Rahul Kulkarni, an MPP student at Harris Public Policy, worked at Plant Chicago, a local non-profit advocating for a circular economy. He focused on researching the current waste management and diversion landscape in Chicago and the United States and created a comprehensive report on the roadmap for transitioning towards a circular economy. Additionally, Kulkarni engaged with small businesses by making recommendations for how they could best divert their waste for greater economic and environmental impact.
“As someone who wishes to work in sustainable development, the internship helped me develop an understanding of environmental sustainability through a waste management lens, which I feel is often ignored. By advising these local businesses especially during a global pandemic, I grew a much deeper understanding for small businesses, and began appreciating their importance in the larger economy.”