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MONDAY           TUESDAY           WEDNESDAY

Monday, November 7

8:00 am - 12:00 pm      Tours

Tour #1--Pratt MRF and Paper Mill

Tour Leader: Abbey Patterson, RRS

Pratt is America’s 5th Largest Corrugated Packaging Company and the world’s largest, privately-held 100% recycled paper and packaging company, with more than 6000 highly-skilled, green-collar employees dedicated to the environment and sustainability

Conyers, Georgia-based Pratt Industries celebrated the opening of its new material recovery facility (MRF) in Conyers, Sept. 17, 2015. The system was engineered to recover mixed fiber, though it has the flexibility to process single-stream and commercial and industrial material, as well as commercial OCC (old corrugated containers). The facility is located on a campus owned by Pratt Industries, a private company specializing in 100 percent recycled fiber packaging. One of the company's three paper mills is located next to the MRF.


Tour #2--Strategic Materials Glass Recycling Facility and Owens-Illinois Bottle Plant  

Tour Leader: Lynn Bragg, GPI

Strategic Materials processes recycled glass and plastic for use in a wide array of products, creating efficiencies for their customers while conserving earth's natural resources. 

Strategic Materials is the largest glass recycler in the United States. Strategic Materials takes in raw glass stock that has high levels of contamination and reduces that contamination down to manageable percentages. Our high-tech quality and cleaning processes result in a 99.5% nationwide acceptance rate from our customers. 

As makers of glass, the world’s most natural and sustainable packaging, O-I has incorporated sustainability into their business practices for more than a century. Their 19 North American plants in the United States and Canada create iconic glass containers for the food, beer, wine, spirits and non-alcoholic beverage industries and are the leading producer of glass packaging in the region. 



10:00 am – 12:00 pm NRC Workshop on Sustainable Materials Management

The NRC adopted SMM Strategy stressed NRC's role was to help get Recyclers (reuse, recycling, composting and related professionals) at the table with manufacturers and product designers. 

Gary Liss, Co-Chair, NRC SMM Committee

Gary Liss has over 43 years of experience in solid waste and recycling. Mr. Liss was a founder and past President of the National Recycling Coalition, a current Boardmember, Co-Chair of the NRC Sustainable Materials Management Committee and organized the NRC SMM Summit in 2015.  He is a leading advocate of Zero Waste and is Vice President of the US Zero Waste Business Council and Zero Waste USA. He has also recently helped on developing an electronic guide on Managing and Transforming Waste Streams Tool for USEPA. He served on Town Council in his hometown of Loomis, CA and was Mayor in 2010. He has a Master in Public Administration degree from Rutgers University and Bachelor in Civil Engineering (Environmental Engineering major) from Tufts University.


Cheryl Coleman, US EPA

Cheryl Coleman is the Director for the Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division (RCSD) within the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery at the U.S. EPA. The RCSD is responsible for: promoting the reduction, reuse, recovery and recycling of municipal, industrial and extractive wastes and the long term sustainable management of these materials; establishing collaborative partnerships with businesses and State, territorial, and local governments; and, developing policy, technical guidance, tools, and public information on sustainable materials management.

Ms. Coleman is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, VA. She did further graduate work at Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, and earned a Master's degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. Ms. Coleman has over 30 years of experience with materials/waste management. She came to U.S. EPA Headquarters from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control where she was the Director of Compliance and Enforcement for waste programs and mining. Additionally, she served in several leadership capacities for the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO).


Katie Wallace, New Belgium Brewing Co.

Katie Wallace is the Assistant Director of Sustainability at 100% employee-owned New Belgium Brewing Co., where she has been for 12 years. In her role, Katie helps to lead Sustainability and B Corp efforts as they relate to operations, company culture, community engagement, supply chain, and brand. She sits on the management team at New Belgium, co-founded the Glass Recycling Coalition, and co-chairs the sustainability committee for the Brewers Association.


Gloria Hardegree, Georgia Recycling Coalition

A native Atlantan, Gloria Hardegree is serving her 17th year as Executive Director of the Georgia Recycling Coalition (GRC), the state’s 501c3 recycling organization celebrating its 25th anniversary in 2016. She is involved at the local, state, regional and national level on advisory boards and steering committees. Prior to joining GRC, she was a partner in a yard trimmings composting company and set up some of the early curbside residential recycling programs for a local hauler in metro Atlanta. She holds a: Bachelor’s degree in Education from Oglethorpe University and a Master’s Degree in Educational Curriculum & Instruction from Georgia State University.



1:00 pm – 1:10 pm Welcome

Introduction given by Gavin Adams, SERDC Chairman

1:10 pm – 1:50 pm Recycling at a Crossroads (view presentation)

The opening keynote is Robin Wiener, President of the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries. She will explore the current market situations and the need to continuing the supply of material to manufacturing, even if cities are paying to have single stream processed.

