With lingering difficulties for the economy, members of the American Sustainable Business Council (ASBC), including John Shegerian, chairman and CEO of Electronic Recyclers International (ERI), the nation’s leading recycler of electronic waste, met with President Barack Obama’s Economic Development teams last week to lay out innovative strategies and policies to build the U.S. economy.
Shegerian and his fellow ASBC members met with Don Graves, from the President’s Council on Jobs and Development; Greg Nelson, White House Office of Public Engagement; Ari Matusiak, White House Business Council; and numerous representatives from the National Economic Council, Council of Economic Advisors and Domestic Policy Council, Department of Labor, Department of Treasury, and the Office of Science & Technology Policy.
The ASBC members presented their ideas and opportunities to help drive a new economy and put Americans back to work. Positions on issues included small business access to capital, realistic tax policies, domestic manufacturing, energy and healthcare. Also discussed at length was the opportunity to grow businesses while growing goods and services that meet the needs of communities and the environment.
Shegerian described the tremendous opportunities provided by the electronics recycling industry and how there is great promise for job creation, more predictable and successful Homeland Security data protection, and of the growth of urban mining for metals, plastics, glass and “rare earth metals and magnets” in the ever deepening pool of unwanted consumer electronics.
“I’m humbled and honored to have been asked to share ERI’s experience and vision for the future alongside my fellow ASBC proponents of sustainable business before President Obama’s Economic Development teams,” said Shegerian. “Sustainability is a crucially important element of our DNA at ERI and something we have long championed in our own industry as well as others. To be able to share our perspectives and success stories with the economic brain trusts at our nation’s Capitol is hugely rewarding. We’re excited to be able to help them make a tangible difference in our economy, communities and environment.”