I am new to the City. I started with Solid Waste Services on November 5, 2001. Before that I was with UMA Engineering Ltd., in Calgary, since 1990. My current title is Waste Management Engineer. My job description reads:Reporting to the Manager, Strategic Planning and Design, the Waste Management Engineer is responsible for ensuring that long-range and strategic initiatives within the Business Unit are properly researched, developed and implemented; ensuring that existing waste diversion programs are effective, efficient, and meet internal and external customer expectations. More specifically, the Waste Management Engineer will:- Identify, research, develop and implement new waste management initiatives related to waste collection, disposal and diversion. This will involve conducting research and engineering assessments; developing, implementing and evaluating studies and pilot programs; preparing and tracking budgets for studies, pilot programs, and the implementation of new waste management initiatives;- Coordinate current waste diversion programs including establishing and monitoring budget; ensuring adequate labour and equipment are available; liaising with field staff end external stakeholders; tracking program effectiveness, ensuring program advertising; and providing overall coordination;- Coordinate the Business Unitís Environmental Management System (EMS) by leading a team of Solid Waste Services staff in developing and implementing the program, and will participate on a team to develop a corporate wide EMS and ensure consistency across business units;- Provide technical information and advice to a wide range of internal and external customers.One of the first projects that I have been asked to implement for the spring of 2002 is a residential organics pilot, where City forces will be testing different ways of getting residents to reduce yard waste by enhancing their knowledge and remove barriers for them to do grasscycling and backyard composting. We also will be trying out different collection techniques for leaf and yard wastes(kitchen organics will not be collected, but will be encouraged in backyard composting). I think I will be usingthis web site to get some of the ideas about communications, norms and prompts.In the long term, I am interested in encouraging the ICI sector more interested in waste diversion programs. In a study I worked on in 2000 regarding characterizing the composition of the ICI waste stream, we found that ICI waste generators have a significant potential to reduce organics, papers and plastics in the waste stream.-John LeszkowiczNovember 27, 2001