Keynote Speaker: Robin Wiener
ISRI
 


Robin Wiener, ISRI

Robin leads the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, Inc. (ISRI), in Washington DC which represents approximately 1,600 private, for-profit companies in approximately 36 countries.  She joined ISRI in 1989 directing the environmental compliance activities and was appointed executive director in 1997 and then President in March 2000.  

Robin was appointed to the Industry Trade Advisory Committee on Steel (ITAC-12) by the Secretary of Commerce and the United States Trade Representative. She also serves as Chairwoman on the NMVTIS Advisory Board.

Robin currently serves on the Boards of SERI, and the National Recycling Coalition.  She is a Past Chair of NAM, is a member of the Key Industry Associations Committee (KIAC) of ASAE, and of the U.S. Chamber Committee of 100.  She is also a Director of the International Environment Council of the Bureau of International Recycling in Brussels, a member of BIR’s E-Scrap Steering Committee, and serves on the Steering Committee of Electronics Recycling Asia and on the Jason Learning Board.

Ms. Wiener earned a J.D. degree cum laude (Georgetown University Law Center), her B.S.E. degree in chemical engineering (University of Pennsylvania), and is co-author of the RCRA Compliance & Enforcement Manual (Shepard’s McGraw-Hill, 1994) as part of its Environmental Law Series.



1:50 pm – 3:00 pm Session 2: What’s Wrong With Our Financials

Information will be provided by three different perspectives (hauler, processor and end-user) on how the financials regarding recycling are pat of the current crossroads we are in.

Moderated by Robin Wiener, ISRI

Susan Robinson, Waste Management (view presentation)

Susan Robinson is public affairs director for Waste Management. She has worked in the environmental industry for 30 years in roles that span the public sector, non-profit, consultancy, and more than 20 years in the private sector.

Her experience includes global commodity marketing, research and analysis of industry trends and 20 years managing municipal solid waste and recycling contracts. Susan has worked for Waste Management since 1999, with much of her time interfacing with local governments and implementing new municipal programs.

She currently works with Waste Management’s recycling, innovative technology and fleet teams, supporting the company’s transformation from disposal to a materials management company. She is responsible for the company’s public policy efforts to support this transition.

Susan is on the Board of Directors of Ameripen and the American Biogas Council, served on the Washington State Governor’s Beyond Waste Working Group and is past president of the Washington State Recycling Association. She attended Stanford University and the University of Washington and holds degrees in applied earth sciences and English. Her Master’s degree work in environmental studies is from the Evergreen State College.


Dave Lank, ReCommunity (view presentation)

David Lank is Director of Operations for ReCommunity Recycling, headquartered in Charlotte, NC. He has worked in the recycling industry for eight years with experience in operations, engineering, and business development. Prior to joining ReCommunity, Lank worked in operations and engineering for various manufacturing industries. He is a graduate of Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute with a BS in Engineering.


Myles Cohen, Pratt Industries (view presentation)

Myles Cohen is currently President of Pratt Recycling. As the chief executive of this business, Cohen is responsible for Pratt’s network of recycling plants, its Material Recovery Facilities throughout the USA, as well as directing the sourcing for Pratt’s 100 percent recycled paper mills. Cohen’s team manages a variety of recycling activities - including collection and processing of paper, plastics, metals and other materials, operation of material recovery facilities (MRFs) and more. Additionally, he leads Pratt Industries’ “close-the-loop” initiative which assists Pratt’s customers in their environmental sustainability initiatives, enabling them to achieve their zero- landfill goals through improved recycling and waste-to-energy solutions.



3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Session 3: The Price is Right

Establishing a proper pricing model and efforts needed towards reducing contamination will be discussed. The Carton Council success story will be shared as well.

Moderated by Joe Czachowski, Trex

Michael Hoffman, Stifel (view presentation)

Michael Hoffman joined Stifel in 2014. Based out of the Baltimore office, Mr. Hoffman is a Managing Director in the Diversified Industrials sector, covering Environmental Services.

His past awards include ranking #2 in pollution control from Institutional Investor, Greenwich Associates, and Reuters.

Mr. Hoffman has been an analyst for more than 28 years, having also been an analyst with Wunderlich Securities, Friedman Billings Ramsey, Credit Suisse, Robertson Stevens, and Salomon Brothers. He was director of research at Wunderlich, president, chief operating officer, and director of research with Caris, deputy director of research, head of fixed income research and group head of diversified industrial research with FBR, and head of global value research at Credit Suisse.

Mr. Hoffman earned a B.S.E. from Widener University and an M.B.A. from the Johnson School at Cornell University. He is the 2001 owner/rider winner of the Maryland Hunt Cup, avid fly fisherman and errant golfer.


