“…We are striving to forge a union with purpose
To compose a country committed to all cultures, colors, characters, and conditions of man
And so we lift our gazes not to what stands between us but what stands before us…”
— “The Hill We Climb,” Amanda Gorman, U.S. youth poet laureate
January 2021 felt like an especially tumultuous month in what has been a tumultuous time. In the midst of it all, the Presidential Inauguration was a bright spot that reminded me of the resilient spirit of America that cannot be broken. It was encouraging to see members of both major political parties come together for this great American tradition, embracing a moment of unity that has been sorely missed by many Americans, including myself.
I was particularly moved by the words of U.S. youth poet laureate Amanda Gorman, which seemed to perfectly embody the complexity of Americans’ feelings that day. Amanda spoke to the ambition and inherent flaws of The Great American Experiment, and urged us all to press forward toward our shared vision of “a more perfect union.” If you haven’t yet seen her performance, I encourage you to spend a few minutes with her.
Brightmark is embracing this resilient American spirit as we enter the Biden-Harris years. Our technology solutions are tailored to combat two urgent environmental challenges, climate change, and plastic pollution, as we build a circular economy for people and the planet. To that end, our policy team is focused on crossing divides and finding common ground as we advocate for waste solutions in Washington and in state capitols nationwide. Our key policy priorities include, but are not limited to:
- Educating Congress about advanced plastics recycling and generating support for the technology and for renewable plastics broadly;
- Advocating for federal funding for anaerobic digestion and advanced plastics recycling research & development, particularly related to renewable fuels;
- Assisting with the development of national recycling guidelines for both organic (animal manure and food waste) and non-organic (plastics) waste streams;
- Encouraging the adoption of state Low Carbon Fuel Standard or clean fuel standards, and recycling infrastructure and other supportive policy measures;
- Aligning with like-minded organizations to build and support coalitions that share our policy objectives in both the biogas and plastics recycling spaces.
Supportive federal and state policies will enable forward-thinking companies like Brightmark to help reduce U.S. greenhouse gas emissions while creating jobs and driving economic growth in communities nationwide. Reach out to us today if you’re interested in collaborating with us in support of this vision.
All my best,
Bob Powell
