August 3-6, 2025 • Monterey, CA
CRRA 2025 - Conference & Trade Show
AUG. 3-6, 2025 • Monterey, CA
Each year, the California Resource Recovery Association organizes one of the most comprehensive and informative conferences dedicated to recycling and sustainable materials management in California and beyond. The Annual Conference and Trade Show attracts over 800 individuals annually and showcases an estimated 30 sessions each year with over 100 industry experts as presenters.
3 Days of Networking // Over 100 Presenters // 50+ Innovative Exhibitors // Virtual Option Available
KEY DATES
Apr 7 - May 2 - Scholarship Applications
May 22 - Final Program Finalized & Announced
Jun 6 - Early Bird Registration Closes
July 14 - Marriott Room Block Cutoff
July 18 - Registration Closes
Registration is Now Open!
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CRRA 2025
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Registration is Now Open! » CRRA 2025 «
2025 VENUE.
Portola Hotel & Spa
Two Portola Plaza, Monterey, CA 93940
Limited Number of Rooms Available!
CLICK HERE
MARRIOTT ROOM BLOCK - ROOMS AVAILABLE: Additional rooms are available with discounted conference pricing at the Monterey Marriott. Phone Group Reservations: 1-800-228-9290. Guests must mention they are with attending the “CRRA 2025 Annual Conference” to receive the nightly group discounted rate of $289.00 single-quad occupancy.
Cut-off Date: July 14, 2025
Important Warning Regarding Hotel Scams: DO NOT be fooled by emails and/or phone calls claiming to offer the best hotel/service rates for CRRA. None of our vendors will ever call you directly with discount offers. We advise you to ONLY use links from our website for booking hotel. Be aware and be cautious.
Keynotes.
MONDAY:
Harvesting the Land: Forests and Farms
Moderated by John Davis, (Mojave Desert & Mountain Recycling Authority) this keynote panel will discuss managing natural lands and reimaging natural soils. The discussion will be a blend of the Esselen Tribe’s knowledge, the Wildlands Conservancy’s approach, and Calla Rose’s regenerative farming work in a moderated discussion.
Calla Rose Ostrander
Breakthrough Institute to People Food and Land Foundation
Calla Rose Ostrander is a Strategic Advisor to individuals and organizations dedicated to the well-being of people and planet. She specializes in climate change and agricultural policy, science communications and movement building. Since 2013 she has worked to support the advancement of carbon farming, compost production and climate beneficial material economies in California. In partnership with John Wick and the partner organizations of the Marin Carbon Project, Calla Rose has supported the successful scaling of regenerative agriculture to the state scale through strategic organization, economic development, local and state policy, and communications. (LinkedIn)
Tom Little Bear Nason
Faculty Member
Little Bear is the Tribal Chairman of the Esalen Tribe of Monterey County. He is a traditional cultural resource specialist, Tribal Archeology Monitor, and Wildland Consultant. Little Bear has a deep history at the Esalen Institute, a sacred site for the Esselen, and has led a lifetime of retreats centering around initiation, ritual and ceremony between humans and their relationship between each other, land and Spirit.
Tim Krantz
Conservation Director, The Wildlands Conservancy and Professor Emeritus of Environmental Science, University of Redlands
Dr. Krantz’s résumé includes 45+ years of experience with a wide range of specializations. He has been in Academia for 25+ years and is a Professor Emeritus of Environmental Studies at the University of Redlands. Dr. Krantz was a Fulbright Scholar to Austria in 2009-2010, focusing on renewable energy technology transfer between California and Austria, the U.S. and the E.U., with a particular emphasis in biomass energy production. He has continued to work with the Institute for International Education as a peer reviewer of U.S. scholar applicants to Austria and as a Fulbright Ambassador.
