Supporting Future Leaders in Waste Management: A Collaboration with University of Richmond Students

At CHESIEMES Group, we believe in the power of education and collaboration across all levels. That’s why we were excited to recently support a group of sophomore students from the University of Richmond, Jasmin Aberle and Emerson de Leon Álvarez working on a project for their biology class titled "Pollution & Waste Management in Puerto Rico."
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As part of their research, the students explored the complexities of waste management on the island, analyzing environmental hazards such as open dumping, landfill overcapacity, limited recycling, and the presence of hazardous materials. They also explored the challenges of enforcement and funding at both local and federal levels.

In their efforts to deepen their understanding, they reached out to Kristyn Oldendorf of the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) and highlighted her insights on ongoing education efforts, pollution awareness strategies, and the emerging risks associated with PFAS. This was particularly meaningful to us, as our own team has been involved in founding and actively supporting the SWANA Caribbean Chapter and many of the educational initiatives she referenced.

Their presentation also highlighted our firm’s recent participation in Puerto Rico’s Integrated Solid Waste Management (ISWM) Plan as well as our ongoing efforts in capacity-building and sustainability through projects like Educating Educators on Technology and Climate Resilience.

We're proud to share their work and to know that the next generation of environmental professionals is actively engaging with real-world issues. You can view their full presentation here: 

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