Mike Pope, Sonoco Recycling (view presentation)

Mike Pope is the President of Sonoco Recycling which operates recycling facilities primarily in the Southeast, including MRF’s for processing residential single stream, but also manages business nationally and supports Sonoco’s network of paper mills.  Sonoco Recycling supports a broad range of customers including municipalities, major retailers, manufacturers and Sonoco’s corporate packaging customers.  Supplying all of the fiber for Sonoco’s paper mills in the US and Canada as well as other major paper companies domestically and internationally by exporting materials around the world.  Mike is a graduate of Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada and has been working for Sonoco/Sonoco Recycling since 2003.  Mike and his family currently live in Florence, SC.


Derric Brown, EverGreen Packaging (view presentation)

Derric Brown is Director Sustainability for Evergreen Packaging headquartered in Memphis, TN.  Evergreen Packaging is the largest producer of paperboard-based gable top beverage packaging products globally and in the United States. He currently leads Evergreen’s sustainability programs including carton recycling and sustainable forestry initiatives. Derric has been involved with the Carton Council since 2009 to increase household recycling access and recovery of aseptic and gable top cartons. He has worked on the development and implementation of the Carton Council strategies and tactics used in this successful recycling campaign including school carton recycling programs. Derric currently serves as a Board Member for the Carton Council and The Recycling Partnership.



MONDAY           TUESDAY         WEDNESDAY


Tuesday, November 8

8:30 am – 10:00 am Session 4: Tools To Understand the Industry

Recent updates to several projects that are underway to assist program managers, collectors, processors and end-users will be shared.  

  • Roll out of the EPA Mapping Project update 
  • Update to the EPA's Economic Impact Study 
  • State of Curbside Recycling Report and Database

Moderated by Richard Chesley, SC DHEC 

Will Sagar, SERDC (view presentation)

Will Sagar is Executive Director with the Southeast Recycling Development Council.  He works from his home town of Hendersonville, North Carolina.

Will Sagar graduated from the University of North Carolina with a double major in Economics and Mathematics.  After selling the excavation business he built and operated for a decade, he was the Solid Waste Director for Transylvania County, NC for 16 years.  While there he started the recycling program, built the first lined landfill in Western North Carolina; implemented a Pay As You Throw program; established a permanent Household Hazardous Waste collection; and started an electronics recycling program.  Later with Henderson County, he started electronics collection and created a county energy accounting system.

Will is a Past President of the Board of Directors the Carolina Recycling Association.    For several years, he also chaired the Board of The Free Clinic of Transylvania County, which serves the medical needs of the uninsured. 


Ron Vance, EPA (view presentation)

Ron Vance is the Chief of the Materials Conservation and Recycling Branch in the Office of Land and Emergency Management at the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in Washington, DC. Mr. Vance oversees efforts related to materials measurement, sustainable packaging, green sports, and greening the federal government. Mr. Vance has more than 16 years of experience in developing, implementing, and evaluating measurement of materials management related efforts. Before joining EPA, Mr. Vance worked in consulting, non-profit, state government, and local government. Mr. Vance holds a M.S. in Environmental Science and Management from Duquesne University and a B.S. in Biology from Wake Forest University.


Jeff Meyers, The Recycling Partnership 

Jeff Meyers is the Director of Corporate Partnerships for The Recycling Partnership.  In his role, Jeff is responsible for expanding the mission of improving curbside recycling by bringing on new corporate members and helping meet the needs of current members.  Prior to Jeff’s current role, he managed sustainable packaging for Coca-Cola for North America.  In that capacity, Jeff helped establish The Recycling Partnership, which he later joined to help fulfill his passion to use his engineering skills to overcome business challenges in sustainability.  Jeff has business experience in oil & gas, petrochemicals, and has held various roles in manufacturing, strategy, finance, and business development prior to embarking on a career in sustainability.  Jeff has a degree in Chemical Engineering from Georgia Tech, is married, and has two children who are avid recyclers.



10:30 am – 12:00 pm Concurrent Sessions 5 (a): Organics – Cleaning Our Plate

A panel of representatives from leading food waste reduction programs. The U.S. Department of Agriculture estimates that nearly 50 million Americans, including 16 million children, are food insecure; 25 – 40% of food grown, processed and transported in the US will never be consumed with an estimated 40 million tons annually going into landfills. 

The US EPA and USDA jointly announced the nation’s first national wasted food reduction goal, calling for 50% reduction by 2030. These panelists will detail what is being done and what is on the horizon to reduce food loss in order to improve food security and conserve our nation’s natural resources.

Moderated by Jon Johnston, EPA

Cheryl Coleman, EPA ORCR (view presentation)

Cheryl Coleman is the Director for the Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division (RCSD) within the Office of Resource Conservation and Recovery at the U.S. EPA. The RCSD is responsible for: promoting the reduction, reuse, recovery and recycling of municipal, industrial and extractive wastes and the long term sustainable management of these materials; establishing collaborative partnerships with businesses and State, territorial, and local governments; and, developing policy, technical guidance, tools, and public information on sustainable materials management.

