Notable Projects
1991
Created and instructed the inaugural MBA course "Business and the Environment" for the UCLA Anderson Graduate School of Business Management. This pioneering course focused on integrating environmental considerations into business decision-making processes, and it received funding support from the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the United Nations (UN).
1991
EcoTelesis was established with a clear mission, initiated through a commission from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Its primary objective was to drive advancements in environmental technology and education, thus making a significant impact in the field of environmental science and sustainability.
1991-1993
We developed the methodology and provided oversight for the most comprehensive "generator-based waste composition study" for the City of Los Angeles. This groundbreaking study served as the foundation for the establishment of the State of California Uniform Waste Characterization Method, setting an industry standard in waste management and characterization practices.
Designed the prototype solid waste characterization database for CalRecycle, facilitating the projection of tonnage and material characterization for the non-residential sector in every city and county across the State of California. This pioneering effort laid the groundwork for the present-day CalRecycle Waste Characterization Database.
1994
1995
Supporting the City of Los Angeles by providing assistance in the development of a comprehensive baseline waste characterization study for their solid waste management initiatives. Our involvement in this endeavor marked a significant contribution to the city's efforts to better understand and manage its waste streams, ultimately working toward more sustainable and effective waste management practices.
1996
The EcoTelesis team successfully completed the course materials for the UCLA Recycling and Municipal Solid Waste Management Program Certification. These courses, after meticulous development, now serve as the cornerstone of the program. Furthermore, there is an ongoing initiative to expand this program into an international online and hybrid-taught format, in collaboration with partner universities. This expansion endeavor is enriched by the collaboration of the Recycling and Waste Management industry partners and ARCS center founded by NASA and JPL.
1998-2000
Assisted the City of Los Angeles in the development of "Best Management Practices" guides tailored to various businesses and industries. These guides served as comprehensive resources for waste reduction, recycling, and waste management, aiding businesses in the city to adopt environmentally responsible practices and comply with waste-related regulations.
1998-2004
Provided assistance to more than 60 jurisdictions across California in revising their solid waste metrics through the implementation of New Base Year Studies. Additionally, our team played a pivotal role in collaborating with CalRecycle to formulate comprehensive guidelines for jurisdictions. These guidelines were specifically designed to help jurisdictions achieve a more precise and accurate determination of their solid waste metrics, ensuring better-informed waste management strategies and policies.
2006
Provided support to Toyota Motor Headquarters in the creation and execution of a comprehensive plan that ultimately led to the remarkable achievement of "zero waste to landfill." This endeavor included the provision of training and mentoring to both management and staff. As a testament to Toyota's dedication to environmental excellence, their achievement resulted in the prestigious recognition of the "Governor's Environmental and Energy Leadership Award" from the State of California.
2006
The EcoTelesis staff developed the statistical analytics tools and protocols specifically designed for Environmental Justice analysis. These tools were developed to support the Environmental Affairs Department and the Local Enforcement Agency of the City of Los Angeles in their efforts to ensure equity and justice in environmental matters.
2010
The EcoTelesis team organized an "international best management practices and technology assessment tour" on behalf of the US government, specifically the Department of Defense (DoD) and Navy. This tour spanned multiple countries, including Europe, Canada, Japan, Taiwan, and Australia. Its primary aim was to facilitate the transfer of cutting-edge technology and best management practices from these international locations to the United States, enhancing the nation's capabilities in this crucial domain.
2012
Designed the inaugural program for the "Sustainability Certification Program" at UCLA Extension. This pilot program served as a foundational step in introducing the concepts and practices of sustainability to a broader audience, equipping participants with valuable knowledge and skills in this vital field.
2012
The EcoTelesis team traveled with the members of the UCLA Recycling and Municipal Solid Waste Management Program Advisory Board on an international research tour. This tour was designed to assess and gain insights into the best management practices in waste and recycling from around the world, providing the advisory board with a comprehensive perspective on global approaches to waste management and recycling.
2012
Conducting a comprehensive national waste characterization study for the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. Additionally, our team provided valuable assistance in the formulation and development of their national zero-waste plan. This endeavor contributed to Saudi Arabia's efforts in managing its waste resources effectively and moving toward sustainable waste management practices.
2013
EcoTelesis staff participated in an independent review of the City of Los Angeles' progress toward its solid waste management goals. This effort resulted in the publication titled "City of Los Angeles Zero Waste Progress Report," which became the most downloaded zero-waste report. Notably, this report was also published by MSW Management Magazine and distributed to a broad audience, including over 25,000 municipal managers and industry professionals.
2014
Provided assistance to the City of Oxnard in the development of their Environmental Justice analysis and facilitated community stakeholder meetings as part of their zero waste plan, in coordination with the U.S. Navy. In this collaboration, we introduced innovative methodologies for "environmental education and communication." These methodologies played a crucial role in shaping the city's environmental mission statement, establishing goals and objectives, and defining the guiding principles that help achieve their environmental goals.
2018
Supporting the City of Los Angeles in the implementation of their substantial $3.5 billion commercial franchise hauling contract. Our focus was on the development of waste characterization methodologies and protocols for both the haulers and City-certified facilities. We conducted training sessions and provided oversight for the characterization studies carried out by the franchise haulers and processing facilities. This included the crucial task of determining the recovery rate of collection and processing activities to measure contract compliance.
Additionally, EcoTelesis contributed to the development of a comprehensive master waste characterization database for both haulers and certified facilities. Currently, we are actively involved in evaluating various approaches and applications for transitioning to cloud computing, further enhancing the efficiency and accessibility of waste management data and processes.
2021
Collaborated with NASA and Carbon Mapper to leverage satellite imagery for the assessment of methane emissions originating from landfills. Our approach involves combining these satellite observations with ground data collected from various grids within the landfill. By integrating this comprehensive dataset, we aim to develop tailored mitigation plans to reduce or eliminate methane emissions effectively. This collaborative effort will be even more effective as more satellite will be launched in the next few years.
2022
EcoTelesis launched its first high school outreach program, with the primary goal of inspiring high school students to engage in the study of environment and technology. The program achieves this by presenting students with real-world challenges and empowering them to discover innovative solutions using modern technology. This initiative offers a dual benefit: it provides students with a deeper understanding of these fields while simultaneously harnessing the creative potential of young minds to address longstanding issues within the industry. The 1st HS chapter started in 2022 at Fairmont Prep and with the hard work of members at the founding chapter, there are 4 chapters in 2023 and expect to have 8 chapters by 2024.
2023
Collaborating with the ARCS WATT (Worker and Technology Together) project, a groundbreaking initiative that emphasizes the synergistic relationship between workers and technology in the waste management and recycling sector. This project seeks to enhance industry practices by harnessing the capabilities of both skilled workers and AI and machine learning technology. EcoTelesis and the ARCS WATT project aim to drive innovation, improve efficiency, and ultimately contribute to more sustainable and effective waste management solutions. This collaboration represents a significant step toward shaping the future of the waste management industry through the harmonious integration of human expertise and technological advancements.
2023
Creating a series of courses on Recycling and Solid Waste Management, both in-person and online, for UCLA Engineering Extension and other universities. The demand for this training program came from industry, regulatory bodies, and government agencies. We are actively collaborating internationally to develop the curriculum, and our efforts are closely aligned with participants of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change. The development of the curriculum is being spearheaded by EcoTeleis staff and volunteers, who will also take on roles as instructors and professors for this training initiative.