Environmental Speaker Tom Kemper Interviewed on KRLD Radio

Tom Kemper was recently interviewed on KRLD Radio.  He spoke about his motivation for founding Dolphin Blue and why it is important that businesses follow sustainable practices -- including buying office supplies with recycled content.  Hear the interview at http://www.krld.com/topic/play_window.php?audioType=Episode&audioId=3573414.

In the 1970's, the valley in which Kemper was raised was discovered to have been inundated with dioxin-contaminated and PCB-laden waste-oil. The spraying of  roads  by county contractors to reduce dust in the summer months was the irresponsible, chosen manner of disposal of the contaminated waste-oil.  Increased incidence of illnesses and birth defects was common after the spraying.

Tom's interest in sustainability was sharpened by a garbage-filled barge fiasco in 1987. The barge, filled with New York City landfill-waste, got national media coverage as it was sent to sea in search of a “dumping ground.” Finding a resting place for the barge’s content was unsuccessful due to an active citizenry.  Tom realized that citizens need to get involved at a grass-roots level if progress is to be made on protecting the environment.  Later, he started a successful movement in Dallas to provide curbside recycling and co-founded Sustainable Dallas.

During the Shakespeare Festival of Dallas in 1992, Tom collected, sorted, and bagged three hundred fifty 50-gallon bags of recyclable commodities in the three weeks of the festival. Kemper had little success in finding anyone to accept the materials for reprocessing. It was through this exercise he began to realize the true economics of recycling: the only way it works is when we choose products made from materials we place in the recycling bin.

Tom advocates for local economic and social sustainability as well as environmental stewardship.  Supporting small business is an effective way to create strong, vibrant economies in our communities.