The Circular Balancing Act: Navigating People, Planet, And Profit

Polystyrene often faces immense public scrutiny, but expanding polystyrene recycling requires building robust infrastructure rather than relying on empty slogans. In this episode, host Christine Yeager sits down with Justin Riney, Commercial Sustainability Manager for the Americas at INEOS Styrolution and Chair of the Polystyrene Recycling Alliance, to discuss what it truly takes to shift perception and drive material circularity. Together, they dive into the realities of extended producer responsibility (EPR), the power of narrative-driven industry change, and how collaboration successfully removed expanded polystyrene from problematic plastic lists.

Navigating modern packaging regulations demands a direct look at practical EPR policy realities. Host Christine Yeager cuts through public skepticism to unpack what is genuinely happening across courtrooms, state agencies, and material recovery facilities. She breaks down the latest legal challenges in Oregon and Colorado, explores Governor Newsom's recent California vetoes, and examines why sorting infrastructure must catch up with aggressive collection goals. You'll gain operational perspective on the delicate balance between private stewardship initiatives and mandatory producer rules. Whether you're tracking state deadlines or balancing packaging investments, this breakdown provides clear clarity for circular strategy.

Extended Producer Responsibility is sweeping the nation, but packaging rules don't easily translate to used clothes. Host Christine Yeager sits down with Jessica Franken to unpack how modern Textile Recycling Policy collides with a hundred-year-old reuse industry. Jessica leads government affairs for SMART, representing the secondary materials businesses that divert billions of pounds from landfills every year. Together, they break down why domestic markets can't absorb every scrap of donated fabric without thriving international trade channels. You'll discover how taking regulators directly onto sorting facility floors creates lasting policy breakthroughs that theory can't match. Learn what it takes to balance rigorous environmental goals with the practical realities of global supply chains.

True progress in waste reduction begins when we look beyond the bin and fully commit to sustainable materials management to bridge the systems gap between product design and regional capacity. In this episode, Christine Yeager sits down with Kathryn Walker, the Executive Director of the New York State Center for Sustainable Materials Management based at the university level, to discuss how collaborative leadership can drive a true circular economy. Together, they navigate the complexities of Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), the evolving landscape of recycling and materials management, and how to lead uncomfortable system-level changes with vulnerability, resilience, and curiosity.

In this episode of Change Cycle, host Christine Yeager explores how breakthrough university research and student-led innovation are powering the circular economy. Many people assume academic projects stay trapped in labs, but young entrepreneurs are launching startups that win major federal awards and land commercial supply contracts. Christine breaks down the four primary funding models for academic innovation and explains the financial realities of landfill diversion. She also examines why low recycling tipping fees often create a bigger barrier to adoption than the technology itself. Listen in to discover how fresh perspectives from students can help industry leaders overcome cynical ruts and scale real solutions.