2025 Session Line-Up
Resource Recycling Conference 2025 features three days of insight, highlighting the biggest conversations and trends in municipal materials recovery. Click on each item title for speaker names and more info.
Please note: The 2025 is under development and subject to change.
MONDAY, AUGUST 4
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Enjoy a plated networking lunch to keep your energy up through the afternoon.
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SPEAKER
Resa Dimino, Managing Partner, Signalfire Group
Federal funding for recycling is more substantial than many anticipated—bringing new opportunities and challenges for state and local programs. This session will explore how recent funding is being allocated, what it’s enabling on the ground, and how communities are navigating the process.
Key Takeaways:
Overview of federal recycling grants and infrastructure funding streams.
How state agencies and municipalities are applying for and using these funds.
Lessons learned from early recipients on implementation and impact.
Barriers and bureaucratic hurdles in accessing federal dollars.
Insights into what’s working—and what’s still needed—to maximize results.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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SPEAKERS
Megan Kaplon, Circular Economy Program Coordinator, City of Ausitn
Phoebe Schenker, Executive Director, The Reuse Alliance
Sarah Steiner, Founder/Executive Director, Denver Tool Library
Elizabeth Start, Founder, Start Consulting
What if waste reduction could also build stronger, more connected communities? This panel explores how repair, reuse and sharing models are doing just that—keeping valuable materials in circulation while improving access, affordability and local resilience. Hear from innovators and community leaders who are scaling these solutions and reimagining how we consume, connect and take care of our stuff.
Key Takeaways:
Discover how repair, reuse and sharing programs reduce waste while increasing equitable access to goods and services.
Learn from successful models that foster local resilience, job creation and community empowerment.
Gain practical insights for integrating or scaling these strategies in your own programs or policies.
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SPEAKER
Elaine Fiore, Behavior Change Lead on Food Waste, WRAP Americas
Join WRAP Americas and partners from the City and County of Denver, Denver Public Schools, We Don’t Waste, and Sprouts Market as they showcase Camp Waste Not Denver—a collaborative, city-wide campaign to reduce food loss and waste through education, outreach and public engagement. This innovative initiative brings together schools, local government, nonprofits and businesses to empower communities with practical strategies to prevent food waste, from kitchens to classrooms. Learn how this partnership is driving awareness, shifting behaviors, and creating a model for scalable food waste reduction.
Key Takeaways:
Learn how cross-sector collaboration—between schools, government, nonprofits and businesses—can drive impactful, community-wide food waste reduction.
Discover proven strategies for engaging students, families and residents in food waste prevention through education and outreach.
Gain insights into replicable campaign elements that can be adapted to other cities or communities seeking to tackle food loss at scale.
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SPEAKERS
Jill Martin, Director of Community Recycling Programs, The Recycling Partnership
Charlotte Pitt, Vice President of Community Development, The Recycling Partnership
Join The Recycling Partnership for an inside look at the programs, technologies, and messaging that are measurably improving recycling participation, capture, and quality in communities nationwide. From hands-on tactics like Feet on the Street to smart truck cameras and data-driven messaging, this session will explore what’s working—and how to scale it.
Key Takeaways:
Discover tested strategies and technologies that improve recycling outcomes and reduce contamination.
Learn how to design scalable programs for both small and large budgets using proven tools and metrics.
Access resources, grant opportunities and insights from real-world pilots and community success stories.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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SPEAKER
Dagny Tucker, PhD, Founder, Perpetual
What does it really take to make reuse work at scale? This session breaks down the core elements of a successful citywide reusable foodware system—from infrastructure and technology to policy and public engagement. Learn from real-world examples and walk away with practical strategies to overcome common barriers and drive long-term adoption.
Key Takeaways:
Understand the essential components—governance, logistics, tech and policy—for launching scalable reuse systems.
Learn how to overcome challenges like consumer behavior, return logistics and regulatory hurdles.
Gain actionable insights and tools from successful reuse programs to apply in your own community.
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What does it really cost to launch and sustain a municipal food scraps collection program? This session breaks down the financials—from start-up costs to long-term budgeting—for curbside and drop-off models. Explore funding strategies, public-private partnerships and practical tools to make your program financially sustainable.
