2024 Session Line-Up

Pick up your attendee badge and conference materials or register on site.

Peruse the booths in our Exhibit Hall and make connections with your recycling peers.

Coffee, tea and breakfast provided to power attendees through the day’s schedule.

SPEAKERS

• Steve Alexander, President and CEO, Association of Plastic Recyclers

• Dylan de Thomas, VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs, The Recycling Partnership

• Katie Drews, Co-President and CEO, Eureka Recycling

MODERATOR: Myles Cohen, Founder, Circular Ventures, LLC

In this spirited and thought-provoking panel, we dive into one of the most debated questions in recycling today: who ultimately decides what materials are recyclable? Join our dynamic moderator, Myles Cohen, whose unconventional views are sure to spark lively discussions with our expert panelists, each bringing their own perspectives from industry, policy, and community engagement. While the panelists advocate for a collaborative approach, Myles will challenge them on whether true consensus can be reached across stakeholders.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Leslie Lukacs, Executive Director, Zero Waste Sonoma

• Linda Norris-Waldt, Deputy Director, US Composting Council

• Edward Wansing, Owner/COO, The Compost Company

MODERATOR: Nora Goldstein, Editor, BioCycle

Compostable alternatives to single-use packaging are referenced in state and federal policies — including EPR laws — aimed at reducing plastic pollution and contamination in the recycling and composting streams. Two key questions arise with this trend: Can the U.S. food waste composting infrastructure manage the potential influx of compostable packaging? And do these products successfully disintegrate during the composting process?

This session will cover:

• Assessment of U.S. food waste composting infrastructure and its acceptance of compostable packaging.

• Quantifying disintegration of food-contact compostable packaging at U.S. composting facilities.

• Composter perspectives on pros and cons of compostable packaging acceptance.

SPEAKERS

• Marisa Adler, Senior Consultant, RRS

• Beth Forsberg, SVP, Sustainability, Goodwill of Central & Northern Arizona

• Brian London, President & CEO, Whitehouse & Schapiro

MODERATOR: Antoinette Smith, Reporter, Resource Recycling, Inc.

Textile waste is an increasingly urgent environmental issue, with global production and consumption of textiles skyrocketing.

This session will cover:

• Overview of Textile Waste & Growth Projections: Discuss current levels of textile waste, its environmental impact and expected future increases.

• Current & Future Management Options: Explore existing recycling methods and emerging technologies aimed at addressing textile waste.

• Best Practices for Program Development: Provide actionable insights for creating and scaling effective textile recycling programs, focusing on collaboration, innovation and policy.

SPEAKERS

• Samantha Kappalman, Senior Consultant, RRS

• Karen Maynard, Solid Waste Education Manager, Louisville Waste Management District

• Joel Schoening, Senior Consultant, RRS

• Elisa Seltzer, Senior Consultant, RRS

• Annie White, Senior Consultant, RRS

Using outreach and education can foster behavior change to increase participation and decrease contamination in your recycling program. This dynamic workshop is designed to empower attendees with the skills and knowledge to effectively educate residents on how to recycle effectively! You’ll learn proven strategies for raising awareness, communicating key recycling guidelines and inspiring action within your community. With hands-on activities, expert insights and practical tools, you'll leave equipped to lead impactful outreach efforts and foster a culture of recycling.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer, Association of Plastic Recyclers

• Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy

• Darren Nichols, Consultant & Facilitator, Nichols & Irish LLC

• Kerrin O'Brien, Executive Director, Michigan Recycling Coalition

MODERATOR: Marissa Heffernan, Associate Editor, Resource Recycling, Inc.

SPEAKERS

• Angela Fox, Sustainability Manager, City of Royal Oak, Michigan

• Wayne Gjerde, Recycling Market Development Coordinator, Minnesota Pollution Control Agency

• Elisa Seltzer, Senior Consultant, RRS

• Elizabeth Chin Start, Founder, Start Consulting Group

MODERATOR: Lindsey Walker, Market Development, Commercial Accounts, Emmet County Recycling

Simply collecting and sorting recyclable or compostable materials does not make a circular economy. You need to have end markets that can reuse, repair or further process the materials into a form that can then be made into new and useful products.

This session will cover:

• The Role of End Markets in a Circular Economy: Learn why simply collecting recyclables isn’t enough and how strong end markets are essential for turning materials into new products.

• Environmental & Economic Impacts: Discover how circular economies can not only reduce waste and emissions, but also create jobs and stimulate local economies through material recovery and reuse.

• Innovative U.S. Initiatives: Hear about successful state-level programs and initiatives that are spurring material end markets, and how these can be replicated to build local circular economies.

SPEAKER: Andy Weins, Owner, Camo Crew Responsible Junk Removal

Enjoy a networking lunch with guest speaker Andy Weins, who will keep us company.

