2021 Summit for Recycling

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

There is significant work underway around the country to transform the U.S. recycling system. This panel explores several of these initiatives, including:

• an overview of federal policies and efforts to fund recycling
• the new EPA recycling goal and recycling strategy
• the U.S. Plastics Pact and corporate commitments to improve recycling and buy more recycled content
• new state laws to improve labeling on recyclable and compostable products  

Speakers:
Tiana Lightfoot Svendsen, U.S. Plastics Pact
Megan Quinn, Industry Dive
Jonathan Wachtel, City of Lakewood

Moderator:
Laurie Batchelder Adams, www.lbassoc.com

Moderator:
Becky Migas, Women in Sustainability

30-Minute Meet & Greets

• To Ban or Not to Ban: Can Landfill and Disposal Bans Help Develop End-Markets in Colorado?
  Colorado is challenged with not being able to ensure enough feedstock of recyclable and compostable material is available for infrastructure and markets to be developed. Can landfill or disposal bans be an important component of building recycling end markets? This panel discusses the pros and cons of landfill or disposal bans and evaluates which materials Colorado should focus on in pursuing state legislation.

  Speakers:
  Jim Hutchinson, Republic Services
  Josh Kelly, VT Dept. of Environmental Conservation
  Caroline Mitchell, City of Fort Collins
  Lisa Skumatz, Skumatz Economic Research Associates

  Moderator:
  Rachel Roussel-Diamond, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment

• Digging Into C&D Programs Nationwide
  Representatives from throughout the country discuss different construction and demolition waste diversion ordinances. From hauling bans to recycling requirements, various policies from California, Illinois, and Texas will be highlighted to show the diverse array of options available to local governments for diverting construction and demolition waste.  

  Speakers:
  James Slattery, San Francisco Dept. of the Environment
  Deborah Stone, Cook County Department of Environment and Sustainability

  Moderator:
  Michael Port, Pitkin County Solid Waste

• Modern Collection Systems: Avoid the Traps with these Effective Models
  Many states and provinces currently host efficient and effective recovery systems, including Deposit Recovery Systems (DRS) and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) programs to increase circularity into manufacturing. Join representatives from these recovery environments to learn best practices and traps to avoid as Colorado moves towards modernizing its own waste streams.

  Speakers:
  Jules Bailey, Oregon Beverage Recycling Cooperative
  Allen Langdon, Encorp Pacific (Canada)
  McKenna Morrigan, Cascadia Consulting Group

  Moderator:
  Kate Bailey, Eco-Cycle

• Filling the Gaps in Our Compost Infrastructure
  Come ready to learn and contribute. Learn about best practices and methodologies of community-scale composting. Hear about successes, failures, and barriers to starting a composting program, from small- to large-scale operations. Then participate in a working session to discuss next steps in overcoming regulatory hurdles, engineering designs, operational plans, economics, and how to win public support.  

  Speakers:
  Shawn Bruckman, Vail Honeywagon
  Winn Cowman, Yampa Valley Sustainability Council
  Jace Driver, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment
  Cathy Hall, Pitkin County
  Dannah Leeman, Western Colorado University

  Moderator:
  Dan Matsch, Eco-Cycle

9:00 AM - 10:30 AM

The state has developed a road map and strategies to fight climate change and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Traditionally, these approaches have not included recycling and composting. Hear from officials about changes being made to the state’s plans to include recycling and composting in the in the Climate Action Plan and Greenhouse Gas Pollution Reduction Roadmap. And hear from representatives from other states and cities about how they have integrated recycling and composting in their action plans.

Speakers:
Cora Hallsworth, BCIT Centre for Ecocities
Keith Hay, Colorado Energy Office
Maya Kitahara, StopWaste
Patrick Wauters, EPA Region 8

Moderator:
Suzanne Jones, Eco-Cycle

2021 Recycling Awards

Business Partner Showcase

30-Minute Meet & Greets

• Economic Recovery After the Pandemic: Opportunity to Reimagine the Way We Do Things
  Suzanne Shelton, of the Shelton Group, a leading marketing communications firm, will discuss the five things company leaders can do now to create a sustainable future. She will focus her discussion on how now, as we come out of the pandemic, is the time to shift the business model from a linear to a circular economy.  

  Speaker:
  Suzanne Shelton, The Shelton Group

• More than Meets the Eye: Compost End-Market Development
  With the onset of the pandemic in 2020, the resurgence of Victory Gardens, and a focus on staying and growing at home, end markets for compost are ripe for more development by the industry. This session discusses the diversity in end markets and end users, products available in the marketplace, and room for growth in product development regionally and nationally. Topics such as local and regional markets and standardized testing and certifications will also be explored.

  Speakers:
  Joshua Eldridge, Great Ecology
  Elaine Ingham, Soil Foodweb Inc.
  Hilary Nichols, US Composting Council

• Legislation Producing Results! Recycling In Colorado
  CDPHE has been busy! Colorado is putting the final touches on some significant projects including conceptualizing an end-market development center, publishing a literature review on extended producer responsibility programs and models in the U.S., and undertaking a public education campaign on recycling and circular economies.

  Speakers:
  Juri Freeman, RRS
  Emily Wilson, Colorado Dept. of Public Health and Environment