Currently, Dr. Krantz is the Conservation Director for The Wildlands Conservancy—California’s largest private non-profit land conservation organization—where he lives and works on the Oak Glen Preserve and is the founding Director of the Southern California Montane Botanic Garden. He is an authority on the flora of the San Bernardino Mountains and rare and endangered plants of California. He has worked in the environmental planning industry for many years and is very active in local and state environmental decision making on issues ranging from the Salton Sea to fracking to western Joshua tree restoration and Big Bear’s famous bald eagles—Jackie and Shadow. (LinkedIn)
TUESDAY:
Join Amy Wolfrum of the Monterey Bay Aquarium for an exploration of how advocacy and policy can drive real-world change in the fight against plastic pollution. Amy will share the Aquarium’s efforts to reduce single-use plastics and take you behind the scenes of SB 54 — California’s groundbreaking Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Responsibility Act, the first law of its kind in the nation. With a clear-eyed look at where we are now, the challenges that remain, and the opportunities ahead, Amy will illuminate how science, policy, and the public can come together to protect our ocean and our future.
Amy Wolfrum
Director of CA Policy and Government Affairs
Amy Wolfrum is the Director of California Policy and Government Affairs at Monterey Bay Aquarium, where she leads efforts to advance science-based policy solutions to protect ocean health and biodiversity. Amy serves as the Aquarium’s policy lead for SB 54—the groundbreaking law aimed at transforming California’s plastics economy and reducing single-use packaging waste at the source. With more than two decades of experience in environmental policy and public affairs, Amy’s work focuses on California’s most urgent conservation challenges: combating climate change, eliminating ocean plastic pollution, restoring iconic species like the southern sea otter, and building strong partnerships across local and state governments. She also serves as the Director of the California Association of Zoos and Aquariums. Amy holds a B.A. in Economics and Environmental Studies from Occidental College and an M.B.A. with a concentration in Environmental Policy and Management from The George Washington University.
WEDNESDAY:
NRC UPDATE:
Teresa Bradley
Race to Zero Waste CEO, National Recycling Coalition President
Teresa Bradley is CEO and Founder of Race to Zero Waste, an environmental non-profit that focuses on community-centered education. In support of its mission, Race to Zero Waste works to build local, national, and global campaigns through a network of community coalition leaders who are delivering the message of the circular economy through a variety of pop-up events, webinars, and workshops. Teresa is a Missouri native and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Geography and Environmental Studies from the University of Missouri and a Master of Science in Environmental Managment from the University of San Francisco. Teresa has worked in resource recovery for 20 years in both local government and the non-profit sector across the U.S. Additionally, she is the co-founder of CircularSTL, a reuse coalition led by other passionate environmentalists to realize a circular economy for the St. Louis Region. Lastly, she is an adjunct Professor at the University of San Francisco and is a TRUE Advisor. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling for weeks at a time in her RV, hanging out with her daughter Chloe, partner Jeff and cat Luna.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
Miho Ligare
Senior Manager, Plastic Pollution Initiative
Miho is the Surfrider Foundation’s Senior Plastic Pollution Initiative Manager. In this role, she oversees and manages Surfrider’s plastic pollution advocacy and program efforts. On the policy front, she focuses on policy advancements, including advocating for effective legislation at the local, state, national, and international levels. The program work includes supporting Surfrider’s nationally recognized Beach Cleanup and Ocean Friendly Restaurants and Hotels programs. She also represents the ocean advocacy organization seat on the Plastic Pollution Prevention and Packaging Producer Responsibility Act (SB 54) advisory board.
She brings over 20 years of policy, research, and management experience, working at non-profits, government agencies, and academic institutions. She has a Master’s in Environmental Science and Management from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and served as a California Sea Grant State Fellow for the California Natural Resources Agency. Miho is based near Sacramento, and in her spare time enjoys going on adventures with her family, taking trips to the coast, hiking, trying new recipes, and floating down the river.
Pricing.
MEMBER (Early Bird Pricing June 6th)
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Member: Full Conference Registration, purchased on or before 6/6
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Member: One Day Only Registration purchased on or by 6/6. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
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Member: Full VIRTUAL Conference Registration, purchased on or before 6/6
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Includes exhibit booth and one full conference pass. Registration to be in the name of the CRRA member who will have ownership of the booth and access to the full conference
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Booth attendant only - does NOT include plenary, sessions, welcome reception or Wednesday lunch. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
NON-MEMBER (Early Bird Pricing June 6th)
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NonMember: Full Conference Registration, purchased on or before 6/6. Includes a one year CRRA membership.
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NonMember: One Day Only Registration purchased on or before 6/6. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
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NonMember: Full VIRTUAL Conference Registration, purchased on or before 6/6. Includes a one year CRRA membership.