Ms. Coleman is a graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, VA. She did further graduate work at Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, and earned a Master's degree in Biology from the University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. Ms. Coleman has over 30 years of experience with materials/waste management. She came to U.S. EPA Headquarters from the SC Department of Health and Environmental Control where she was the Director of Compliance and Enforcement for waste programs and mining. Additionally, she served in several leadership capacities for the Association of State and Territorial Solid Waste Management Officials (ASTSWMO).


Hunt Briggs, RRS (view presentation)

Hunt is a project manager at sustainability consultancy RRS and leads the firm’s organics practice. He was a member of the project team that developed ReFED’s Roadmap to Reduce US Food Waste, evaluating the investment potential, feasibility associated with the most promising solutions for municipal source separated organics. Hunt received an MBA and an MS in Sustainable Systems through the University of Michigan.


Hannah Cather, Food Recovery Network (view presentation)

Hannah Cather is the Program Associate at Food Recovery Network (FRN).

She works with students and fellows to support the mission of fighting waste and feeding people on a daily basis​. FRN currently has 193 chapters across the country that have recovered more than 1.4 million pounds. HC (as the team calls her) enjoys drinking coffee, reading, making zines and talking to strangers. Farmers markets are her happy place, and she's always ready to cook a meal and share it.


Jeff Clark, Nat’l Restaurant Assoc. (view presentation)

Jeff Clark manages the National Restaurant Association’s Conserve program and environmental education efforts, acting as an environmental liaison to the restaurant industry. Before joining the NRA team, Jeff consulted to the Energy Star Commercial Food Service program where he promoted energy efficiency in restaurant kitchens and co-authored the Energy Star Guide to Restaurants. Jeff received his Bachelor of Science from the University of California, Santa Cruz and holds a Master of Public Policy from Duke University. Jeff lives near Washington, DC, is a part-time surfer, a full-time foodie, and an amateur photographer.



10:30 am – 12:00 pm Concurrent Sessions 5 (b): Glass – The Way It Is

This Introductory Session focuses on current conditions for glass recovery in the southeast and beyond.

Moderated by Rusty Angel, Machinex

Rusty has been with Machinex since 2011 and selling recycling-related equipment since 2002.  He oversees all sales activities in the Southeastern U.S. for the company.  He spends most of his business time in MRF’s all over the country either working on new projects or upgrading and improving current MRF’s.


Curt Bucey, Strategic Materials (view presentation)

Curt Bucey is focused on driving broad industry initiatives that will ultimately enable Strategic Materials to be one of the most influential companies in glass recycling in North America and abroad. 

Curt’s extensive experience of over 30 years in the glass and glass recycling industries range from time in glass container manufacturing and sales, to purchasing, operations, and sales of cullet from all types of suppliers and customers. He was integral in the expansion of the Strategic Materials Glass Division from 10 to over 40 locations and was part of the team that spun off Strategic Materials from a NYSE company into a private equity backed business.

Curt joined Strategic Materials in 1993. He has had many leadership roles at Strategic Materials including President, Glass Division & Chief Operating Officer: Chief Commercial Officer: Vice President of Sales and New Product Development; and General Manager –Central Region. Prior to joining Strategic Materials, Curt was employed by Anchor Glass, one of the Glass Division’s top ten customers and held many different leadership roles.


Katie Wallace, New Belgium Brewing Co. (view presentation)

Katie Wallace is the Assistant Director of Sustainability at 100% employee-owned New Belgium Brewing Co., where she has been for 12 years. In her role, Katie helps to lead Sustainability and B Corp efforts as they relate to operations, company culture, community engagement, supply chain, and brand. She sits on the management team at New Belgium, co-founded the Glass Recycling Coalition, and co-chairs the sustainability committee for the Brewers Association.


Myles Cohen, Pratt Industries (view presentation)

Myles Cohen is currently President of Pratt Recycling. As the chief executive of this business, Cohen is responsible for Pratt’s network of recycling plants, its Material Recovery Facilities throughout the USA, as well as directing the sourcing for Pratt’s 100 percent recycled paper mills. Cohen’s team manages a variety of recycling activities - including collection and processing of paper, plastics, metals and other materials, operation of material recovery facilities (MRFs) and more. Additionally, he leads Pratt Industries’ “close-the-loop” initiative which assists Pratt’s customers in their environmental sustainability initiatives, enabling them to achieve their zero- landfill goals through improved recycling and waste-to-energy solutions.


Abbey Patterson, RRS (view presentation)



1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Concurrent Session 6 (a): Organics – Digging Deeper

Tools and Resources: We’ll explore resources and the results of a recent NC study to assist us in effectively growing the organics recycling infrastructure, along with educating businesses and residents on how and why this is an important component of an integrated materials management plan. Then, hear overviews of three operational approaches to managing food residuals and other organics for higher beneficial use.

Moderated by Wayne King, ERTH Products

Wayne and his two sons are the principal owners of ERTH (Environmental Resource and Technology for Humanity) Products, LLC.  ERTH Products is one of the largest compost manufacturing facilities in the Southeastern United States.  The family also owns and operates Exceptional Products Inc. a sales and marketing company.      

