Gillian Rose

Project Associate, How2Recycle

Prior to joining How2Recycle as a Project Associate, Gillian was a Compost Coordinator and Fresh Food Box staff member at GrowNYC, an environmental non-profit in New York City. Through community engagement and outreach, Gillian helped to improve food security and make sustainable waste reduction services more accessible within marginalized NY communities. Gillian received her B.A. in Film & Screen studies with a minor in Environmental Studies from Pace University. A sustainability club she joined in college opened her eyes to society’s waste crisis and environmental injustice. She hopes to share this same awareness through educational efforts, which she is able to accomplish through both How2Recycle and a current internship position she holds on the Climate Action team at Seaside Sustainability, another environmental non-profit. There she helps create informative resources for the public based on research surrounding nature-based solutions within the U.S. Gillian loves to spend time in the outdoor spaces she seeks to protect, whether it be hiking, exploring, climbing, tending her garden, or simply putting her toes in the grass. 

What is your why?

Sustainability has become an integral part of my life in various capacities as I seek to improve my individual footprint and be a resource to guide others on the same journey. Climate anxiety is real, and in addition to ecosystems and wildlife, I worry a lot about communities who are disproportionately affected by climate change and environmental injustice. I believe we have a duty to be stewards of the planet, and one crucial way to do this is by taking responsibility for the enormous quantity of waste generation that has become the norm in the oceans, communities, and landfills. Encouraging conscious awareness about the life cycle of a package from design conceptualization down to its end life can help make recycling a more feasible, efficient, and less confusing resource for both producers and consumers. I’m proud to be a part of a project that leads this initiative by prioritizing the education and guidance necessary to facilitate this work.