Andrew Kays is the Deputy Director of the Northeast Maryland Waste Disposal Authority (“Authority”) and has almost 15 years of experience in the solid waste and renewable energy industry. He joined the Authority after five years with McCormick and Company, where he worked in quality assurance. His main responsibility was monitoring food safety and environmental and sanitation compliance for one of the company’s production facilities. Additionally, Mr. Kays worked on process improvement projects and was a member of the plant’s safety committee.
At the Authority Mr. Kays was involved in several procurements for multi‐year management of solid waste and recyclables for member jurisdictions. He was the staff member assigned to develop and manage the construction of two solar projects. The Montgomery County Transfer Station Project was completed in March of 2011. The New Cut Road Landfill Solar Project (in Ellicott City, Howard County) was completed in December 2011. This solar project provided over 90% of the energy needs of an adjacent elementary school during the first year of operation. Mr. Kays was part of the nation-wide stakeholder group that reviewed the draft zerowaste resolution for the Municipal Waste Management Association in May of 2015. The resolution was adopted by the US Conference of Mayors in June of 2015.
Mr. Kays earned a Master’s of Science degree in environmental science and policy from The Johns Hopkins University and a Bachelor of Science degree in biology from Loyola College (now Loyola University Maryland).