2025 has just begun but already MRN members are busy making their marks...
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MRN Members join EPA battery working session: In January, MRN President
Kitty McIlroy and MRN member
Kristyn Oldendorf (SWANA) participated in an EPA 2-day in-person working session on mid-format battery collection and labeling in Arlington VA. Other attendees included members of The Commission to Advance Lithium-Ion Battery Safety in Maryland (of which McIlroy is a member) as well as experts from across the battery life cycle, who explored financing models, transportation regulations, and improvements in labeling and recycling. Their input will help shape the EPA’s upcoming best practices and labeling guidelines. EPA will host virtual sessions on mid- and large-format batteries on in future sessions
(learn more here).
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MRN President Kitty McIlroy travels to Singapore: Kitty McIlroy recently participated in the U.S. Department of State's
Young Southeast Asian Leaders Initiative Professional Fellows Program (YSEALI PFP), which provides young leaders from Southeast Asia the opportunity to engage in environmental-based professional development and cultural exchange projects in the United States. As part of the program, a select few number of U.S. hosts are eligible to apply for a U.S. Department of State funded Reciprocal Exchange. McIlroy completed a host project in April-May 2024, as well as a reciprocal exchange project in Singapore in January 2025. The Singapore project focused on researching the feasibility of expanding foodware reuse infrastructure at Hawker food stalls, a cultural fixture there, along with presenting at the U.S. Embassy and the National Environment Agency (NEA) of Singapore, highlighting the Maryland and U.S. solid waste and recycling landscape, including an overview of recent policy initiatives.
*MRN Past President Melissa Filiaggi also successfully completed a host and reciprocal project cycle in Indonesia a couple years ago. MRN Board Member, Rebecca Culler recently hosted a Fellow back in April-May 2024.
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MRN VP Michele honored with recycling award: Congratulations to
Michele Blair, City of Laurel Sustainability Manager and MRN VP, on receiving a
Waste Diversion and Recycling Award from Keep Prince George’s County Beautiful and Prince George’s County Department of the Environment. The award recognizes Prince George’s County commercial businesses, non-profit organizations, schools, individuals, and other entities that have demonstrated exceptional achievements in recycling and waste diversion to advance the betterment of the environment. A well-deserved honor!
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The City of Laurel launches the City’s sustainable plan: On January 30, Laurel held a
community event where citizens could learn more about the plan including its inception and process. This plan will serve as a living roadmap towards creating a more Sustainable Laurel for all! The January 30th event was a chance for the community to learn more about the plan including its inception and process.
*MRN members! Do you have some news to share regarding a great program or personal achievement? Let us know.