The goal of this year's Circular Water Economy Summit, hosted by the Water Environment Federation in Dallas, Texas, July 15--17th, was "fostering collaboration on sustainable solutions to water challenges". The event brought together speakers from around the nation, and it featured a CSI-led panel that explained the benefits of industrial symbiosis.
CSI's Executive Director, Rhys Roth (pictured on the left), moderated the panel which also featured Benedikte Borg Pedersen (right), from the Embassy of Denmark in the United States; Representative Mike Chapman (middle right) of the Washington State Legislature; and Steve Worley (middle left) from the City of Vancouver, Washington.
The panelists covered many aspects of industrial symbiosis (IS) in the Pacific Northwest. From policy, to practice, to successful implementation of projects. After brushing up on the concept of IS, water leaders in the audience were invited to brainstorm opportunities to deploy it in their home contexts during a highly energized set of table discussions.
Washington's IS Background
In recent years three dozen bipartisan Washington state legislators participated in study tours in Denmark, where they observed IS in action. These legislators saw clearly how Denmark’s IS model can benefit industries in a wide range of Washington communities, and deliver substantial economic, environmental, and social benefits for Washingtonians. Legislators were especially inspired by Kalundborg, Denmark – home of the world’s oldest and most advanced industrial symbiosis, where over two dozen resource-sharing agreements are delivering very substantial economic and climate returns.
Working collaboratively, these legislators have led successful efforts to make strategic investments to seed and grow IS in Washington, adopting the nation’s first statewide IS grant program and investing over $10 million to help catalyze IS projects throughout the state. Meanwhile, Oregon policymakers and business leaders are moving aggressively on IS, inspired by Denmark study tours as well.
What's Next?
In September, CSI will bring two dozen Pacific Northwest (PNW) wastewater leaders on a first-of-its-kind ‘Wastewater Symbiosis’ study tour in Denmark, kicking off a long-term knowledge exchange partnership between wastewater sector leaders in the PNW and Denmark.
At CSI, we look forward to continually building upon knowledge exchange relationships that we've developed with Denmark's expert practitioners, and we are especially excited to see the concept of IS spreading across the nation.
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