2024 Summit for Recycling Agenda
Session Slides can be found under the respective session title.
Monday, June 3rd
10:00 am - 12:00 pm | Bike Tour of Powerhouse Energy Campus
Start your week by enjoying the marvelous bikeways and innovation found in Ft. Collins. We will be leading a group to bike from the Hilton (or you can drive) to the Powerhouse. The Powerhouse Energy Campus is a modern, 100,000 square foot LEED Platinum Certified building that is one of the largest free-standing energy facilities at any university. It is recognized nationally and internationally for its interdisciplinary approach and its groundbreaking work on engine technology, electric grids, biofuels, energy policy, human behavior, energy access in the developing world, and energy-focused entrepreneurship. Fort Collins represents clean energy development in the 21st century. We will have some bikes available or you can bring your own.
1:00 pm - 5:30 pm | Policy Retreat | CSU Ballroom
Join the Policy Committee as they review the legislative activity in 2024 and strategize about what legislative efforts to support in 2025. This will be a interactive meeting with workshop time amongst the sectors.
1:00PM - Welcome and Introductions of Leadership Team
1:10 PM - Icebreaker
1:40 PM - Visioning exercise
2:15PM - Review new policy committee voting and Slack process
2:30 PM - 10 minute break
2:40 PM - Policy working groups
3:15 PM - Working group findings
3:45 PM - Policy prioritization for 2025
4:20 PM - DOTS! Identify your policy priorities for 2025
4:30 PM - Break
4:40 PM - Next Steps - Working Groups/Roundtables
4:50 PM - Presentation of Policy Committee Leadership Nominations
6:00 pm - 8:00 pm | Welcome Reception | CSU Ballroom
Come meet the attendees and exhibitors at our fun kickoff event before we dive into our conference sessions and workshops. Drinks and snacks and legislators and networking, Oh My!
Tuesday, June 4th
8:00 am - 9:00 am | Breakfast | CSU Ballroom
- Northern Colorado Council Meeting in Green & Gold Breakout Room
- SWANA Connect in Legends Breakout Room
8:45 am - 9:45 am | Welcome and Keynote | CSU Ballroom
Welcome to Fort Collins
Mayor Jenni Arndt
KEYNOTE: CAA & Producer Responsibility
Olivia Barker, Darla Arians, Liz Chapman, & New CO CAA Executive Director (Juri Freeman)
We are excited to have the new Executive Director of Circular Action Alliance Colorado as part of our keynote panel on June 4th of the Summit. This event marks the first public introduction of the new leader, and you will be among the first to hear about their vision and plans for the future. They will be joined by staff from CAA and Darla Arians, Producer Responsibility Program Lead at CDPHE. Hear directly from both CDPHE and CAA as they outline their progress, strategies and upcoming timeline. Join us for this landmark event and be the first to welcome the Executive Director of CAA in Colorado to our community!
9:45 am - 10:00 am | Passing Period, Coffee, Exhibitor Showcase
10:00 am - 11:30 am | Breakout Sessions
CSU Ballroom
Reuse Systems in Colorado
Amber Barbella, Ryan Call, Juri Freeman, Melissa Jung, Tomi Hulkko, Becky Goyton, and Ashwin Ramdas
In this 2-part session, we will learn about the reuse systems Deliver Zero and r.World offer, what the City and County of Denver and Diversion Designers are doing to reduce single-use waste from onsite dining. Hear from Upstream and Eco-Cycle on policy levers to catalyze waste reduction and reuse systems in Colorado. Then, we’ll hear from RRS and Denver about their findings from the city’s 2023 Reuse Economy Study, including how Denver’s resale, rental, and repair businesses contribute to the economy and greenhouse gas emission reductions and what cities around the world are doing to support this sector’s growth.
Green & Gold Breakout Room
Auraria Campus Compost Operations
Chris Herr, Rylee McCone, and Robbie Tepperberg
The compost operation program, led by the Auraria Sustainable Campus Program, will process between 200,000 to 300,000 pounds of organic material annually, increasing the campus diversion rate. Come learn about how our program gained traction, acquired funding, and came to fruition, with fully campus-run hauling, sorting, and processing operations.