Key Takeaways:
Understand start-up and operational costs for both curbside and drop-off food scraps programs.
Explore how public-private partnerships can offset costs and expand capacity.
Learn budgeting strategies and tools to support long-term program success.
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SPEAKERS
Jennifer Lake, CEO, Goodwill of the Finger Lakes
In this workshop, learn how to establish or enhance municipal textile recovery programs at this session featuring leaders from Goodwill and WM. Understand diverse collection methods, successful strategies, partnership opportunities and the evolving landscape of textile diversion. Attendees will gain insights into current practices, challenges, future trends and actionable ideas to boost participation and capture rates in their communities.
Key Takeaways:
Explore effective collection methods and strategies for launching or expanding municipal textile recovery programs.
Learn how to build successful partnerships with organizations like Goodwill and WM to improve diversion rates.
Gain insights into current challenges, emerging trends and practical steps to increase community participation in textile recycling.
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Gather with your peers in our Exhibit Hall for our networking reception.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 5
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Pick up your attendee badge and conference materials or register on site.
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Start your day right—check in for tours and grab a quick breakfast to go!
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Coffee, tea and hot breakfast provided to power attendees through the day’s schedule.
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SPEAKERS
Marissa Segundo, Principal and Chief Strategist, Transformations PR
Nora Goldstein, Editor, Biocycle
Join us for an interactive workshop that takes tips from recycling outreach and applies them to food waste reduction and organics collection programs. The rise of food waste reduction and collection programs is a starting-from-scratch education opportunity. Learn from best practice cities and counties and participate in your own food waste campaign activities facilitated by Marissa Segundo from Transformations PR and Nora Goldstein from Biocycle.
Key Takeaways:
How composting education is distinct from recycling.
Best practices to boost composting education.
The power of pilots in reaching a city-wide adoption.
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SPEAKERS
Tyler Bandemer, Solid Waste Manager, City of Loveland
Tay Dunklee, Senior Consultant, RRS
Liz Kuehn, Outreach and Technical Assistance Unit Work Lead, Colorado Circular Communities (C3) Enterprise - CDPHE
Stacy Lambright, Energy and Sustainability Manager, Adams 12 Five Star Schools
How can circular economy efforts support—not sideline—underserved communities? This session explores how Colorado’s Circular Communities (C3) Enterprise Program is embedding equity into waste diversion, recycling and reuse initiatives. Hear from state, local and consulting leaders about how inclusive strategies are transforming materials management and building stronger, more resilient communities.
Key Takeaways:
Learn how to design circular economy programs that center equity and community needs.
Discover replicable models and successful partnerships that drive both environmental and social impact.
Gain practical tools for aligning local or state initiatives with inclusive economic development and job creation.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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SPEAKERS
Jimena Baldino, Waste Diversion and Recycling Specialist, City of Aspen
Ryan Call, Community Campaigns Manager, Eco-Cycle
Sarah Jones, Director of Social Responsibility, Steamboat Mountain
Discover how Colorado communities are reducing waste, cutting costs and advancing circularity through innovative reuse programs. Hear from Aspen’s sustainable move-in/move-out initiative, Steamboat Mountain’s single-use plastic elimination efforts, and Denver’s Reuse Denver program incentivizing food serviceware reuse and boosting the local economy.
Key Takeaways:
Learn how targeted reuse programs reduce waste and support greenhouse gas reduction goals.
Explore effective strategies for eliminating disposables and engaging both residents and visitors.
Understand how reuse initiatives can drive local economic growth and create community value.
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Think you know your packaging? Put your sorting skills to the test in this hands-on, interactive workshop! You’ll work in groups to decode real-world food packaging labels and decide what goes where: recycling, compost or landfill. Together, we’ll uncover common points of confusion, analyze your results and explore which labeling and packaging features help—or hinder—proper sorting.
Key Takeaways:
Develop practical skills to accurately sort food packaging into recycling, compost and landfill streams.
Identify common labeling and packaging features that cause confusion and contamination.
Gain strategies to improve outreach and education for clearer packaging guidance and better waste diversion.
