What’s Next for Recycling Policy in the US?
Wednesday, Aug. 16, 2023
11:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
Charlie Schwarze, Board Chair, Circular Action Alliance (and Director of Sustainability, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc) | Scott Byrne, Director of Global Sustainability Services, Sonoco | Jeff Snyder, Director of Recycling, Rumpke Waste & Recycling | Jen Heaton-Jones, Executive Director, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority | Moderator: Resa Dimino, Managing Partner, Signalfire Group
This session will cover:
The top policy priorities for different stakeholders in the recycling value chain.
The key factors that have caused a slowdown in recycling policy momentum in recent months.
Where the industry can expect proposals around packaging EPR and more in 2024 and beyond.
Steps to build more industry consensus in the policy arena.
Speaker Bios
Charlie Schwarze, Director of Sustainability / Board Chair, Keurig Dr Pepper / Circular Action Alliance
Charlie Schwarze serves as the board chair for the Circular Action Alliance, the nation’s first nonprofit producer responsibility organization (PRO) for paper and packaging. CAA was established to support paper and packaging producers in meeting their obligations under extended producer responsibility (EPR) regulations where they exist in the United States. In his full-time role, Schwarze leads packaging sustainability work for Keurig Dr Pepper and focuses his time on reducing the environmental impact of packaging for the company's 125-plus owned, licensed and partner brands.
Charlie Schwarze
Scott Byrne, Director of Global Sustainability Services, Sonoco
Scott Byrne serves as the director of global sustainability services at Sonoco. Through science-based advocacy, Byrne also works to further AMERIPEN's goal of leading the packaging industry, serving as the president of the organization’s board. Prior to joining Sonoco, Byrne was the U.S. and Canada sustainability manager at Tetra Pak and the director of government affairs at the Carton Council.
Scott Byrne
Jeff Snyder, Director of Recycling, Rumpke
Jeff Snyder started his career with WestRock in 1991. He joined that company’s recycling division in 2008 where he ran several recycling plants across the South and Midwest. In 2014, Snyder joined Pratt Industries, serving as Midwest mill buyer and operations manager, where he oversaw the sourcing of 50,000 tons of fiber per month. In 2020, Snyder joined Rumpke as corporate senior recycling manager. In September of 2021, Snyder was promoted to director of recycling at Rumpke Waste & Recycling.
Jeff Snyder
Jennifer Heaton-Jones, Executive Director, Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority
Jennifer Heaton-Jones is the executive director of the Housatonic Resources Recovery Authority, a regional, governmental solid waste and recycling authority serving 14 municipalities in western Connecticut. She has been with the HRRA since 2009. Heaton-Jones is the current chair of the Connecticut Product Stewardship Council, president of the Connecticut Recyclers Coalition and President of the Northeast Chapter of NAHMMA. She has received state and national recognition for her work in extended producer responsibility legislation.
Jennifer Heaton-Jones
Resa Dimino, Managing Partner, Signalfire Group
Resa Dimino is a managing partner at Signalfire Group, a subsidiary of RRS that supports governments and businesses as they navigate policy and regulations and move toward a circular economy. Dimino has 30 years of experience in waste reduction, recycling, product stewardship and environmental economic development. She has held roles in the recycling industry, trade groups and the public sector. Dimino has directed recycling supply chain assessments, infrastructure gap analyses, EPR modeling and policy development projects. She leads projects supporting the development of carpet EPR in New York, the study of PET thermoform recycling costs and material flows, and plastic infrastructure mapping.
Resa Dimino
Back to the full 2023 Detailed Schedule.