GM's landfill-free facilities

John Bradburn

Manager of Waste-Reduction Efforts, General Motors

John is manager of waste-reduction efforts at General Motors. In this role, he leads the company’s landfill-free initiative, which has resulted in 111 GM operations around the world that reuse, recycle, and convert to energy all waste from daily operations. John is an established expert in waste reduction and recycling, and frequently mentors other companies pursuing zero-waste goals.

John’s responsibilities also include directing the company’s design-for-the-environment program, implementing sustainable processes and technologies. He collaborates with suppliers, product and manufacturing engineers, and external stakeholder groups. Under John’s leadership, GM recycled or reused 84 percent of its manufacturing waste generated globally through various resource conservation efforts in 2013. Between 2000 and 2010, the company reduced non-recycled manufacturing waste by 73 percent.