Addressing Contamination Through Systematic Communication
Meghan Ibach & Christi Turner
Hear how Scraps keeps contamination at bay with consistent communication in their residential and commercial compost hauling program. Learn how Scraps is implementing CIRC (Controls Intended to Remove Contamination), a program created by Eco Products to systematically address contamination upstream to support compost manufacturers and increase acceptance of certified compostables.
Legends Breakout Room
Workshop: Designing Circular Economy Solutions
Laurie Johnson
The goal of the Designing Circular Economy Solutions workshop is to provide an overview of what Colorado’s Circular Economy Development Center (CEDC) is, how it came about, and how it goes about designing and executing circular solutions to keep materials out of the landfill and in our economy. The workshop will engage participants by outlining the steps to building a circular economy with current CEDC projects as well as with selected projects from the participant audience. The focus will be on how material is collected and processed in preparation for the manufacturing process and how all inputs and finished products rely on the transportation system for initial collection and finally for delivery to market. We will host a panel of experts in R&D, technology, finance, transportation, and manufacturing to engage the audience on selected participant projects.
11:30 am - 11:45 pm | Passing Period, Coffee, Exhibitor Showcase
11:45 pm - 12:50 pm | Lunch | CSU Ballroom
- Spotlight on Plastic Recycling with Republic Polymer Center in CSU Ballroom:
Today in the U.S., only about 30% of single-use plastic bottles and jugs are recycled. Even when these plastics are placed in the recycling bin, their lifecycle is not always circular. Instead of being recycled back into consumer packaging, these plastics often are downcycled into products such as textiles, carpet or construction pipe, which have few options for further recycling. To promote greater plastics circularity and help ensure that a plastic water bottle is recycled into a new plastic water bottle, Republic Services is developing a network of Polymer Centers. The Republic Services Polymer Centers are the first facilities of their kind in North America, processing plastics collected from homes and businesses and producing specialized recycled resins ready for remanufacturing into new sustainable packaging.
- Colorado Composting Council networking in Green & Gold Breakout Room
1:00 pm - 2:00 pm | Breakout Sessions
CSU Ballroom
Drop Off Recycling Centers…the Gateway Drug to Hard to Recycle Materials
Justin Stockdale
We will discuss the value of recycling drop offs for conventional recycling, whether as the sole access point or as a compliment to curbside, as well as the drop off’s elemental role in expanding into hard to recycle materials collections. The format of this session is designed to be a conversation and as such seeks to engage attendees through its informal and open format.
Green & Gold Breakout Room
Assessing and Interpreting Compost Quality
Shawn Bruckman & Lanny Ellis
Take a deep dive into the tools available for assessing the quality of your compost. We will help you interpret the reports for STA lab analysis and look at other field tests that you can do before sending your sample to the lab. This session will also include a live demonstration of direct observation microscopy. Composters are encouraged to bring a sample of compost in to look at under the microscope! We would love a sample of finished compost as well as unfinished compost so we can show you how to identify the difference.
Legends Breakout Room
Buildings Born Again: Bringing a Second Life to Building Material
James Gaspard, Aschley Yanda, Lindsay Law, Will Lepry, and Emily Freeman
Learn how our speakers are laying pathways for recycling, preparing, and reimagining what is possible with lumber salvaged from building construction sites. Capturing valuable non-renewable resources is paramount to driving sustainability in the Construction & Demolition (C&D)/deconstruction industry.
2:15 pm - 5:00 pm | Tours
- Larimer County Solid Waste
- Colorado State University Sustainability Walking Tour
- Industrial Recycling
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Colorado Iron and Metal, Inc. is one of the largest recycling centers in Northern Colorado with locations in Loveland and Fort Collins. They specialize in metal recycling, serving both commercial and industrial customers. In addition, they are licensed and certified by the State of Colorado to reclaim and dispose of hazardous waste generated from refrigerants in appliances.
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Onsite Electronics Recycling, dba I.T. Refresh provides e-waste collection and recycling solutions to public and private solid waste facilities, municipalities, businesses, schools, non-profit organizations and residents. I.T. Refresh provides excellent customer service, responsible recycling and transparent downstream recycling information. I.T. Refresh is certified to E-Stewards, R2V3, ISO14001, ISO45001, ISO9001 and NAID.
