WasteExpo

2023 Tours & Workshops

May 4, 2023

Add a tour or workshop to your registration! Returning for 2023, we will offer two tours and six half-day workshops on Thursday that each focus on a different industry topic. Workshops include: The Rights of the Waste & Recycling Indutry, Climate Change Impacts, Food Waste & Organics Diversion, Zero Waste Training, Safety, and Roundtable Discussion.

The Recycling Tour

Stop 1: Glass Half Full Facility
Stop 2: Republic Services New Orleans Recycling Center

Things to note:
Closed toed shoes are required.
Bus pick-up 8:30am

Tour the Glass Half Full Facility

Glass Half Full recycles glass into sand and gravel for coastal restoration, disaster relief, mardi gras beads, and more. Get a behind the scenes look at how their operation works and chat with one of their founders about the origin story. The tour will be ~15 minutes, which will leave plenty of time for questions!

Learn more about Glass Half Full here

Republic Services New Orleans Recycling Center

Visit Republic’s MRF in NOLA focused on cardboard — which is such a large piece of today’s waste stream. They also accept some single stream products such as HDPE, PET, and Metal from the cruise ship industry.

Learn more about Republic Services New Orleans Recycling Center here

WORKSHOPS

Food Waste and Organics Diversion for All Waste Generators: Commercial, Residential, Institutional, Events

Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Room: 265
Session Number: WKSP1

*Separate registration required

This is a comprehensive workshop that will guide the attendee in understanding all the important aspects of diverting food waste and organics from landfill. The groundwork for the workshop will include discussion of

Environmental benefits of food scrap diversion
Feeding Hungry People
Laws and Regulations mandating food scrap diversion
Healthy Soils

Non-Edible Food Scraps are generated in almost every building occupied. From homes to schools, to office buildings, restaurants, hotels, hospitals, and industrial facilities. This workshop will identify these locations and help the attendee learn about the processes of waste separation, collection, processing, and reporting that apply to each situation.

Topics to be covered include waste characterization, contamination, health & safety, collection, organics processing options, education of waste generators, data collection and reporting, and tools and programs available to assist in waste diversion.

This workshop will help any municipality, business, educational institution, or commercial entity that generates food scraps and currently sends it to landfill or incineration. The process will be shown to be easy, concise, and compliant with all municipal and state regulations.

Workshop Leader: Charlie Pioli, Founder & CEO, O-Town Compost. FL

Climate Change Impacts on Solid Waste

Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Room: 275
Session Number: WKSP2

*Separate registration required

Climate change has the potential to have serious impacts on waste management infrastructure and systems. The potential impacts are diverse ranging from increasing average temperatures to more frequent and intense storms. Understanding these impacts is the first step to mitigation and ensuring that waste management systems can adapt to a changing environment.

This workshop will bring together a diverse group of speakers to discuss the current research and practices on mitigating climate change impacts in the waste industry. Speaker presentations will explore the potential for climate change impacts and potential options for mitigation across the waste management processes including: waste generation, waste collection, facilities, workforce, and economic impacts.

Climate change is a global issue and how it might impact the waste industry is not always clear. The goal of this workshop is to break it down and provide participants with the information they need to understand the tools for assessing future risks from climate change and potential mitigation options for those risks.

Workshop Leader: Dr. Suzie Boxman, Director of Programs, Environmental Research and Education Foundation (EREF)
Additional Panelists to be named.

PFAS Roundtable and Peer Exchange - Sticking Around for the Conversation

Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Room: 279
Session Number: WKSP3

*Separate registration required

Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances (PFAS) continues to be a challenge for the solid waste industry to navigate as the regulatory community begins to determine how they will regulate these compounds. Given the ubiquitous nature of these compounds it is difficult to completely ban wastes containing PFAS therefore there is a need to continue the discussion around the best management practices.

To date, there have been numerous conferences, summits, and sessions on PFAS which have provided timely content but as an attendee you can still be left with the uncertainty of how to apply this information to your facility or program. In addition, with workforce and budget constraints not all landfill owners and operators have the capacity to invest the time in getting up to speed on the management of PFAS-containing wastes.

This workshop will focus on providing timely content that is adaptable to the ever-changing regulatory climate, as well as provide the opportunity for more in-depth discussions via a roundtable format. Ultimately, the goal will be to bring more people to the table to discuss this important topic.

Workshop Leader(s): Stephanie C. Bolyard, Senior Engineer to the Assistant Secretary, North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality and Nick Chen, Assistant Professor, University of Central Florida

Introduction to Zero Waste Training

Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Room: 273
Session Number: WKSP4

*Separate registration required

Attendees will learn:

Why Zero Waste is the fastest, most cost-effective way communities can reduce climate change impacts, promote local sustainability, and create green jobs
How more than 250 U.S. municipalities are systematically pursuing high diversion and Zero Waste
What Zero Waste businesses – now in the thousands, are doing to help lead the way
How your community could move toward Zero Waste
Where to find the resources needed to further your own knowledge and practice of Zero Waste

This class is taught in a lively, interactive manner by Rick Anthony, a nationally renowned expert. The content is designed to be easy to retain and the extensive resources are easy to access. It is valuable to municipal staff, haulers, decision makers, advocates and all interested in Zero Waste. Certificates of Completion are awarded by Zero Waste USA to students that pass the open book exam and turn in the evaluation.

Workshop Leader: Richard Anthony, Richard Anthony Associates, VP, Zero Waste USA and Chair, Zero Waste International Alliance

NWRA Safety Symposium: Functional Safety Fundamentals

Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Room: 284
Session Number: WKSP5

*Separate registration required

Ever wonder how your safety program can not only ensure safe operations but help with driver retention and recruitment through training and technology? During this safety symposium, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) will bring together operational safety leaders as well as technology and training experts to discuss ways to keep drivers safe both on and off the road.

NWRA-recognized safety experts will conduct a Q&A session on safety issues and recommended practices. Following the Q&A, a driver retention and recruitment panel will discuss the NWRA and FastPort Apprenticeship Program and other ways to retain and recruit drivers.

The final panel will share ways that technology is making the job easier and safer. We look forward to your participation and encourage you to bring questions to ask the panelists.

Workshop Leader: Kirk Sander, Chief of Staff and Vice President of Safety and Standards, National Waste & Recycling Association

2023 NWRA Legal Symposium: Protecting the Rights of the Waste & Recycling Industry

Thursday, May 4, 2023
8:30 am – 12:30 pm
Room: 291
Session Number: WKSP6

*Separate registration required

Attendees will learn:

Whether the issues are from the regulatory, legislative or business standpoints, the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Legal Symposium is a forum for discussion, learning and an opportunity to earn Continuing Legal Education (CLE) credits conferred by state bar associations.

Legal professionals will equip attendees with best practices on enhancing safety, mitigating risks and protecting the rights of our members.

Workshop Leader: Jim Riley, Chief Counsel and Senior Vice President of Government Affairs