2022 Summit for Recycling and Rocky Mountain Compost Symposium

411 Sable Boulevard,Aurora CO 80011

22 August, 2022

Description

Join us for the two day Summit for Recycling conference with the inaugural Rocky Mountain Compost Symposium. You will learn about the latest in Colorado recycling policies, funding opportunities, with a dedicated track focused on all things in the organics recycling (compost) industry. More details will be continuously added to the schedule. Monday, August 22, 2022 | 1:00pm-7:00pm MDT Policy Retreat | 1:00pm-5:30pm | Ballroom Before the conference begins, we will have an afternoon focused on policy work. This is an opportunity for all members to learn how Recycle Colorado is a key player in Colorado’s progressive recycling and waste diversion policies and for members to voice their goals for future policies. Welcome Reception | 5:30pm-7:00pm MDT | Ballroom Representative Cutter & Senator Priola It’s been 3 years since we have been able to celebrate the work and people which make recycling possible in Colorado. Start the conference with a fun evening of seeing your colleagues in person while we all enjoy snacks, music, and drinks. Tuesday, August 23, 2022 | 8:00am-10:00pm MDT Breakfast | 8:00am-9:00am Welcome & State of the Organization | 9:00am-9:30am | Ballroom Liz Chapman, Monique DiGiorgio, Jenifer Freeman, Charles Kamenides Recycle Colorado has had a momentous year with landmark legislation and enormous growth of several Councils. This opening session is an opportunity to hear from the leaders who have made this progress possible.Our President, Charles Kanemides, will provide both an update on where we have been, as well as what’s in store for the future.This is also the debut of our new Executive Director, Elizabeth O’Connell Chapman, who will be introducing herself to the membership and sharing her vision for the organization. What is EPR for Packaging and Paper Products, and what does it mean to me? | 9:30am-10:30am | Ballroom Resa Dimino Colorado is facing a sea change in how recycling is executed across the state. Change is hard, and can be confusing. Resa will provide some clarity by placing Colorado’s EPR for PPP program in the context of what’s happening across the US and giving insight into the roles and responsibilities of the various players in the recycling system in Colorado highlighting what is likely to change, and how that change might play out. Passing Period, Coffee, Exhibitor Booths | 10:30am-11:00am Breakout Sessions | 11:00am-12:30pm The New Colorado Producer Responsibility Law: We did it! So now what? What is the role of Recycle Colorado in implementation? Kate Bailey, Wolf Kray, Meghan MacKillop, Rachel Setzke With the amazing work of our lobby team and many Recycle Colorado members who stayed up late to testify and contact legislators, we successfully passed the third Producer Responsibility bill in the nation and the first to create a fully producer-funded and operated statewide recycling system for all consumer-facing packaging and printed paper. So, now what? How do we implement this huge transformational policy and make sure it is successful? In this session, we will share a timeline of implementation and discuss how Recycle Colorado and its members can be instrumental in the needs assessment and setting up the advisory board. We will also have time for general questions about the new policy. Advancing Colorado’s Front Range up the Zero Waste Ladder – Learn about FRWD grant opportunities, the FRWD application process, and the role of the new FRWD Ambassador. Kendra Appelman-Eastvedt, Steve Derus, Allie Hoffman, Barret Jensen, Laurie Johnson, Suzanne Jones, Jay Middleton, Anna Perks, Megan Vinet, Megan Wiebe With up to $15 million in funding annually, the FRWD program is seeking projects focused on waste diversion in Colorado’s 13 Front Range counties. FRWD grant recipients, board members, and program staff will discuss eligibility, tips for a successful grant application, and other resources to boost your project. Colorado Organics Management Plan - Sneak Peak & Next Steps Jace Driver, Frank Franciosi, Juri Freeman, Dan Matsch This session looks at how we can best align our state and local regulations to meet our organics diversion goals. We’ll get a sneak preview of the soon-to-be-released Organics Management Plan, hear about USCC’s revised model rules, and end with an open discussion of next steps. Passing Period, Lunch | 12:30pm-1:00pm | Ballroom Reducing Plastic Use | 1:00pm-1:50pm | Ballroom Marcel Howard Passing Period, Coffee, Exhibitor Booths | 1:50pm-2:15pm Breakout Sessions | 2:15pm-3:45pm Developing End Market Strategies with NextCycle Colorado Kendra Appelman-Eastvedt & Juri Freeman Summit attendees will learn about NextCycle Colorado, a program that challenges businesses, organizations, non-profits, universities, and entrepreneurs to develop innovative projects that create new, or improve existing, recycling and composting end markets in the state. The session will feature past participants and an interactive training opportunity for future NextCycle applicants. The New Colorado Producer Responsibility Law: We did it! So now what? What is the role of Recycle Colorado in implementation? Kate Bailey, Wolf Kray, Meghan MacKillop, Rachel Setzke With the amazing work of our lobby team and many Recycle Colorado members who stayed up late to testify and contact legislators, we successfully passed the third Producer Responsibility bill in the nation and the first to create a fully producer-funded and operated statewide recycling system for all consumer-facing packaging and printed paper. So, now what? How do we implement this huge transformational policy