Zero Waste, Sustainability Job Types, and Trash Walkers with Ushma Pandya

Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR)

Environmental Professionals Radio (EPR)
Zero Waste, Sustainability Job Types, and Trash Walkers with Ushma Pandya
Nov 21, 2025
Nic Frederick and Laura Thorne

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Welcome back to Environmental Professionals Radio, Connecting the Environmental Professionals Community Through Conversation, with your hosts Laura Thorne and Nic Frederick! 

On today’s episode, we talk with Ushma Pandya, co-founder and partner at Think Zero about Zero Waste, Sustainability Job Types, and Trash Walkers.  Read her full bio below.

Help us continue to create great content! If you’d like to sponsor a future episode hit the support podcast button or visit www.environmentalprofessionalsradio.com/sponsor-form 

Showtimes: 
1:58 - Nic & Laura talk Scams
8:48 - Interview with Ushma Pandya Starts
17:48 - Different type of Partnerships
29:14 - Sustainability as a growing field
34:20 - Fieldnotes with Ushma!

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This podcast is produced by the National Association of Environmental Professions (NAEP). Check out all the NAEP has to offer at NAEP.org.

Connect with Ushma Pandya at https://www.linkedin.com/in/ushmapandya/ 

Guest Bio:
Ushma is a co founder and Partner at Think Zero LLC, a zero waste advisory firm that works with companies on their sustainability goals related to waste.  

Ushma has had a lifelong interest in sustainability and waste reduction. Before the term "zero waste" was coined, she was raising awareness about consumption and waste with her schoolmates and work colleagues.  

Prior to launching Think Zero, Ushma held senior management roles with American Express, Booz & Co., and Katzenbach Partners. She has worked on environmental issues with organizations such as the Environmental Defense Fund, the Department of Environment of the City of Chicago, and Acumen.      

Ushma is a board member of the Sanitation Foundation, the nonprofit arm of the NYC DSNY, the Manhattan Solid Waste Advisory Board (MSWAB) and the NYC chapter of the New York League of Conservation Voters. She was previously on the Board of Sustainable South Bronx, where she oversaw the for-profit subsidiary Cool Roofs that worked on cooling and greening roofs throughout NYC.   In addition, she sits on the Environmental Protection Committee of Community Board 1, Manhattan.

Ushma holds degrees from Georgetown University, Columbia University and Harvard University. She is certified as a TRUE Zero Waste Business Associate by GBCI and a LEED Green Associate.

Music Credits
Intro: Givin Me Eyes by Grace Mesa
Outro: Never Ending Soul Groove by Mattijs Muller

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