Wayne is Vice President of the United States Composting Council (USCC)  where he is  currently serving as Co-Chair of the Council's Strategic Alliance Committee. Over the past 15 years he has served on the USCC Board in many capacities to include the Council's president in years 2009 and 2010.

Wayne was founding President of the Georgia Composting Association and served as Chairman of the Georgia Green Industry Association (GGIA) from 2003-2004. He also served as president of GGIA's Sales and Marketing Division from 2002-2003.  

Wayne currently serves on the board of the University of Georgia Odum School of Ecology, the Georgia Recycling Coalition, as well as the US Composting Council. He also serves on the Board of Advisors for companies Turning Earth and Elemental Impact.   


Ben Jarrett, Kimberly Clarke 

Ben Jarrett is the North American Sustainability Leader at Kimberly-Clark Professional, where he leads business development and innovation centered on Sustainability, including dynamic supply chain improvement, marketing strategy and green energy projects. Prior to his current role, he developed the Sustainability Strategy for Kimberly-Clark Professional’s North American Industrial Business.

He has spoken at a number of industry conferences, including Sustainable Brands, Sustainable

Purchasing Leadership Council and the Sustainable Packaging Coalition. He has also been a guest speaker at Emory University’s Goizueta Business School and Penn State’s Smeal College of Business.

Ben received his B.A. in Classical and Medieval Studies from Bates College and received his MBA from Goizueta Business School where he focused on Strategy and Marketing.


Jorge Montezuma, NC DEAQ (view presentation)

Jorge Montezuma, Engineer-In-Training, is the Organics Recycling Specialist for the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality. He provides non-regulatory technical assistance to organic waste generators and processors, serves on the board for the North Carolina Composting Council, and is an instructor for the US Composting Council’s Compost Operations Training Course. His work experience is a blend of environmental engineering, sustainable development, and community building. Jorge holds an environmental engineering degree from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo and a master’s degree in biological and agricultural engineering from NC State University.


Tom Mills, GreenShortz (view presentation)

I'm just a regular guy who wants to be green. And in my process of getting there (I've not arrived), I want to help others do the same. I am a media professional of 18 years, with an eight-year stint at an environmental engineering firm. My time there gave me an inside look at some of the technology behind protecting the environment and some of the reasons we need to do a better job. I'm also an former Scout. My time in the woods and on the rivers helped reinforce a love for nature and its importance.



2:00 pm – 3:00 pm Managing Food Residuals

Managing Food Residuals: Food Waste Reduction experts discuss the operational issues involved in managing food residuals.

Moderated by Wayne King, ERTH Products


Mario Bambardella, ATL Mayor’s Office of Sustainability


Bobbie DeWinter, Food Well Alliance (view presentation)


Jim Lanier, EarthFarms


Suki Janssen, Athens-Clarke Co. SW



1:00 pm – 2:00 pm Concurrent Session 6(b): Glass – The Crossroads

Technical Presentations from end users who currently have viable solutions for recovered glass.

Moderated by Lynn Bragg, GPI

Steve Whettingsteel, Krysteline (view presentation)

My extensive experience in developing specialised engineered solutions for the waste management sector, particularly in the recovery and refinement of glass has refined a strategy for approaching resource recovery from a clearer and more tangible perspective.

A hands on approach in the development of an International corporate strategy has reinforced a belief that all waste glass arising’s can and should be recovered with equal priority and importance.

My research and development experience amassed over 15 years in my earlier role as Technical Director at Krysteline culminated in a portfolio of technologies and a strategy which supports not only the recovery of glass for remelt but also the capability to produce high quality fully refined sands and powders for new and emerging global markets. Maximising the economic benefit of all glass no matter its size or quality dramatically decreases the carbon footprint of glass recycling, recovery and reuse whereby meeting the fundamentals of a circular economy.

When taking over as CEO and Managing Director of Krysteline Technologies in 2011 I prioritised my activities in the re-education of historical and misguided perceptions of how a glass recycling strategy could be applied across a modern global marketplace. I established with Krysteline a global distributor based engineering and sales network as well as cooperate with corporations and governments to increase their use of recycled products across a broad spectrum of markets defined by value, carbon impact and sustainability.

Continuous R&D activities have also resulted in the emergence of new technologies at Krysteline which improve the efficiency of processing and recovery of precious metals from slags as well as size reduction of a number of minerals and ores. The recent introduction of the highly innovative Pyro Drier for refinement of heavily contaminated glass will add credibility to recovery of all glass collected no matter its collection method or quality.


Maryse Vermette, EEQ (view presentation)

For more than twenty five years, Maryse Vermette has held management positions in public and private organizations involved in curbside recycling, pioneering developments in a field that has a significant effect on Quebecers’ quality of life. Ms. Vermette holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Urban Planning from Université de Montréal as well as an MBA, and has been President & CEO of Éco Entreprises Québec (ÉEQ) since 2008. She has been a Board Director of several socio-economic organizations and expert committees and, in 2014-2015, she co-chaired the advisory committee on residual materials set up by Quebec’s Minister of Développement durable de l’Environnement et de la Lutte contre les changements climatiques.

