Molly Kathleen is committed to recycling.
Ohio University alumna Molly Kathleen ’08 works to address recycling and solid waste challenges in Ohio.
An environmental planner with GT Environmental, Kathleen earned a B.S. in Environmental Geography from the College of Arts & Sciences at Ohio University.
Geography’s eight specialized majors provide a foundation for understanding the complex political, economic, and cultural dynamics of contemporary environmental challenges. Kathleen reflects on her path toward a career addressing a pressing environmental issue that connects Ohio to the rest of the world.
Career in Recycling Began at OHIO
Kathleen began her career in waste management and recycling at OHIO’s Department of Recycling and Refuse (Campus Recycling) when she was a student at OHIO. “After graduating with a B.S. in Environmental Geography, I moved to Columbus and a fellow Ohio University Geography alum introduced me to GT Environmental Inc., where I was hired as an Environmental Planner in the Solid Waste Business Unit,” she says.
Molly Kathleen
“GT is an environmental consulting firm specializing in solid waste and recycling planning, air permitting, and brownfield redevelopment. At GT, my work focuses on solid waste management planning, waste stream characterizations, strategic resource management, facility feasibility analysis, and GIS mapping and analysis. Recently, I was fortunate to have an opportunity to assist with the development of the Athens-Hocking Solid Waste District’s 15-year Solid Waste Management Plan, which is currently in the process of being ratified. I was thrilled to work on a project for my alma mater’s waste district and have a chance to touch base with one of my past Geography professors, Dr. Bain, who serves on the District’s policy committee. Being an OU Geography student shaped my career path and gave me the tools and connections I needed to succeed in my field.
“In addition to my work with GT, I serve as the vice president of the Association of Ohio Recyclers, which is a non-profit organization that promotes waste reduction, reuse, and recycling. I also volunteer as a young professional chapter liaison for the Ohio Buckeye Chapter of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) to help new professionals get involved in the recycling and solid waste community.”
Dedicated to Reducing Reliance on Landfills
“Early in my education as an OHIO Geography student, I took an Environmental Geography class with Dr. Buckley. We took a field trip to the Athens-Hocking Reclamation Center Landfill. Seeing such an enormous quantity of materials (that still had value) being disposed in a landfill made such an impression on me that I decided that day that I wanted to dedicate my career to reducing reliance on landfills and increasing recycling,” Kathleen says.
“A recent global issue currently affecting recycling is China’s National Sword policy, which drastically reduces the amount of allowable contamination in imported recycling. China consumes more than half of the world’s scrap paper and is a major consumer of other recyclables. The effects of this new policy are being felt by recyclers in Ohio and across the globe. Recycling and waste management is a constantly evolving field, which is heavily impacted by politics, the economy, and new technology. A well-rounded education that gives you a knowledge base in areas outside of your main focus is important and will help you adapt to changes in your field when they inevitably occur.”
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