The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Recorded live at the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit, leaders from Columbus, Ohio share how they’re building a more circular and equitable approach to waste diversion. Aryeh Alex, Christy Walters, and Marcus Carano dive into practical solutions—from food rescue pilots and mattress recycling to IT reuse and green job creation. Proving that sustainability isn’t just about reducing waste, but about creating opportunities. The conversation highlights how public policy, grassroots engagement, and cross-sector partnerships can align to drive real, lasting impact. Whether you're a city planner, a nonprofit leader, or just sustainability-curious, this episode offers grounded inspiration for making circular systems work in any community.

Episode in a glance

- City-Led Initiatives: Weekly Recycling and Compost Drop-Offs
- Incentivizing Change with GreenSpot
- The Role of Technology and Innovation in Waste Diversion
- Waste and Reuse Convenience Centers
- GreenSpot Spotlight Awards: Celebrating Corporate Sustainability
- Smart Columbus and Corporate Engagement
- Policy and Equity in Waste Diversion
- Diversifying Community Engagement

About The Panelists

Aryeh Alex: Sustainability Manager for the City of Columbus, leading efforts in waste diversion, organics, and circular economy initiatives.

Christy Walters: GreenSpot Coordinator, educating and engaging residents, businesses, and community groups in sustainability.

Marcus Carano: Leader of Corporate Partnerships and Sustainability at Smart Columbus, fostering innovation and collaboration between the public and private sectors.

Connect with the panelists and their work

• GreenScope Consulting → https://www.greenscopeconsulting.com/
• City of Columbus Sustainability → https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Mayors-Office/Sustainable-Columbus
• GreenSpot → https://www.columbus.gov/Government/Mayors-Office/Sustainable-Columbus/GreenSpot
• Smart Columbus → https://smartcolumbus.com/
• SWACO → https://www.swaco.org/
• Columbus Food Rescue → https://local-matters.org/columbus-food-rescue/
• Rumpke → https://www.rumpke.com/
• Green Umbrella → https://greenumbrella.org/
• Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit → https://www.midwestsustainabilitysummit.org/

Send us a message!

The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Shelly Douglas is the Executive Director of Green Columbus, who was recently awarded the 2025 Impact Award from the Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit. Since her last appearance, Shelly has broken her tree-planting records for the second year in a row, planting 74,000 seedlings in 2024 and expanding her Columbus City Schools program from 4 to 24 schools with over 650 large trees planted. However, this success story takes a sobering turn as Shelly candidly discusses how Trump's executive orders froze $75,000 in federal grant reimbursements, forcing her small nonprofit to slash their Earth Day program from 74,000 to just 14,000 seedlings. Despite these challenges, the community rallied to support Green Columbus, demonstrating the power of local action in the face of federal policy setbacks. Shelly shares her organization's evolution from a scrappy volunteer-driven operation to a more strategic force in urban forestry, complete with their own truck, consolidated nursery operations, and her new role as a Columbus Tree Subcommissioner. The conversation highlights both the tremendous impact that dedicated individuals can have on their communities and the vulnerability of grassroots environmental work to political winds, while showcasing the resilience and innovation required to keep planting trees and building greener, more equitable communities.

Episode in a glance

- The 2025 Impact Award and Green Columbus's Mission
- Increasing Equitable Tree Canopy Coverage
- Piloting a New School Planting Program
- The Linden Tree Nursery and Community Giveaways
- A New Role as Columbus Tree Subcommissioner
- The Impact of Trump’s Executive Orders
- The Future of Green Columbus

About Shelly Douglas

Shelly Douglas is the Executive Director of Green Columbus, a passionate advocate for community engagement, and a true Green Champion. She is dedicated to building a greener, more resilient Columbus by empowering volunteers, increasing equitable tree canopy coverage, and fostering a sense of community pride.

Connect with Shelly Douglas and Green Columbus

Website → https://www.greencbus.org/

Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/greencolumbus

Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/green_columbus/

Send us a message!

The Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit (MRSS) is the largest sustainability conference in the Midwest, bringing together hundreds of visionary leaders to share ideas and solutions for a healthier, more resilient, and equitable future. The annual summit features a full day of programming, including speakers, exhibitors, interactive sessions, and networking opportunities, covering a wide range of topics from climate justice and green workforce development to resilient food systems and circular economy practices. MRSS serves as a vital platform for collaboration and innovation, inspiring action and accelerating the transition to a sustainable future in the Midwest.

Shownotes

Carol Kauffman is the CEO of the Ohio Environmental Council (OEC). Carol traces the OEC's mission back to its 1969 founding after the Cuyahoga River fire and shares her own path into environmental advocacy through a pivotal experience in Cambodia witnessing deforestation's devastating impact. She explains the OEC's multi-level approach to advocacy, working locally, statewide, and federally to advance environmental protection and community empowerment. The conversation covers OEC's work with Power a Clean Future Ohio, their State House advocacy, executive agency engagement, and efforts to protect Lake Erie and improve water quality. Carol discusses navigating environmental advocacy in today's political climate and emphasizes strategic planning, adaptability, and collaboration. She shares a recent major victory: significant energy policy legislation in Ohio that streamlines project approvals at the Power Siting Board and incentivizes utilities to invest in Advanced Transmission Technology.

A key focus is the Ohio Business Energy Partnership—an unlikely coalition of environmental groups and business leaders advocating for clean energy policy. Carol explains how this cross-sector alliance drives progress at the state level and offers leadership lessons on sharing credit, building authentic relationships, and taking care of your team. She previews her MRSS panel on the Ohio Business Energy Partnership, hoping to inspire similar collaborations and demonstrate the power of working across traditional divides.

Episode in a glance

- Carol’s Path to Environmental Advocacy
- OEC Initiatives
- Challenges Facing Ohio's Environment
- A Win for Energy Policy in Ohio
- The Ohio Business Energy Partnership

About Carol Kauffman

Carol Kauffman is CEO of the Ohio Environmental Council. Her background in international aid and development brings a global perspective to advocating for clean air, safe water, and climate justice in Ohio.

Connect with Carol Kauffman

Website → theoec.org

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-kauffman/

Send us a message!