A sought-after speaker locally and abroad, Ms. Vermette contributes to the recognition of local expertise in extended producers responsibility, curbside recycling optimization and packaging ecodesign. Drawing from her experience as General Manager and Secretary-Treasurer of a Regional County Municipality in the Greater Montreal Area from 1988 to 2003 and as Director of Municipal Relations for Collecte selective Québec from 2003 to 2005, Ms. Vermette is able to use her in depth knowledge of municipal curbside recycling issues to build consensus among stakeholders in order to implement long-term solutions.


Nat Egosi, RRT (view presentation)

Nathiel G. Egosi, P.E. is President and Chief Executive Officer of RRT Design & Construction, a national leader in the engineering and construction of solid waste processing and recycling facilities.

Since founding RRT in 1989, Mr. Egosi has led the development and construction of over 400 material recovery facilities nationwide, and has pioneered the development of advanced technologies for the recycling, paper and solid waste industries. He is widely recognized as an expert in process engineering and equipment design for the recovery of materials from solid waste and refining them for re-use. Mr. Egosi is a registered Professional Engineer in 21 states and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in Civil Engineering from the Polytechnic Institute of New York (now NYU Polytech).



2:00 pm – 3:00 pm The Road to Success

Discussion focusing on collaborative efforts to help keep glass in recycling systems

Moderated by Michael Timpane, RRS

Mike Utz, Ripple Glass

Mike is a president and co-founder of Ripple Glass. He is also employed by Boulevard Brewing Company, in charge of technical direction for the company since 1998. Mike is a graduate of the University of Kansas and holds a Bachelor’s of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.


Mike Pope, Sonoco

Mike Pope is the President of Sonoco Recycling which operates recycling facilities primarily in the Southeast, including MRF’s for processing residential single stream, but also manages business nationally and supports Sonoco’s network of paper mills.  Sonoco Recycling supports a broad range of customers including municipalities, major retailers, manufacturers and Sonoco’s corporate packaging customers.  Supplying all of the fiber for Sonoco’s paper mills in the US and Canada as well as other major paper companies domestically and internationally by exporting materials around the world.  Mike is a graduate of Queen’s University in Ontario, Canada and has been working for Sonoco/Sonoco Recycling since 2003.  Mike and his family currently live in Florence, SC.


Curt Bucey, Strategic Materials


Jim Nordmeyer, Owens-Illinois

Jim Nordmeyer is Vice President of Global Sustainability, at Owens-Illinois Inc. (NYSE: OI). He is based at the company’s world headquarters in Perrysburg, Ohio.

As Vice President, Nordmeyer has responsibility for development and execution of O-I’s global sustainability strategy. This strategy aligns with O-I’s customers growing interest on sustainability, enhances business performance and supports the long-term growth of the organization.  Jim works collaboratively with internal and external stakeholders defining the priorities and resource requirements needed to drive sustainability throughout the organization. Additionally, he serves as the internal leader and “go to” expert for sustainability, monitoring emerging trends, programs and issues, and communicating and educating others on sustainability topics.

Nordmeyer joined O-I in 2006 and has held multiple roles including: Vice President, North America Supply Chain; Vice President Global ERP systems; Vice President, Global Business Processes; and most recently led the integration of the Vitro Food and Beverage business acquisition.

Before joining O-I, Nordmeyer spent 28 years in the chemicals and plastics industry with PolyOne, The Geon Company and BFGoodrich in various roles from environmental compliance to Director of Operations.

Nordmeyer is green belt certified in Lean Six Sigma and holds a Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology in Terre Haute, IN.  He serves on the alumni advisory board for Rose-Hulman and is the Vice President of the housing corporation for the Theta Kappa Zeta chapter of the Lambda Chi Alpha social fraternity.


Cheri Chastain, Sierra Nevada Brewing

Cheri Chastain is the Sustainability Manager for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.  Cheri has been with the company for 10 years and is responsible for educating employees on environmental issues and programs, maintaining and developing policies and projects related to renewable energy and energy efficiency, zero waste, alternative fuels, and water conservation and reuse.  Cheri also works outside Sierra Nevada’s walls on policy and advocacy issues relating to sustainability.  Cheri is currently a member of the City of Chico’s Sustainability Task Force, Co-Chairs the Brewer’s Association Sustainability Subcommittee, and a board member of the US Zero Waste Business Council.  Cheri has a BA and an MA in Environmental Geography.


Virginie Bussiere, Eco-Enterprises Quebec

Virginie Bussières is Éco Entreprises Québec’s Director, Communications and Public Affairs. She has over 15 years management experience in an international manufacturing corporation and as a consultant in well-known public relations agencies. She has a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications and Political Science from the Université de Montréal and an Executive MBA from the Université du Québec à Montréal, which provide her with a deep understanding of political, legal and business issues.  