SPEAKERS

• Kate Bailey, Chief Policy Officer, Association of Plastic Recyclers

• Katie Drews, Co-President & CEO, Eureka Recycling

• Chaz Miller, CEO, CMA

MODERATOR: Anne Germain, Chief of Technical & Regulatory Affairs, National Waste & Recycling Association

Panelists will take to the main stage for a no-holds-barred discussion about the realities of EPR for packaging and the good, the bad and the ugly impacts it's having across the recycling value chain.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Alison Keane, President, International Sleep Products Association and Mattress Recycling Council

• Tom Metzner, Environmental Analyst, Connecticut DEEP

• McKenna Morrigan, Strategic Advisor, Seattle Public Utilities

MODERATOR: Resa Dimino, Managing Partner, RRS

Extended producer responsibility (EPR) policies are taking hold in various states in the U.S. These policies hold manufacturers responsible for the proper disposal or recycling of their products. This session will provide a short overview of current and pending EPR legislation and the range of non-curbside materials affected in the U.S. including tires, carpet, batteries, electronics, mattresses, solar panels, pharmaceuticals, paint and household hazardous waste (HHW). The panel, made up of representatives from across the U.S., will engage in a discussion of EPR impacts fed by questions from the moderator and audience.

SPEAKERS

• Thomas Ferretti, SVP, Operations, Balcones Resources

• Mylinda Jacobsen, SVP, Plastics, Encina Development Group

• Adam Lovewell, Process Engineer, Van Dyk Recycling Solutions

• Jed McDonald, Director, Corporate Development, AMP

MODERATOR: Colin Staub, Associate Editor, Resource Recycling, Inc.

This session will explore the increasing necessity for secondary sortation to enhance recycling quality and support the development of emerging end markets.

Enjoy a short break between sessions.

SPEAKERS

• Natalie Regennitter, Planner III, City of Austin - Austin Resource Recovery

• Elizabeth Taylor, Business Process Specialist, Austin Resource Recovery

In this participatory session, we’ll use the example of the City of Austin’s Fix-It Austin repair education program to explore how partnerships can be the answer to growing and improving your existing programs.

We’ll start with a brief presentation on the history and current status of the Fix-It Austin program, including an overview of the partnerships in development aimed at expanding the initiative. Attendees will then collaborate in small groups to select an example program and brainstorm strategies for growth. Each group will explore potential partnerships, craft a pitch to engage partners, and consider ways to allocate responsibilities.

SPEAKERS

• Scott DeFife, President, Glass Packaging Institute

• Tonya Randell, Public/Private Engagement Manager, Stina Inc

• Amy Uong, Senior Recycling Manager, Nespresso USA

MODERATOR: Becky Reichenbach, Recycling Marketing Manager, Rumpke Waste and Recycling

Small packaging formats, film and food-grade PP pose challenges to MRFs, and as such don't make it onto municipal recycling collection lists.

This session will cover:

• The tipping points for collection.

• Building the business case for MRF investment - what's the economic tipping point and deciding when it works and when it doesn't.

• How brand owners and other stakeholders are collaborating to drive market demand and move the needle on small format packaging recycling.

Hosted by the Coalition for High Performance Recycling (CHPR)

SPEAKERS

• Anja Brandon, Director, Plastics Policy, Ocean Conservancy

• Scott Breen, Senior Vice President of Sustainability, Can Manufacturers Institute

• Dylan de Thomas, VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs,The Recycling Partnership

• Megan Lane, Senior Manager of Circularity & Public Affairs, Ball Corporation

• Rebecca Thomas, Government Affairs & Sustainability Associate, Glass Packaging Institute

Join us for a collaborative session exploring producer-funded recycling systems that tackle packaging pollution, cut costs, and support a circular economy. We’ll focus on policies like extended producer responsibility (EPR) and recycling refunds (i.e., deposit return systems/DRS) that improve recycling quantity, quality, and convenience while addressing climate change.

This workshop offers an opportunity to share experiences, challenges, and successes, while engaging in problem-solving with expert facilitators. Together, we’ll explore innovative solutions and strategies to advance high-performance recycling.

Topics include:

• Performance outcomes of various policies

• Key components of effective recycling policies

• Navigating state politics and coalition-building

• Stakeholder engagement and legislative advocacy

• Open discussion on state-specific challenges and solutions

About the The Coalition for High Performance Recycling (CHPR)
CHPR is a diverse group of consumer brands, material manufacturers, packaging suppliers, trade associations, and ENGOs. Together, CHPR collaborates to advance a comprehensive policy model that incorporates both Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) for packaging products and a beverage container Recycling Refunds (also known as Deposit Return System/DRS or bottle bills).

Gather with your peers in our Exhibit Hall for our networking reception.