Agenda
“THINKING SEVEN GENERATIONS AHEAD: A PORTFOLIO OF STRATEGIES FOR REDUCING WASTE AND ADVANCING COMPOSTING”
The keynote will discuss the portfolio of work that Seven Generations Ahead (SGA) and partners have implemented over the past 15 years in Illinois which have led to residential curbside composting programs, zero waste events, SGA’s Zero Waste Schools program, the founding of the Illinois Food Scrap Coalition and the Wasted Food Action Alliance, and statewide efforts to advance food scrap composting. Participants will walk away with a variety of program strategies and resources to apply across the Midwest, including SGA’s Food Scrap Composting Challenges and Solutions in Illinois Report; Economic Impact & Market Study Report on Composting; Food Waste Reduction Toolkit; and Residential Food Scrap Composting Guide for Municipalities.
“BEST PRACTICES FOR RURAL RECYCLING SYSTEMS: HOW RESIDENTS AND GOVERNMENTS CAN WORK TOGETHER FOR RESOURCE MANAGEMENT“
Participants will learn how government policy makers and residents can work together wherever they are at in the process of starting initiatives related to recycling and resource management.
“IMPLEMENTING POLICY TO INFLUENCE RECYCLING AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT: EXTENDED PRODUCER RESPONSIBILITY“
There are a range of policies to reduce consumption and increase recycling, including extended producer responsibility, landfill bans, deposit laws, and Buy Recycled Campaigns. Learn how they work and their impact in states across the country.
“COMPOSTING FOR SMALL TO MID-SIZE MUNICIPALITIES AND TRANSFER STATIONS“
Organic materials such as wood waste, yard trimmings, and food scraps are expensive to dispose of and can be turned into a lucrative product for resource managers. This session will demonstrate options that small to mid-size municipalities and transfer stations have in processing this product for the benefit of their communities.
“ENVIRONMENTAL WELLNESS FOR THE WORKPLACE“
Environmental wellness and sustainability initiatives can support a culture of safety and wellbeing in the workplace, result in retention and cost-savings for the compnay, and foster a sense of stewardship and sustainability that has far-reaching benefits. This presentation will explore how recycling programs at work impact overall retention, employee satisfaction, and how to implement sustainability initiatives.
VENDOR SHOW AND NETWORKING
Hop around the event hall to different tables to chat to our vendors and other attendees. Tables are themed so you can easily find your niche, or visit them all! Need an icebreaker? We can help. NRC has a networking challenge game for you to complete at the conference, and it may even win you a prize! Do tasks like ✔ Talk to a 2021 award winner, ✔ Share an idea with someone new, and ✔ Visit all the vendor booths. Complete the list, and you'll be entered into a drawing to win a prize! Prizes will include a compost tumbler, a free pass to NRC's 2022 conference, books on sustainability, and goody bags!