EnviroBro Biography

Leonard E. Robinson is the proud father of three children, Ryan, Kyle and Lacy; all college graduates, and one grandson Demonte. He is driven by a deep relationship with God; love for humanity; and a passion for the environment. It was during his childhood when it was so smoggy that school children in the Los Angeles area were not allowed outside for recess that inspired his environmental journey.
He carried this passion into his adult life.To this end, Mr. Robinson stands as a beacon for humanityIn 1974 began his career in sustainability as Treatment Plant Operator and Engineering Technician for the Los Angeles County Sanitation Districts where he worked for eleven years. When he witnessed the burial of 7 million aluminum cans of soda buried at a landfill, the passion for recycling was stoked. In the spring of 1985 Mr. Robinson, was hired as Director of Operations for Industrial Waste Engineering and after three years launched his first sustainability consulting firm, Faith Waste Management.
From 1989 until 2004 Mr. Robinson worked as the Environmental/Safety Manager for TAMCO Steel where he was in charge of compliance with federal; state; regional; and local regulations pertaining to environmental protection and worker safety. While at TAMCO, he began two unique recycling campaigns. The first was a program to recycle used oil filters into steel reinforcing bar (rebar). The second was a program to recycle firearms confiscated by southern California law enforcement agencies into rebar called Project Isaiah gleaned from the reference in the bible to “beat swords into plowshares”. It was around this time that he also began lecturing at the college level and public speaking. TAMCO was and remains the only steel mill in California. A straw poll indicated that he had the toughest environmental job in California.
Originally appointed in 2004 by Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (California) as the Chief Deputy Director of the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), Robinson’s leadership and execution soon advanced him, first as the Federal Liaison for DTSC where he increased California’s share of Federal environmental protection resources, established and maintained ongoing relationships with agencies like the USEPA, United Nations, Department of Defense and Department of Energy; and then as Acting Director for the Cal/EPA–DTSC under Governor Jerry Brown. He was part of the executive team that developed the Green Chemistry Initiative and Climate Change Policy; the Take It Back! Partnership and also chaired the AB 1109 Lighting Efficiency and Toxics Reduction Task Force. During his political career as a gubernatorial appointee, Mr. Robinson was one of the highest-ranking African Americans in State Government and served four California Governors.
Robinson currently heads the Sustainability Practice for Strategic Counsel PLC. He provides environmental consulting services for both governmental and non-governmental clients focused on Green Economy areas that include Climate Change, Cap & Trade, Green Chemistry, Pollution Prevention, Recycling, Waste Management, Resource Recovery and Brownfields.
Not one to confine his purpose to a desk job, EnviroBro, as he’s commonly known, truly warrants being called “the hardest working man in the environment”. Robinson continues to enhance his impact by serving as President, VP, Chair, Board Member, Advisor and Lecturer for a myriad task forces and community activities. His aim is to preserve and restore the environment as much as possible, ensuring a Green Earth for generations to come. He is a much sought- after speaker and lecturer, combining an environmental evangelical fervor with a sense of humor.