Dr. Elizabeth L. Hewitt, Director of the Waste Data and Analysis Center (WDAC), was featured as a guest on “C4E Presents,” the podcast from Stony Brook’s Collaborative for the Earth. Hosted by Dr. Heather J. Lynch, Dr. Hewitt discussed factors that drive people’s decisions around recycling, energy use, and waste management.
In the approximately half-hour episode, Dr. Hewitt emphasized how more collective behavior towards climate change needs to occur, especially in urban environments. She highlighted that understanding social dynamics is key, noting, “Sustainability sits at the intersection of design and dynamics. It’s not just about where we live—it’s about how we live.”
The conversation also touches upon specific related topics, including: sustainable building practices, electric vehicles & congestion pricing, energy retrofitting & green standards, and collective behavior in urban spaces. The podcast episode offers valuable insights into how both individual choices and larger systemic designs influence our environmental impact. Listeners can find the episode streaming for free on Spotify.