Janet Hartzenberg

Interviews, People

Tagged with: #ecofriendly , #gogreen , #greenisgood , #handmade , #reuserecycle , #savingwaste , #startthechange , #sustainableliving , #zerowaste , Education , recycling , sustainability , youth

July 5, 2018, 12:56 pm

Janet Hartzenberg, RAK Recycles Outreach & Education Manager

1. What do you do?

I work for the Ras Al Khaimah Waste Management Agency to inform students, businesses, tourists, and residents regarding the need to protect, preserve and nurture our environment by looking closely at the waste that is created and how we can minimise, reuse or recycle this. The concept of source separation as the easiest and most efficient way to manage waste, is core to the message that I try to deliver.

2. What does sustainability mean to you?

Sustainability to me means, being able to continue doing something in an economically and environmentally viable way – in other words, being able to sustain your present behavior patterns and practices over time, without having to damage your environment or your economic situation.

3. What is rewarding about your job?

Every little bit that someone does to make a difference makes my heart skip and allows me to continue in the face of other negatives. The most rewarding thing in my work is to see students producing wonderful new ways to show adults how we can make a difference.

4. Educating youth on sustainability initiatives is essential. How do you go about this?

We need to teach our youth that they cannot keep taking, they need to look at creating a balance where taking and giving, or creating, will sustain their taking. In other words, our youth need to understand that the more we simple take, the more quickly our reserves will disappear.

5. What are you passionate about?

I am passionate about life. This means wanting to enjoy all that life offers and trying to improve what is being damaged by thoughtlessness, ignorance and at times, simple arrogance.