corporation), a government representative, and PSI.
	Economic and Environmental Benefits of EPR: Making the Case for Product Stewardship Tuesday, December 15th, 2009 2:00-3:30 PM EST
Hear from Jen Holliday (Chittenden County Solid Waste District, VT) and Cynthia Dunn (CA Integrated Waste Management Board) about product stewardship's financial and environmental benefits. Learn about PSI's new Financial Benefits Calculator and series of case studies and factsheets about product stewardship's bottom line benefits.
Questions?  Contact Lisa Gould, PSI Executive Assistant, at  (617) 236-4866 or lisa@productstewardship.us.