Conference Program

Empowering Engagement: Women's Affinity Groups as Catalysts for Organizational Success

Women’s affinity groups play an important role when it comes to overall organizational success for companies in the solid waste recycling industry. From providing support to employees, to building connections based on shared characteristics or interests, to improving communication and collaboration, these affinity groups are part of a critical strategy to enhance employee engagement. In this Spotlight Session, presented by the National Waste & Recycling Association’s Women’s Council, industry experts will share how affinity groups can build a sense of community and belonging for employees by connecting people in a social and professional way and encouraging interaction between employees. They’ll also discuss how creating and maintaining these groups can reduce employee turnover and drive labor cost savings. Tune in to learn more about successful women’s affinity groups and best practices for starting your own.

Moderator:
Amanda Curtis, American Waste Control

Speakers: 
Sam Podgorny, ESG
Pam Caron, Risk Strategies
Sue Netherton, Waste Connections
Sal Conigolio, Recology
Chris Hawn, Machinex

 

Climbing the Ladder: Insights from Young Professionals in the C-suite

In the waste and recycling industry, no two companies or positions are the same. Therefore, leadership styles vary, and different skills are needed for different roles. As you prepare to grow your career within the industry, join this session and hear from our panel on: how do you navigate the pathway to the top? What skills do you need to have in your toolbelt to be a senior leader? How can you lead by example and set your team up for success? Learn from and celebrate some of the industry’s young professionals who are already making an impact in the C-suite. Through storytelling and examples, they’ll share how they climbed the ladder to the top, and what opportunities and roadblocks they faced along the way.

Moderator:
Mallory Szczepanski, NWRA

Speakers: 
Matt Spencer, LRS 
Mike Zukusky, BTR 
Brian Cleveringa, Eagle River Capital/HSBO
Julie Stilo, Stilo Disposal

"Recycling is BS"–Combating Myths & Altering Perceptions–For Everyone’s Sake

8 out of 10 Americans report recycling is worth the effort, yet in homes with curbside recycling collection, over half of recyclables end up in the trash. Why? We know recycling is complex and highly interdependent. We also know there is a correlation between confidence and positive recycling behaviors.

The Recycling Partnership reports 84% of respondents said seeing a card with basic recycling information would give them more confidence in recycling but only a quarter of them remember receiving the information already. Only 47% said they believe their recyclables are always or usually made into new things.

We’ve all tried education programs to help bridge the intention-action gap. How do we truly rebuild confidence in the system so that the recycling is done, done properly, therefore aiding contamination reduction, process improvement and efficiency and lead to more resource recovery and revenue.

Some of it is tied to unlocking behavior change by using the right tools, motivation and illustrating how and why to recycle.Hear key research findings into what it will take—from all of us in the value chain—to incite the change necessary to accelerate re cycling best practices.

Speakers: 
Cody Marshall, The Recycling Partnership
Nicholas Trout, Sourcewell
Jerry Schuber Sr., Director of Solid Waste and Recycling, City of Broken Arrow
Alan Morrison, Solid Waste Division, CIty of Orlando Solid Waste
Louis Cummings, Solid Waste Manager, City of Kansas City Missouri