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The City of Fort Collins Hoffman Mill Crushing Facility is a diversion juggernaut – recycling over 110k tons of material in 2023. It accepts soil, concrete and asphalt from City departments, homeowners and contractors, then processes and sells the material. Hoffman Mill is self-funded and a replicable model for other communities.
- Recycling & Composting
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Compost Queen will take us through the intricacies of providing organics collection and processing and applying compost to local farmland by walking us through her facility and recent equipment upgrades (made possible for CDPHE grants).
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Rocky Mountain Soil Stewardship specializes in vermicompost and converting horse manure into usable compost.
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Timberline Recycling Center will showcase a convenient way for the residents of Fort Collins to freely recycle traditional recyclables, as well pay a small fee for hard to recycle materials.
6:00 pm - 10:00 pm | Awards Dinner | CSU Lory Student Center Theater
Join us in celebrating the many people working to reduce waste and increase recycling and composting across Colorado. There will be delicious food, networking, and dancing with DJ Drake!
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Wednesday, June 5th
8:30 am - 9:15 am | Breakfast | CSU Ballroom
- Rural Recycling Policy Committee Meeting in Green & Gold Breakout Room
9:20 - 10:30 a.m. | Welcome and Keynote | CSU Ballroom
Reporting on the State of Recycling
Megan Lane, Dylan de Thomas, Dana Villeneuve, and Robert Hibbert
8 in 10 Americans believe in the positive impact of recycling, yet only 21% of recyclable material is being recycled, Colorado sits in the bottom 10 for recycling rates - highlighting the urgent need for action will discuss how policymakers and stakeholders can work together to enact meaningful policies and develop effective recycling programs, guided by insights from two groundbreaking reports: Eunomia and Ball’s “50 States of Recycling” and The Recycling Partnership’s “State of Recycling, The Present and Future of Residential Recycling.” In this session, we will share and discuss actionable data insights, case studies, and innovative strategies to empower policymakers and communities in driving meaningful change. Our discussion will spotlight the role of key stakeholders across the supply chain, such as Ball, New Belgium and O-I, in designing and implementing effective recycling programs to enable more closed loop recycling.
10:30 am - 10:40 am | Passing Period, Snacks & Coffee, Exhibitor Showcase
10:40 am - 12:10 pm | Breakout Sessions
CSU Ballroom
AI at Facility Scale: Powering the Next Generation of Material Recovery
Scott Lewis
Next-generation infrastructure, enabled by the latest in AI-powered software and automation, is delivering efficient, accurate sortation of various waste streams—recovering more commodities with minimal human intervention. Learn how these modern materials recovery facilities, by helping to lower capital and operating cost barriers, make recycling viable in more communities and municipalities.
Technology Forward Infrastructure
Bailey Robin, Adam Hill, Mitch Best and David Seelig
A discussion on the way forward in a circular economy via: people, technology, economics. How software can increase materials recovered for recycling and make data reporting simple.
Green & Gold Breakout Room
Managing the Carbon Cycle with Compost
Calla Rose Ostrander
Come learn how the act of composting supports beneficial carbon, water and nutrient cycling. The talk will center on findings from the Marin Carbon Project and subsequent work scaling up compost as a climate change solution.
Accelerating Composting in Colorado, an overview of OMP 2.0.
Jace Driver, Winn Cowman, John Carhart, Dan Matsch, and Iona Horton
Hear an update from CDPHE and the project team behind a 6-month study into the diversion of organic waste from landfills in Colorado. As legislated by Recycle Colorado's bill, SB23-191, the study models the flow of organic waste, benefits of landfill diversion, infrastructure and education needs, funding sources and more.
Legends Breakout Room
CDPHE Workshop on Sustainable Behavior Change
Erin Girard and Liz Kuhn
In this interactive workshop you will learn community based social marketing techniques to promote sustainable behavior change in your jurisdiction, including identifying barriers and motivations for participation, and the influence of social norms. Municipalities are especially encouraged to attend, but these techniques are applicable to all entities promoting behavior change.
