KRISTYN OLDENDORF MAY speak for many in the MSW industry when describing 2020 as "extremely interesting, busy, and challenging". Against the backdrop of responding to the COVID-19 pandemic and its impact on staff and operations, Oldendorf-Chief of the Office of Support Services for Baltimore City Department of Public Works, Bureau of Solid Waste-and her staff continue to push forward with major initiatives, including completing Less Waste, Better Baltimore, a long-term operational plan for the solid waste bureau. They're partnering with the Natural Resources Defense Council's Food Matters project, aimed at reducing the food waste that comprises 22% of all landfilled MSW by such measures as rescuing surplus food and recycling food scraps. Baltimore creates 430,000 tons of trash annually while one in four residents-more than double the national average-lacks a reliable food supply. Baltimore aims to reduce commercial food waste by 50% and residential food waste by 80% by 2040. Oldendorf and her team also are working with Rubicon to pursue route optimization; working with the Recycling Partnership, Closed Loop Partners, and others to pursue recycling cart funding; planning a recycling anti-contamination campaign funded by the Recycling Partnership, and continuing with a landfill expansion. "Baltimore City has given me a strong background for understanding the many policies and economic drivers of waste management systems," notes Oldendorf. "I strongly believe that policy-crafted and implemented appropriately-can prevent and solve many issues."
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