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Includes exhibit booth and one full conference pass. Registration to be in the name of the CRRA member who will have ownership of the booth and access to the full conference
-
Booth attendant only - does NOT include plenary, sessions, welcome reception or Wednesday lunch. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
MEMBER (Standard Pricing June 7th - July 18th)
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Member: Full Conference Registration, Purchased 6/7-7/18)
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Member: One Day Only Registration Purchased 6/7-7/18. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
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Member: Full VIRTUAL Conference Registration, Purchased 6/7-7/18
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Includes exhibit booth and one full conference pass. Registration to be in the name of the CRRA member who will have ownership of the booth and access to the full conference
-
Booth attendant only - does NOT include plenary, sessions, welcome reception or Wednesday lunch. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
NON-MEMBER (Standard Pricing June 7th - July 18th)
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NonMember: Full Conference Registration, Purchased 6/7-7/18. Includes a one year CRRA membership.
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NonMember: One Day Only Registration purchased 6/7-7/18. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
-
NonMember: Full VIRTUAL Conference Registration, purchased 6/7-7/18. Includes a one year CRRA membership.
-
Includes exhibit booth and one full conference pass. Registration to be in the name of the CRRA member who will have ownership of the booth and access to the full conference
-
Booth attendant only - does NOT include plenary, sessions, welcome reception or Wednesday lunch. If you are purchasing more than one 1-day registration for yourself, you will need to complete this form once for each 1-day. You will then be able to pay for both 1-days upon checkout.
REGISTRATION OPENS: FEBRUARY 3rd
EARLY BIRD CUTOFF: Please note that if you have registered for any of the Early Bird rates, payment in full must be received, OR postmarked, by June 6, 2025. Any registrations not paid by this date will automatically be converted to the full registration price. Standard registration payments must be received in our offices on or before July 18th. Conference badges and booths cannot be released until payment has cleared. Please call 916-441-2772, x3 for questions.
MEALS - Please note: we provide the following meals for registered attendees: continental breakfast on August 4, 5 and 6; lunch on August 5 and 6 only. Only individuals registered for the conference have access to the dining area.
Thank you to our Sponsors!
Schedule.
*All times & events subject to change
SUNDAY, August 3rd
12:30 PM TO 2:15 PM » CRRA BOARD MEETING - Closed Meeting/Board Members Only
1:00 PM to 5:30 PM » EXHIBITOR MOVE IN
2:30 PM TO 5:00 PM » CRRA ANNUAL POLICY ROUND TABLE
3:00 PM TO 5:30 PM » REGISTRATION OPEN
6:00 PM TO 8:00 PM » WELCOME RECEPTION
MONDAY, August 4th
7:00 AM » REGISTRATION OPENS
7:00 AM TO 7:45 AM » BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibit Hall
8:00 AM TO 10:00 AM» PLENARY & CRRA AWARDS
10:00 AM TO 10:45 AM » BREAK WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibit Hall
10:45 AM TO 12:15 PM » GENERAL SESSIONS
12:15 PM TO 2:15 PM » ATTENDEE LUNCH BREAK
12:30 PM TO 1:30 PM » TECHNICAL COUNCIL MEET-UPS (sign-up required; details TBD)
2:15 PM TO 3:45 PM » GENERAL SESSIONS
3:45 PM TO 4:00 PM » BREAK
4:00 PM TO 5:30 PM » GENERAL SESSIONS
5:30 PM TO 7:30 PM » RECEPTION WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibit Hall and Foyer
7:00 PM TO 8:00 PM » MENTORSHIP CIRCLE HAPPY HOUR
TUESDAY, August 5th
6:50 AM TO 7:45 AM » YOGA
7:00 AM » REGISTRATION OPENS
7:00 AM TO 8:30 AM » BREAKFAST WITH THE EXHIBITORS - Exhibit Hall
8:45 AM TO 10:15 AM » GENERAL SESSIONS
10:30 AM TO 12:30 PM » PLENARY & CPSC AWARDS
12:30 PM TO 1:30 PM » LUNCH WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibit Hall
12:30 PM TO 1:30 PM » TECHNICAL COUNCIL MEET-UPS
1:30 PM TO 2:30 PM » CRRA ANNUAL MEMBERS MEETING
2:45 PM TO 4:15 PM » GENERAL SESSIONS
4:15 PM TO 4:30 PM » BREAK
4:30 PM TO 6:00 PM » GENERAL SESSIONS
8:30 PM TO 11:59 PM » NCRA PLAYERS SHOW
WEDNESDAY, August 6th
8:00 AM TO 2:00PM» REGISTRATION OPEN
8:00 AM TO 8:45 AM » BREAKFAST WITH EXHIBITORS - Exhibit Hall
9:00 AM TO 10:30 AM » GENERAL SESSIONS
10:30 AM TO 10:45 AM » BREAK
10:45 AM TO 12:30 PM » EXHIBITOR MOVE OUT - Exhibit Hall
10:45 AM TO 12:15 PM » GENERAL SESSIONS
12:30 PM TO 1:45 PM » PLENARY & LUNCH
2:00 PM TO 5:00 PM » TOURS (registration required, details TBD)
WHY BECOME AN EXHIBITOR?