Ensuring Workforce Development for a Circular Economy
Darcy Owens, Eric Heyboer, Camillo Hernandez, and Erin Young
Currently in Colorado, there is strong support and resources for workforce development, especially in rural communities and in the clean energy transition. But what about the workforce for a circular economy, which also benefits rural communities and a lower carbon future? In this session, we will learn about statewide resources as well as specific workforce development by haulers and the Circular Economy Development Center. And we hope to spur a discussion on clean energy and the circular economy working together to support rural communities and job creation.
12:15 pm - 1:10 pm | Lunch | CSU Ballroom
An Introduction to Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise Legislation
Rachel Roussel-Diamond
This bill enhances the state’s work to advance sustainability across Colorado. The Colorado Circular Communities Enterprise will build out Colorado’s circular infrastructure, support cross-jurisdictional public-private partnerships, and provide grants, funding, and technical assistance to local governments, businesses, schools, and higher education institutions. CDPHE’s executive director will appoint 13 individuals to the enterprise’s board of directors, representing for-profit, nonprofit, local government, and other representatives. The bill also makes permanent the sustainability coaching, technical assistance, and recognition services that the department’s Colorado Green Business Program provides.
1:15 pm - 2:00 pm | Breakout Sessions
CSU Ballroom
Solutions for a Circular Plastics Economy
Mariane Maximous and Joel Heilman
LyondellBassell is making their initial visit to the Summit to share how their advanced technology enables a circular and low carbon economy. They have structured their sustainability approach around three global challenges: ending plastic waste, taking climate action and supporting a thriving society.
Green & Gold Breakout Room
Plastics Recycling –It’s Not Linear!
Reenee Casapulla and Curran Hughes
This panel session will explore business-focused approaches being taken to handle plastic waste, from residential to commercial and industrial applications. Take a deep dive on how a replacement for vinyl ski lift seats and polyethylene tarps is diverting plastic waste from landfills, and a packaging foam recycling system designed for municipal recycling programs. An interactive and insightful panel will share divergent paths towards a common goal, of providing access to collect and recycle various plastic materials.
Legends Breakout Room
Building a Sustainable Workforce: Training Initiatives in Construction and Deconstruction
Jessmine Anderson, Shannon Goodman, Robb Sommerfeld, and Anna Perks
Learn from industry leaders about workforce training needs, addressing challenges, and collaborative efforts in construction and demolition. Explore how deconstruction offers entry-level opportunities and helps divert C&D waste from landfills. Join us for what promises to be an engaging and informative session.
2:15 pm - 5:00 pm | Tours
- Larimer County Solid Waste
- Visit the unique and playful Garbage Garage education center, marvel at the expansive diversion programs, and learn what the future is in store for the largest landfill in Northern Colorado.
- Colorado State University Sustainability Walking Tour
- Get outside as the tour visits varies programs on the Fort Collins CSU campus. The tour will start at the Surplus Property store and then continue by seeing how the organics capture and food rescue process works as part of the Dining Services operations. The group will walk across campus to see some examples of architectural sustainability in action and end at the geothermal site.
- Recycling and Composting
- Onsite Electronics Recycling, dba I.T. Refresh provides e-waste collection and recycling solutions to public and private solid waste facilities, municipalities, businesses, schools, non-profit organizations and residents. I.T. Refresh provides excellent customer service, responsible recycling and transparent downstream recycling information. I.T. Refresh is certified to E-Stewards, R2V3, ISO14001, ISO45001, ISO9001 and NAID.
- Compost Queen will take us through the intricacies of providing organics collection and processing and applying compost to local farmland by walking us through her facility and recent equipment upgrades (made possible for CDPHE grants).
- Vindeket Foods will demonstrate how they rescue food from grocery stores, restaurants, and farms to reduce waste food.
- Timberline Recycling Center will showcase a convenient way for the residents of Fort Collins to freely recycle traditional recyclables, as well pay a small fee for hard to recycle materials.
5:30 pm | Happy Hour | New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium in Fort Collins is gracious enough to host us for a Young Professionals Happy Hour following the Summit for Recycling on June 5th at 5:30pm. They will cover a drink or two for you and a coworker! This is a free event and you do not have to attend the Summit in order to attend the Happy Hour. However, many of our attendees may follow us over there which would be a great moment for you to network with some folks who are now "young at heart" and in the industry.
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