Maeen Akter, a PhD student at Stony Brook University’s Waste Data and Analysis Center in the Department of Technology and Society, has been awarded the 2023-2024 Floyd Hasselriis Scholarship by the American Society of Mechanical Engineers – Materials and Energy Recovery Division. The scholarship, totaling $2800, has been granted to support Maeen’s research endeavors in Textile Solid Waste Management for Environmental Protection. The scholarship distribution includes a $2000 allocation for Maeen, aiding his academic pursuits, and an $800 contribution to the Department of Technology and Society for further research projects in the field.
Maeen’s success was attributed to his research addressing the critical issue of textile waste. In the United States, more than 85% of post-consumer textiles end up in landfills, posing a significant environmental challenge. Maeen’s work investigates the flow of textile solid waste in New York City (NYC), covering aspects such as generation, collection, and reuse, and recycling infrastructure, technology, and policy. Given NYC’s status as a global fast fashion capital, where residents dispose of over 200,000 tons of clothing annually, Maeen’s research aims to identify gaps in the current system and develop recommendations for improving textile waste management.
Maeen Akter follows in the footsteps of past recipients Krista Greene (2013-2014) and Lori Clark (2016-2017), highlighting the scholarship’s tradition of recognizing outstanding Department of Technology and Society contributions to the field of solid waste management.
As Maeen takes on this opportunity, the hope is that his research will bring valuable insights and contribute to the ongoing efforts to enhance sustainability in textile waste management, ultimately fostering a more circular materials management process and so a more environmentally responsible future.