CRRA is proud to be among the leaders of a vision of sustainability in and beyond California. CRRA was the first state recycling organization and continues as a strong voice for zero waste strategies. As a CRRA exhibitor you expose your company or organization to CRRA's diverse community of local, regional and state government officials, recycling and composting industry people, and allied organizations.
WHO ARE CRRA EXHIBITORS?
Environmental consultants, non-profit groups, composting companies, refuse/recycling haulers, recycling suppliers, and other professionals concerned with resource management issues in California.
Returning 2024 exhibitors will be able to book 2025 booth spaces by end of December. More information will be sent directly. Those companies new to CRRA 2025 will be able to book booth space in early February.
Trade Show.
Policies and Fine Print.
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Send written cancellation requests by email to lauren@crra.com. Cancellation requests will not be accepted by phone.
Cancellations requests received by May 6, 2025 will receive a 100% refund, less a $50 per person processing fee.
Cancellation requests received between May 7 and by July 7, 2025 will receive a 50% refund, less a $50 per person processing fee.
Cancellations requests received after July 7, 2025 will not be refunded.
“No shows” will not be refunded.
Cancellation reimbursement payments will be processed four to six weeks after August 6, 2025.
Substitutions are allowed. If substituting a non-member for a member registration, non-member rate increase will apply.
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Payments by check for Early Bird rates must be received and/or postmarked by June 6, 2025 to receive Early Bird discounted pricing. Registration will not be complete when payments of Early Bird rates are received after June 6, until payment in full at the applicable rate is received.
Payments by check must be received in our offices by July 18, 2025 to ensure registration will be complete and conference credentials provided at the event.
Registration is not guaranteed and conference credentials may be withheld when payment by check is received after July 18, 2025; payment in full by credit card may be required at time of check-in to obtain conference credentials.
Registration is not guaranteed and conference credentials may be withheld until payment in full is provided; payment in full by credit card may be required at time of check-in to obtain conference credentials.
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Membership dues must be paid in full at time of purchase to receive the membership discount.
Conference credentials will not be provided until registration fees have been received in full (as well as any membership dues, if applicable).
All past due monies and balance due from previous CRRA events must be paid in full, to receive Conference credentials.
Conference registrations may be transferred or substituted in whole upon written request. Please contact us for details.
Conference registration is for one named individual and may not be “shared” between multiple individuals.
Full-Conference Rates include all plenary and panel sessions, receptions, and on-site meals.
Tours are available on a first-come, first-reserved basis. A wait list will be available.
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By attending this event you understand that CRRA cannot prevent you from becoming exposed to, contracting, or spreading COVID-19 while attending this conference. You understand that by choosing to attend this conference, you may be exposing yourself to and/or increasing your risk of contracting or spreading COVID-19. Some participants who have certain health risks or who live with people at risk may have to, or choose to, wear masks; CRRA asks that you respect their choice and right to wear a mask in order to protect themselves, their families and their communities. For those who are experiencing cold symptoms prior to the event, please consider COVID-19 testing prior to attending. Anyone who must cancel their in-person plans will be automatically provided virtual conference access.