Ms. Bussières’s proven experience in the development of communications strategies, government affairs and social responsibility, combined with her ability to mobilize high-performance teams and develop strong partnerships, are a great asset to ÉEQ and contribute to the strengthening of the curbside recycling system.



3:30 pm – 5:00 pm Session 7: Messaging

Message to the public – Countering the negative press on recycling - What drives negative press and how to counter recent stories.  How to promote the true cost of recycling vs not recycling. Getting the message to the decision maker(s) – Communicating the value of investing in recycling.

Moderated by Gavin Adams, ADEM


Bob Gedert, NRC (view presentation)

Bob is the current President of the National Recycling Coalition and has been involved in recycling and waste reduction programs since 1975. As the former Chief of Recycling for the State of Indiana, Bob wrote many state statutes supporting recycling efforts. With City of Fresno Department of Public Utilities, he increased the recycling diversion rate from 29% to 75%. Currently Bob is the Director of the Austin Resource Recovery Department for the City of Austin where he is working on the implementation of the Austin Zero Waste Plan.


Fran McPoland, Colling Swift & Hynes (view presentation)

Fran McPoland has over 30 years of Washington experience in the environmental arena. Currently she represents the 100% recycled paperboard and containerboard industries as the Vice President of the Paper Recycling Coalition (PRC), working with the firm of Colling, Swift and Hynes. She also serves as the Senior Environmental Advisor to the 100% Recycled Paperboard Alliance (RPA-100%). She maintains an active presence on Capitol Hill and with Federal agencies to encourage decision makers to act on behalf of the recycled paper industry.

She was appointed by President Clinton in 1995 as the nation's first Federal Environmental Executive, under the direction of the White House Council on Environmental Quality. In that capacity Ms. McPoland was responsible for all the recycling, waste prevention, and buy-recycled programs in the federal government. Because of her expertise in federal procurement practices, in 1998, she was also appointed by the President to Chair the “White House Task Force on Greening the Government through Waste Prevention, Recycling and Federal Acquisition”.

In addition to her other responsibilities, Ms. McPoland led the implementation of the Presidential Memorandum on Economically and Environmentally Beneficial Landscape Practices.

For over twenty-five years, McPoland has been an active member of the National Recycling Coalition and has been elected to serve on its Board of Directors three times. She is currently Chair of the NRC’s Policy Committee and a member of the Board of Directors Executive Committee. McPoland was one of the initial organizers of America Recycles Day and served as its Co-Chair for five years.

Prior to joining the Clinton Administration, McPoland served on Capitol Hill as a Senior Legislative Assistant on environmental issues for Congressman Esteban Torres (D-CA). While working for Congressman Torres, she was instrumental in the development of four market-incentives legislative initiatives for recycled content products. This successful bi-partisan approach attempted to solve the collection and market problems for 'orphan' commodities such as oil, tires, lead acid batteries, and newsprint. Before that she was an Environmental Legislative Assistant to Congressman Dick Ottinger (DNY).

McPoland has an Associate’s Degree in Horticulture, a B.S. in Conservation of Natural Resources from the University of California at Berkeley, and holds an M.A. in Environment and Resource Policy in the School of Public Policy from George Washington University.


Rob Smith, Moore & Van Allen (view presentation)

Mr. Rob Smith leads the South Carolina public affairs team for Moore & Van Allen, PLLC serving as a registered lobbyist and providing regulatory legal counsel and strategic guidance for clients in the manufacturing, energy, financial, and health care sectors.  Previously, Mr. Smith served as Chief Counsel for the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee and as House Counsel to the State Regulation of Public Utilities Review Committee.  Mr. Smith also served as Counsel to the Speaker of the House and Assistant Staff Counsel for the House Labor, Commerce and Industry Committee, as Law Clerk to the Honorable Larry R. Patterson, Circuit Judge for the Thirteenth Judicial Circuit of South Carolina, and as Staff Assistant to the Honorable J. Strom Thurmond, United States Senator.


MONDAY  TUESDAY WEDNESDAY


Wednesday, November 9

9:00 am – 10:25 am Recycling Interventions and Solutions

Presentation on joint investment opportunities and the broad areas of direction and system issues. Series of Interventions/Case studies/Collaborative Solutions and Technical Interventions – MRF of the future, design of materials and recycling systems.

Moderated by Nicole Smith, Coca-Cola

Ron Gonen, Closed Loop Fund (view presentation)

Ron is the Co-Founder and Managing Director of Closed Loop Partners, an investment platform that invests in sustainable consumer goods, recycling and the development of the circular economy. Investors include many of the world’s largest consumer goods companies and family offices interested in investments that provide strong financials returns and tangible social impact.

Prior to the Closed Loop Fund, Ron was the Deputy Commissioner of Sanitation, Recycling and Sustainability for New York City. He joined the Bloomberg administration with the task of rebuilding NYC’s recycling program, managing NYC’s paper, metal, glass, plastic, textile waste, electronic waste organics as well as public policy and legislation.

