Date: March 10, 2011
Source: California Polytechnic State University
Waste Connections (Folsom, CA) made a $700,000 donation to the Global Waste Research Institute (GWRI) at the California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) in San Luis Obispo, CA. The institute, which was formed last year with a startup grant from Waste Connections of $300,000, represents a collaborative effort between a public university and industry to promote the development of sustainable waste and byproduct management technologies and advance current global practices in resource management. "This generous gift to Cal Poly's Global Waste Research Institute secures a visionary effort built on the university's Learn by Doing Mission," said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong in a statement. "Waste management is an increasingly complex challenge, and these are precisely the kinds of 21st Century problems Cal Poly wants to help solve."
PRESS RELEASE
Cal Poly Announces $1 Million Gift for Waste Research
The Global Waste Research Institute is the First Institute of Its Kind Established to Address the Global Challenges Created by Waste and Industrial Byproducts
Cal Poly this month confirmed a multi-year $700,000 commitment to the Global Waste Research Institute from Waste Connections, Inc., bringing the company's total gift to $1 million.
The Global Waste Research Institute (GWRI) represents the first collaborative effort between a public university and industry to promote the development of sustainable waste and byproduct management technologies and advance current global practices in resource management.
The formation of the Institute was first announced in late 2009, funded with a $300,000 start-up grant from Waste Connections. Under the stewardship of GWRI's Director Dr. Nazli Yesiller, the Institute has since been expanding its service and educational offerings in preparation for its launch.
"This generous gift to Cal Poly's Global Waste Research Institute secures a visionary effort to build on the University's Learn-By-Doing mission," said Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong. "Waste management is an increasingly complex challenge, and these are precisely the kinds of 21st century problems that Cal Poly wants to help solve.
"The Institute will provide an educational and practicing platform not only for students and faculty, but also for the professional community, regulators and the general public to discover new technologies and sustainable practices for waste management. Solutions to these challenges will benefit the environment not only in California, but around the globe," Armstrong added.
"GWRI's goal is to act as the central hub to educate and engage faculty, students and interested parties to address the risk to human life and the environment posed by the world's ever increasing amounts of wastes and industrial byproducts," noted Yesiller. "Additionally, the Institute actively promotes international partnerships that help mature and developing countries 'transform waste into opportunities.'
"With the funding provided by Waste Connections, GWRI can advance its goal to develop new strategies and methodologies of existing methods for improved management of wastes and byproducts."
About the Global Waste Research Institute
The Global Waste Research Institute (GWRI), located in San Luis Obispo, California, is a collaborative effort between Cal Poly and industry to promote the development of sustainable waste and byproduct management technologies and advance current practices in resource management.
The San Luis Obispo based institute, located on Cal Poly's campus and headed by Director Dr. Nazli Yesiller, now engages faculty and students in projects that investigate all aspects of wastes and byproducts from initial generation to final disposal. The Institute provides training for students, professional community, regulators, and the general public in sustainable waste and byproduct management domestically and abroad, and contributes to the overall educational focus and 'learn-by-doing' mission of Cal Poly. Additionally, the Institute actively promotes international partnerships that help mature and developing countries 'transform waste into opportunities.' To learn more about GWRI — please visit www.gwri.calpoly.edu or call Dr. Nazli Yesiller at (805) 756-2932.
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