In case you missed it: Thoughtful, newsworthy comments from industry professionals, consumers and legislators.
"I've spent more money on prying tools than I probably have on employees."
— HOBI International President Craig Boswell during an ISRI 2017 session on the challenges associated with miniaturization of electronics. Boswell highlighted that, as electronics get smaller, it is more common for batteries to be glued into materials making it extremely difficult to remove the batteries for shredding.
"Just because you're in compliance doesn't mean you're out of danger."
— TV personality and "Dirty Jobs" host Mike Rowe during the ISRI 2017 closing session on Thursday. Rowe spoke about the challenges of going above-and-beyond while still trying to be safe on the worksite, and empathized with attendees for working in an industry that many outsiders simply "don't understand."
"Just do it. Don't pay attention to anybody else. [If] that's what you want to do, go out and do it."
— Rhonda Kitchen, truck driver for Wasatch Front Waste & Recycling District and the first woman to win NWRA's Driver of the Year award, during an interview with Waste Dive. Kitchen explained that, despite being one of few female drivers in her field, she has always enjoyed the work and encourages other women to pursue the career path.
"Emotional mothers are going to win this over all of the science in the world, I believe."
— Terry Gray of TAG Resource Recovery during an ISRI 2017 session on disruptions to the tire recycling market. Gray explained that there is strong opposition to the crumb rubber market due to mothers who are worried the rubber — on athletic fields and other areas — is unsafe for their children.
"Only by educating people to a true solidarity will we be able to overcome the 'culture of waste,' which doesn't concern only food and goods but, first and foremost, the people who are cast aside by our techno-economic systems which, without even realizing it, are now putting products at their core, instead of people."
— Pope Francis in a surprise TED Talk about building a sustainable and happy future, as reported earlier this week by Waste Dive.