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Enjoy a plated networking lunch to keep your energy up through the afternoon.
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SPEAKER
Kimberly Carroll Steward, Executive Director, Nebraska Recycling Council
With a growing number of states enacting Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) laws for batteries, the landscape is rapidly evolving. This session explores how state-level policies, federal initiatives and cutting-edge technology are converging to address the challenges posed by batteries in the waste stream. Learn about a national voluntary EPR framework currently in development, and hear firsthand from a MRF using innovative detection systems to identify batteries at the tipping floor—before they spark fires or disruption.
Key Takeaways:
Understand the latest trends in state-level battery EPR legislation and what it means for your programs.
Get a sneak peek at a federal initiative shaping a voluntary national EPR framework for batteries.
Learn how new technology is helping MRFs detect and manage batteries before they become a hazard.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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SPEAKER
Maite Quinn Richards, President, Resource Recycling
Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) is not just a policy tool—it’s quickly becoming an investment signal. This session will explore how EPR programs are driving financial commitments across the recycling value chain, from state-funded grants and low-interest loans to private equity interest in infrastructure and innovation.
Key Takeaways:
How EPR policies are incentivizing capital investment in recycling infrastructure.
The role of public funding programs in de-risking private sector investments.
Why private equity firms are viewing EPR as an opportunity.
Case studies of successful investments tied to EPR legislation.
What stakeholders need to know to align projects with current and future EPR frameworks.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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SPEAKERS
Susan Cornish, Moore & Associates
Packaging is rapidly evolving as brands respond to consumer pressure, regulatory changes and sustainability goals. From the move away from plastic to increased adoption of paper, and from rigid formats to flexible alternatives, companies are rethinking materials—but what does the data say? This session will explore the major trends in packaging design through the lens of life cycle assessments (LCAs), weighing the true environmental trade-offs behind these shifts.
Key Takeaways:
Key drivers behind material transitions in packaging.
Trends in the move from rigid to flexible formats.
Paper vs. plastic: what LCAs actually reveal about environmental impact.
How packaging decisions are affecting recyclability and system performance.
Insights into what the future holds for packaging innovation and policy.
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Join your peers for our networking reception.
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 6
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Coffee, tea and hot breakfast provided to power attendees through the day’s schedule.
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SPEAKER
Scott DeFife, President, Glass Packaging Institute
MODERATOR: Marissa Segundo, Principal and Chief Strategist, Transformations PR
This interactive discussion panel explores innovative ideas and resources for supporting recycling initiatives within an EPR framework and without it. Panelists will discuss examples of how glass can be recovered with circular solutions. Attendees will learn how best practices can be implemented in their region and foster collaborative relationships across the recycling value chain.
Key Takeaways:
Learn how glass may be addressed differently in EPR systems.
Ideas for collaborative collection infrastructure.
Working with manufacturers, brands and industry organizations to find circular options to recover glass.
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SPEAKER
Larine Urbina, Senior Vice President, of Communications, Circular Action Alliance (CAA)
How do you cut through the noise and truly connect with your community? Join CAA for a dynamic, interactive workshop exploring the dos and don’ts of public outreach. Discover what strategies are driving success, what’s falling flat and how to make the most of limited resources to boost awareness and participation in your recycling programs. Bring your challenges, ideas and questions — and leave with fresh insights you can put into action.
Key Takeaways:
Gain peer-driven insights on effective outreach strategies that truly connect with diverse community audiences and boost recycling participation.
Hear from fellow practitioners about common outreach challenges and solutions to avoid pitfalls and improve communication.
Exchange practical ideas and resourceful approaches with peers to maximize limited resources and enhance program success.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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SPEAKER
Recycled paper markets continue to evolve, influenced by global trade shifts, packaging trends and policy developments. This session offers a deep dive into the current dynamics shaping recovered fiber markets and what to expect in the near future.
Key Takeaways:
Current pricing trends for OCC, mixed paper and other recovered grades.
Domestic vs. export demand: who’s buying and why it matters.
Impacts of policy changes like EPR and minimum recycled content mandates.
How mill investments are shaping future demand for recycled fiber.
Outlook for market volatility and long-term stability.
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Enjoy a short break between sessions.
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