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Session Descriptions

Monday, August 4th
Session #1       10:15 - 11:45 am

What is Green Building - Regency Ballroom A
The buildings in which we live, work, and play can have an impact on resources, health and the environment. The new construction technique that is gaining momentum in California is "Building Green." This workshop will educate you about Green Building and how architects incorporate green building into their designs. The new Climate & Resource Calculator which will be presented is intended to support public sector policy initiatives for climate change and green building, stimulate market demand for green homes, and increase awareness of the link between waste and CO2.

Further discussions will address The Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Green Building Rating System, the Build It Green Green Point Rater certification processes.

The Basics of Zero Waste - Regency Ballroom B
The goal is proper displacement of carbon and the protection of our biosphere. The endgame is to avoid entropy, to reduce your global footprint, and preserve our ecosystems. Learn the rules to the game of sustainability. See why zero waste approaches to sustainability and managing resources are being put into play. This introduction will frame the issues and introduce the new rules.

Recycler's Primer on Climate Change - Regency Ballroom C
Come play the Climate Change Game: Recycling Industry Edition! WARM? CARB? ICLIE? AB 32? Cap & Trade? CO2? CO2e? CH4? NOX? VOC's? GHG Inventories? Carbon Credits, Offsets, Sequestration? RES? RPS? Anyone? Beuler? Anyone? If Carbonopoly is a game we can lose, then how can recyclers get in the game when most of us don't understand the language let alone the rules, obstacles, and opportunities? It can be overwhelming, confusing, convoluted, and seemingly irrelevant to our historical work on AB 939 diversion programs. Get the terminology and roadmap that will help you play the game at this basic primer session.

ADC Toolbox for Municipal Compost Marketing Plans - Harbour Room A
Do you have the tools to develop your Organics Management Plan? Attend this session to get updates on new reporting requirements, and get the tools you need to help your agency succeed in creating and implementing an Organics Plan tailored to your local area.  Speakers will discuss development of a Municipal Compost Marketing Plan, and provide case studies including compost demonstration, specifications, and support from State and National compost agencies.

Product Stewardship, California and Beyond - Harbour Room B
It's an amazing race as we look at what is happening, not only in California, but also around the world, to implement product stewardship programs. Who will be the first to come up with the perfect product stewardship program?

  • Product Stewardship in Europe (PPT) (1.79 MB)
    Karen Strandoo, Suffolk County Council, England
  • California Product Stewardship, Kathy Frevert, CIWMB
  • Product Stewardship at the Lowest Level, Bill Worrell, SLO County IWMA
  • Moderator: Bob Gedert, City of Fresno
Session #2       1:00 - 2:30 pm

Deconstruction and the Role it plays in diversion and reuse - Regency Ballroom A
Are you treating demolition projects in your jurisdictions by knocking down structures with one swing of a wrecking ball and hauling the debris off to a landfill? There are alternatives for clearing sites that yield environmental and economic benefits to communities. Deconstruction is one option for demolition-phase, source-separated material recovery that can help a project achieve recycling rates, as well as encouraging new construction projects to be carbon neutral. The three presenters for this workshop will enlighten you with their vast knowledge and expertise on training, policy, and steps to finding markets for the materials you have deconstructed.

Construction and Demolition Recycling - Regency Ballroom B
After you build your hotel on Park Place, you need to do something with your C&D materials. Come and find out what your options are. Find out what you're missing at this informative C&D session. This session will cover how to handle post-disaster debris, whether you're getting all the diversion from commercial Interior construction and demolition debris, and how to delve through the paperwork to find out if your mixed demolition numbers really say what they mean. Learn how to manage your debris now, before it's too late!

Waste Reduction and Recycling and the Mitigation of Climate Change - Regency Ballroom C
Waste Reduction and Recycling are proving to be an ace in the hole for mitigating climate change. Recycling is not just about landfill diversion, it is about replacing virgin material production, which will significantly reduce energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Come learn about how recycling programs can mitigate climate change.

From Plate to Field — Food Discard Programs - Harbour Room A
If your jurisdiction is considering the addition of a food discards diversion component to your program then this session will give you a lot to chew on. Hear what it takes to set up a curbside residential food scrap recycling program, increase participation, and meet the quality standards for material going to your compost facility. Anaerobic food digestion will top off this interesting program that is truly an example of a Field to Table to Field food discards diversion system.

  • Investigating the Anaerobic Digestion Process to Recycle Post-Consumer Food Waste, Cara Peck, Environmental Protection Agency Region 9
  • Success in Green and Food Waste Programs, Robin Plutchok, StopWaste.Org
  • Collaborative Food Diversion Program, William OToole, EcoNomics Inc
  • Moderator: Steve Sherman, ESA

Reaching Into the Schools - Harbour Room B
Take your school program to the next level. Speakers will offer ideas on marketing, designing, and presenting pertinent information to your students and teachers. Presenters will offer a range of curriculum materials and activities that will boost your school programs. See how a successful model works for delivering sustainable conservation education in an urban and suburban setting. This program will leave you feeling educated, motivated and ready to expand your recycling education program.

Session #3       2:45 - 4:00 pm

MRF Operations and Revenue - Regency Ballroom A
This panel session highlights how you can recover additional resource value from your Material Recovery Facilities. The panel will discuss processing enhancements driven by strong materials values to increase recycling rates and benefit the public. Included are operational details in the expansion and restructuring of the Santa Monica, Sunnyvale, and the Victor Valley Material Recovery Facilities.

Programs to Zero - Regency Ballroom B
From the 'Community Chest' of programs working towards Zero Waste by initiating recovery of 'hard to divert' materials, such as plastic toys and construction and demolition materials) we will draw on some of the best program cards who have taken their turn getting these materials out of the disposal jail in their communities. Your community's turn to address these materials may be coming sooner than you think.

New Developments in Plastic Recycling - Regency Ballroom C
How often have you heard the question "Can I recycle this plastic?" That is the question. Take a look into the amazing and often confusing world of plastics. Speakers will share differing viewpoints on various plastic types, and various issues related to the collection and processing of plastics including film plastic, containers, polystyrene, and polylactic acid (PLA) or bio-based plastics as well as rigid plastics.

Compostable Organics Back to the Farm - Harbour Room A
The game is carbon and the strategy is to keep carbon out of the atmosphere and get it back to the soil. What are elements, the tools, the farmers and the impacts? This is a panel on the need to manage our organic resources and the rewards that will come if we do it right. 

Economics for a Purpose - Harbour Room B
As jurisdictions throughout begin to meet higher diversion goals, they face a significant shift in how they fund their programs. Disposal surcharges and other refuse-based fees may no longer provide a sustainable revenue base. As disposal decreases, jurisdictions will need to find alternative funding methods for funding infrastructure and programs, which may increase as they get closer to zero waste. This presentation will identify several strategies for shifting from disposal-based system economics to alternative sustainable funding strategies.