and make sure it is successful? In this session, we will share a timeline of implementation and discuss how Recycle Colorado and its members can be instrumental in the needs assessment and setting up the advisory board. We will also have time for general questions about the new policy. Contamination - Is it solvable or not? Thinking outside of the pile Kathy Carol, Monique DiGiorogio, Jessica Lally, Clinton Sanders, Christi Turner As we work hard in Colorado to improve our diversion rates of organic materials from Colorado landfills from 15% to 36% by 2026. We must understand high levels of contamination can quickly affect our success and reduce the quality of finished compost. What does high-level contamination look like in the organics recycling stream? Where does it happen and at what level? In this session, we take a hard look at contamination, hear about real world ideas/solutions to reduce, and remove contamination. This is a low-tech manageable stream that can be made acceptable to be received by a commercial composter. Contamination can be reduced/solved by implementing highly focused defined inspection/removal programs at smaller volume touch points. All stakeholders doing their part to support the common goal of clean organics being diverted, composted, and amended into our Colorado soils to create a truly clean circular economy, closed loop system, and a sustainable program. Passing Period | 3:45pm-4:00pm Lighting Talks: Innovations in Bio-Resource Management | 4:00pm-5:00pm | Ballroom Awards Gala | 6:00pm-10:00pm MDT Join us to honor the winners of the annual Recycle Colorado Awards. Stay to eat, dance, and have a great time. Wednesday, August 24, 2022 | 8:00am-5:00pm MDT Breakfast | 8:00am-9:00am Keynote: Jane Zelikova & Frank Franciosi | 9:00am-10:00am | Ballroom Passing Period, Coffee, Exhibitor Booths | 10:30am-11:00am Breakout Sessions | 11:00am-12:30pm The Circular Economy Center- What’s Next? Adam Hill, Cyndi Lair, & Rachel Roussel-Diamond We are thrilled that legislation to stand up the Circular Economy Center passed but now what? We will hear from Rachel Roussel-Diamond on the results of the stakeholder engagement process and next steps to set up the circular economy center. We will also hear from Cyndi Lair, from CDA, Adam Hill, from Direct Polymers, and TK (rural representative) to learn how different sectors of the circular economy will benefit from this new center. Multi-Family Recycling, Challenges and Workshop Solutions Composting & Hauling Business Basics: How to Get Started at Your City, Business, or Institution Jamie Blanchard-Poling, Winn Cowman, Julie Mach & Jennifer Richardson Are you thinking about starting a compost business, or in the very beginning stages of starting one? If so, this session will help you navigate the basics of starting a composting and hauling business and how to navigate permitting requirements, operations, and becoming financially viable both for haulers and compost producers. Passing Period, Lunch | 12:30pm-1:00pm | Ballroom Plastics Pollution Reduction Plenary | 1:00pm-1:50pm | Ballroom Stefanie Valentic Passing Period, Coffee, Exhibitor Booths | 1:50pm-2:20pm Breakout Sessions | 2:20pm-3:50pm Navigating Colorado Plastic Bans within the Private Sector Emily Backus, Representative Cutter, Megan Jorgeson, JohnRyan Lockman, Ashwin Ramdas, Becca Walkinshaw Did you know that Colorado has a plastic bag and styrofoam ban coming down the line? While we applaud this for its positive impact on contamination at facilities and plastics pollution in the environment; this will certainly impact businesses across our state. This panel will provide a high level look at the policy changing how plastic is consumed in Colorado. We will hear from a panel of businesses who either offer alternatives or are working to navigate the switch away from traditional single use plastics. Barriers & Success with Plastic Ban Implementation at the Local Government Level Holly Pummell, Delanie Young With the passing of HB21-1162 during last year’s legislative session, plastic bans on items like styrofoam and plastic bags will be taking effect in 2022. While it may be difficult to begin navigating the statewide ban, two Colorado local governments, Fort Collins and Telluride, have already developed campaign strategies to help communicate plastic bans, and are looking forward to sharing their success story and the barriers they were faced with during the process. Organic Operations – Local Greenwaste Recycling to Commercial Composting Shawn Bruckman & Bob Yost “Organic Recycling'' requires both local green waste recycling and commercial composting options. This session will provide requirements for successful implementation and operations of both of these options. If your company, city, county, or community is considering creating or expanding an organics diversion program, you need to attend this session. Happy Hour | 3:50pm-5:00pm -- COVID-19 protocols: To prevent the spread of COVID-19, we encourage you to familiarize yourself with CDC guidance. By attending this conference, you agree to follow any onsite health and safety protocols. Currently, there is not a mask requirement in the counties where the events will take place. At the events, we will follow guidelines from the CDC, State of Colorado, and county/local health department. We are monitoring news about caseloads and will communicate any updated health and safety policies to all registered attendees in the weeks leading up to the conference. Recycle Colorado reserves the right to require masks and/or proof of negative test results at the 2022 conference. Recycle Colorado will provide disposable masks and hand sanitizer for attendees.