CRI - Staff & Consultants
Founded in 1991, CRI has become recognized as the expert source for information on container recycling and container deposit systems, and plays a vital role in educating policymakers, government officials, and the general public regarding the social and environmental impacts of the production and disposal of one-way beverage containers. CRI also works to debunk myths about container recycling promoted by the beverage, retail, and container manufacturing industries.
Susan V. Collins, President
Susan has spent 23 years advising over 80 municipalities on municipal solid waste and recycling programs and sustainability issues. She recently completed an extensive international research project comparing the financial, operational and policy aspects of container deposit and packaging systems in California, Germany and the Canadian provinces of Ontario and British Columbia. She spent nine years on the board of the California Resource Recovery Association, has a B.S. in manufacturing engineering from Boston University and an M.B.A. from UCLA. Susan is a board member of the National Recycling Coalition (NRC), and serves on the Recycling Jobs Task Force and the NRC policy and finance committees.
Sue Herrschaft, Programs Manager
Sue joined CRI in February as Programs Manager, where she is developing CRI’s educational webinar series and membership program. Sue brings a wide variety of experience in operations, consulting and public policy - and a passion for the environment. She has spent the last four years using this experience to assist organizations in improving their operational and resource efficiency and promoting the concept of zero waste. Sue holds a BS degree from UCLA and an MBA from LMU. She is also a graduate of the certificate program in recycling and resource management from CRRA and is completing the Global Sustainability program at UCLA.
Jason Medbury, Webmaster
Jason has spent the last five years as Technical Director for the educational company Freshi Media, which brings digital media literacy to children around the world. A graduate of UCLA and partner in the Media Barons Creative Services, Jason has worked on projects and programs with Monster Digital, Grand-Am and ALMS Series Racing, Movies with a Message and the International Family Film Festival. Jason is excited to work with CRI and extend his knowledge and skills to the organization and its message.
Christa Nuber, Writer / Public Relations
Christa S. Nuber brings more than 10 years of professional writing and editing expertise to her work for CRI, which marks her first foray into the world of container recycling. Christa’s previous articles, covering everything from healthcare to education, have appeared in a range of publications and websites. Her news releases have garnered media coverage in Newsweek, The Wall Street Journal and The Los Angeles Times, among others. She holds a Master of Arts in International Relations-African Area Studies from UCLA.
Candace Lee, Intern
Candace began as an intern for CRI in the summer of 2011. She is pursuing a Bachelor's in Environmental Science at UCLA and has a strong interest in environmental research and policy. She has interned for State Senator Fran Pavley and currently interns for the California League of Conservation Voters. Candace also assists with Engage, one of the nation's largest energy conservation behavioral studies conducted by the UCLA Institute of the Environment.
Chris Sparnicht, Web Consultant
Chris started in the environmental non-profit world working as office administrator for The GrassRoots Recycling Network in 1998. Since then he has branched out to help other non-profits develop concise, clear and easily navigable websites as a consulting webmaster. In coordination with CRI staff and interns, he has helped develop the general look and feel of CRI's two websites, container-recycling.org and bottlebill.org. Chris has been married for 16 years, and is currently pursuing a Masters in Landscape Architecture at the University of Georgia in Athens.
Patricia Franklin, Founder and retired Executive Director
CRI notes with sadness the passage of our founder and friend
A former teacher and political activist, Pat founded the Container Recycling Institute in 1991 after advocating for container deposit legislation at the local, state and national level for 15 years. Pat was recognized as an expert on container recycling and bottle bills, and had spoken and written widely on the issue. She had served on numerous local and national boards, including the Virginia Forestry Board (as an appointee of Governor Gerry Baliles), the Parks and Conservation Association Advisory Board, the National Recycling Coalition, the Virginia Forum, and the American Forum.