2022 Kappe Lecturer: Wendy A. Wert, P.E., BCEE 2022 Vice President, AAEES

For decades, the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts and its partners have undertaken activities that reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions to help protect the environment and provide for a more sustainable world. Most of these initiatives produce green power which reduces use of fossil fuels, a main contributor to global GHG emissions. Another key initiative is recycling water, which reduces the need to import water and the associated energy required to import water, the largest single energy use in the State of California. This lecture discusses seven initiatives: biogas-to-electricity alternative fuels commodities recycling water recycling biosolids management food waste diversion green waste diversion The combined GHG reduction from these initiatives for 2021 was over 362,000 metric tons of carbon dioxide equivalents (MTCO2e). This is equivalent to taking 78,000 cars off the road. Come discover how the Sanitation Districts achieved carbon neutrality for the 2021 calendar year. And help us find more ways to reduce GHG emissions to make our communities more sustainable.

About Wendy Wert:

Wert is a Board Certified Environmental Engineer with the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts. For the past 21 years, she has been working on programs that rely on public participation to integrate water supply, water reuse wastewater facilities planning. She received a B.S in environmental engineering and an M.S. in water resources engineering from the University of Central Florida (UCF). Her studies gave her opportunities to collaborate with others. It was during this time that Wendy developed an interest in effectively communicating math and science to diverse groups. Today, she uses her position as an engineer to support outreach and education programs that explain how the work of the Sanitation Districts identifies community needs then applies engineering and scientific principles to meet them. Wendy is an award-winning transformative leader anchored in integration, innovation, and inclusion. Wendy’s journey started on a farm in Pennsylvania. Her father was a Navy veteran, and her mother is a retired school teacher. Wendy’s mentor Debra Reinhart, Ph.D., P.E., BCEE, encouraged her to join the Academy. Wendy joined in 1997 and discovered a network of peers to help meet the challenges of our field. Family and mentors continue to inspire her career.