In 2013, NRDC and Earth Day New York named Ron as the Public Official of the Year in New York City.

Ron has been an Adjunct Professor at Columbia Business School since 2010. In 2012, he was the recipient of the Social Enterprise Teaching Award for Excellence in Teaching.


Scott Byrne, TetraPak Group  (view presentation)

Scott Byrne joined Tetra Pak in 2016 as an Environmental Specialist for the US and Canada. Prior to joining Tetra Pak, he led the sustainability program at Cass Information Systems in Jacksonville, Florida.  He has a background in recycling program design and education for multifamily and commercial properties and sustainable strategy. Scott is a member of the Florida Bar and holds a Juris Doctor from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, a Master’s Degree in Environmental Management and Sustainability and a Bachelor’s degree in Business Economics and Public Policy.


Susan Graff, RRS (view presentation)

Susan Graff is Principal and Vice President of Global Corporate Sustainability at RRS.  She is responsible for corporate materials recovery and sustainability programs, and leads collaborative projects to recover plastics and other commodity recyclables. Prior to RRS, Susan was Principal of ERS Global, a sustainability consultancy serving the Fortune 200 with corporate sustainability strategies and reporting. She is a former senior official at US EPA, where she ran waste management, environmental risk assessment and public/private partnerships.  Susan holds an Master of Science in Technology and Science Policy from Georgia Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Science in Biology from Western Illinois University; she also served as an adjunct instructor at Georgia Institute of Technology.





10:30 am – 1:30 pm Breakouts and Organizational Meetings

Boosting Residential Recycling Program Performance (view presentation)

Communities want their residential recycling programs to be successful – but what MAKES them so? Come to this workshop and learn about the attributes of high-performing residential recycling programs, and in particular, the role that policies can play in driving infrastructure development and higher recovery levels.  This interactive workshop, sponsored by the Carton Council, is suitable for representatives from state agencies, SROs, local governments and others wanting to drive increased recycling. 


Highlights of the workshop include:

  • Attributes of high-performing programs
  • Policies that result in recycling program success
  • Strategies to successfully implement these policies – Best practices and examples
  • Introduction to new Carton Council recycling tool kit and education initiatives
  • Breakout discussion/feedback – How to advance policy tools at local level, and additional feedback

Come share your ideas and learn from others as we work together to maximize recycling  program results.


Derric Brown, Carton Council

Derric Brown is Director Sustainability for Evergreen Packaging headquartered in Memphis, TN.  Evergreen Packaging is the largest producer of paperboard-based gable top beverage packaging products globally and in the United States. He currently leads Evergreen’s sustainability programs including carton recycling and sustainable forestry initiatives. Derric has been involved with the Carton Council since 2009 to increase household recycling access and recovery of aseptic and gable top cartons. He has worked on the development and implementation of the Carton Council strategies and tactics used in this successful recycling campaign including school carton recycling programs. Derric currently serves as a Board Member for the Carton Council and The Recycling Partnership.


Betsy Dorn, RSE USA

Betsy Dorn is Director of RSE USA. She has over 35 years of professional experience managing, designing, and implementing recycling and solid waste management projects. For 28 years, Betsy has been a consultant assisting public and private-sector clients develop materials recovery and recycling plans, evaluate operations, launch new programs and train solid waste and recycling professionals. Recent consulting experience has focused on identifying best practice tools to drive higher recycling program performance.

Betsy has an undergraduate degree in Biology and a Master of Science in Public Health degree in Environmental Sciences and Engineering. Prior to becoming a consultant, Betsy managed Mecklenburg County (Charlotte),North Carolina’s Recycling Division.


Susan Bush, RSE USA


Joe Dunlop, Athens Clark County, GA



ISWM (Integrated Solid Waste Management) (view presentation)
EPA and its consulting team led by CSRA have been engaging our state and local partners throughout the summer to develop a suite of tools identified during our discussions in 2015. 

These tools include:   

1) 2030 Vision for Integrated Solid Waste Management in EPA Region 4; 

2) Guide to Full Cost Accounting and System Funding; and 

3) Benchmarking Analytics for New Program Expansions. 

EPA and our consulting team will provide updates on these tools and ask you to review them and provide comment. We are especially interested in identifying local government partners to try out the analytical tools:

1. Implementing residential single-stream collection

2. Implementing residential dual-stream collection

3. Transitioning a single stream residential curbside program from collection using bins to using carts

4. Implementing a comprehensive drop-off program

5. Implementing a hub and spoke system

By participating in this discussion, representatives of local governments, recycling and solid waste businesses and other stakeholders will have the opportunity to talk about your challenges and successes in the management of solid waste and how EPA Region 4 can best tailor these tools for use in your communities, your states and in the Region as a whole.


Jon Johnston, EPA

Adam Saslow, CSRA

Marty Seaman, RRS

Juri Freeman, RRS



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