Em Houck
Zero Waste & Circularity Planner City of Lakewood
Em J is the Zero Waste & Circularity Planner for the City of Lakewood, CO. Em J has 13 years in the waste industry working for state recycling organizations, recycling centers, hazardous waste handlers, zero waste consultancies and start-ups, and now local government. She is a graduate of Ellen MacArthur’s Circular Economy Pioneer Program, holds a Master’s of Public Affairs in Environmental Policy and Natural Resource Management, and spent a year living a Zero Waste lifestyle.
Seminars
Thursday 30th July 2026
Panel: Comparing Municipal Waste Diversion Approaches to Strengthen Circularity & Advance Deconstruction Pathways
9:30 am
- Clarifying how different cities structure diversion ordinances by examining material requirements, permit applicability and enforcement mechanisms
- Exploring deconstruction programs in Colorado and California and where opportunities exist to make deconstruction viable
- Preparing for future circularity and wildfire related diversion expectations
