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Kathryn Walker
Kathryn Walker
Executive Director, Center for Sustainable Materials Management at SUNY ESF
Years in current role: 4
What sustainability initiative or environmental goal has your organization made the most progress on in the past year?
Over the past year, CSMM has made its greatest progress advancing statewide reuse and zero-waste systems. Through our Certify Circularity NY (C2NY) TRUE program, we supported businesses and institutions in reducing waste and improving material efficiency. We also continued major statewide research — including the NYS Recycling Systems Report and the Film Plastic Needs Assessment and launched a New York Vape Recycling Pilot. Together, these initiatives are shaping policy, guiding investment and strengthening New York’s path toward a circular economy.
What gives you confidence about how Rochester businesses and institutions are addressing environmental challenges?
I’m genuinely optimistic about the next generation of environmental leaders emerging from Rochester and the broader region. At CSMM and SUNY ESF, I have the privilege of working every day with staff and students who are sharp, solutions-oriented, and fearless in their creativity. They drive our research, data modeling, zero-waste technical assistance, reuse innovation, and statewide partnerships.
On the community side, Rochester Ecology Partners continues to deepen its roots and expand nature-based education, family programming, and neighborhood-level environmental engagement. Seeing young people grow their confidence, curiosity and connection to the environment gives me tremendous hope.
What area do you think needs more attention or collaboration to strengthen Rochester’s environmental future?
Rochester’s environmental future depends on stronger collaboration across public agencies, paired with clear leadership and moral investment from Monroe County. We have strong sustainability plans, but they only matter when resourced and acted on. Too often, environmental work is treated as optional rather than a lens for every budget decision. Our region has exceptional expertise, but silos and underfunding hinder its full potential. A county budget reflects our values, so if climate resilience and equity are priorities, our investments must show it. With shared commitment, we can build a regional climate fund, expand composting and reuse infrastructure, and support low-carbon innovation to truly lead.
