Pre-Conference Certification Classes

Certification Class: Waste Management – (0.60 CEUs / 6 Hours Re-Certification Credits)

“What if recycling didn’t exist?  What if everything we use was wasted?

See firsthand the complex operations of managing our waste and its decomposing by-products, from the trash truck to cleaner air, to drinkable water.  How do all these systems protect our communities and the environment? 

But…can waste and wildlife live side by side?”

Here is a list of stops at the facility.  

• Grand Central Sanitary Landfill – Active landfilling operation
• Waste Water Treatment Plant (Reverse Osmosis system)
• Green Knight Energy Plant (Turning landfill gas to energy, supporting local non-profit organizations)
• WM Education Center – Wildlife Habitat Certification and ongoing education.  Short hike weather permitting.

All attendees must wear sturdy closed-toed shoes, long pants, no heels or sandals. 

If you have your own safety gear (hard hat, glasses, safety vest), please bring with you; otherwise it will be provided.

Member Price - $275 / Non-Member Price $415

Certification Class: Professional Development  – (0.60 CEUs / 6 Hours Re-Certification Credits) 

Description coming soon.
Member Price - $275 / Non-Member Price $415

Registration Open

What do behavioral scientists know about recycling behavior?

A brief summary of what behavioral scientists in social psychology, sustainability, consumer behavior and other related areas have discovered about recycling and composting behaviors and how practitioners can use these insights to foster change.

Speaker/Presenter:  Maryam “Maya” Shahri, PhD - Post Doctoral Research Associate (Agricultural and Biological Engineering) - Pennsylvania State University

Certification Class:  Special Collections (Battery Recycling / Management)  – (0.15 CEUs / 1.5 Hours Re-Certification Credits)

 This course will feature a roundtable where panelists will discuss battery recycling/management at permanent sites as well as single collection events.  Panelists will offer insights regarding site safety guidelines, bid or quote solicitation, site selection, public education/signage, personnel requirements, insurance, and other considerations for a successful battery management event or site.

Mindy Waltemyer - Course Coordinator / Presenters TBA

Contracts & Bid Specifications – (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Join us as we discuss a brief history of waste management and municipal services, then we will talk about negotiating when developing the bid specifications, and how to properly craft your specifications, avoiding “traps” that discourage bidders.  After which we will go over Post Bid Requirements and discuss the trends in contracting and bid specifications.

Speakers/Presenters:  Chuck Raudenbush – Consultant / Dominic Fulginiti – Republic Services / Don Isabella – Waste Management

Student Session!

Description coming soon.

Certification Class - 360 Commodities Marketing - 0.20 CEUs / 2 Hours

Description coming soon.

Illegal Dumping Updates and Strategies – (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful and the City of Philadelphia will lead an interactive session on Illegal Dumping and Littering, as well as provide updates and strategies on illegal dumping.  Bring your questions and suggestions to this interactive session as we try to tackle these statewide problems.

Speakers/presenters: Rob Dubas - Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful / Kyle Lewis - City of Philadelphia / Scott McGrath - City of Philadelphia

Recycling Coordinators Corner / Town Hall

Just ask our panel of experts in this town hall style open discussion session.  We have a lineup of recycling coordinators from across the Commonwealth who are ready to listen to your challenges and share their expertise!

Speakers/Panel: Lisa Covatta – West Goshen Township / Ann Saurman – City of Allentown / Zach Trexler – Palmer Township /  TBA

Registration Open

Plenary 1: “repurposing”:  A new frontier in landfill diversion.

See many before/after examples of how the castoffs and discards of industry get very different and productive 2^nd lives. As founder and President of repurposedMATERIALS, Damon Carson brings a unique, fresh take on the perennially hot topics of sustainability and Zero Waste.

Speaker/presenter:  Damon Carson, Founder & President repurposedMATERIALS

Electronics: What’s Changed the last 10 years? Collecting / Refurbishing / Processing / End of Life - (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Our panel will discuss how things have changed in the last 10 years, with collecting, refurbishing, processing, and the end of life for electronics. They will also talk about the issues with electronics plastics and talk about upcoming legislative items concerning electronics recycling.  Bring your questions to the session to ask the panel who will be happy to answer them.

 Speaker/Presenter: Justin Miller – Cumberland County Solid Waste Authority, Ned Eldridge – eLoop LLC, Gordon Burgoyne - Covanta Environmental Solutions (ECOvanta)

Challenges and Opportunities in C&D Recycling – (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Certification Class 540 - Grant Writing - 0.125 CEUs / 1.25 Hours

The instructor will introduce the concept of grant writing and talk generally about what information Grant Foundations look for. Participants will look at sample working, graphics and electronics that Grant Institutions find desirable. Participants will also find ways to locate funding sources.

Instructors/Presenters:  TBA

Organics Session - Composting: The Practical Science– (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Attendees will learn about the basics of composting, what it is, why it’s important. (Microbial Actions / C N Ratios / Feedstocks) (portions of the waste stream, saving landfill space, providing a soil amendment)

Speakers/Presenters: TBA

Recycling Education and Communication Strategies to use Inside and Outside of your Organization! – (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Are you looking for some fresh ideas to promote your recycling program externally as well as internally?  Amy and Jessi have the tools for you!  Whether it is educating the public on how to recycle correctly or communicating to your Supervisors that what you do is important – we have it all (or what we can share in an hour).  Join us for a fun and informative session on recycling education and communication strategies.

Speakers/presenters:  Amy Schirf – Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority / Jessica Stutzman – Millcreek Township

Plenary 2: Legislative Update

Legislative Updates from the PROP Legislative Committee Chair.
Presenter: Veronica Harris - Montgomery County Planning Commission (Chair of the PROP Legislative Committee)

ANJR - What's happening in New Jersey.

The presenters will describe the operations of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers (ANJR). This Session will focus on the implementation of New Jersey's Single Use Plastics law, Sustainable Food Waste Management as well as a New Jersey Legislative update.

Presenters - Gary Sondermeyer - Executive Director for Sustainable Jersey / JoAnn Gemenden – Executive Director of Clean Communities Council / Neil Blitz – Treasurer of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers

Certification Class 460 – Anti-Litter & Recycling Enforcement - 0.15 CEUs / 1.5 Hours

In this class we will go over state and local laws and ordinances. Time will also be spent on the subject of gathering evidence. The use of specialized equipment (namely camera surveillance) will be covered. We will also discuss legal procedures which will include prosecuting a case. In addition, ideas will be shared among participants on successful clean-ups.

Current List of Panelists:  Brett Stout – City of Allentown / TBA

EPA Grants Update  – (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Join us for an overview of recent and future EPA funding opportunities including the SWIFR and REO grant programs and how to apply.

Speaker/Presenter: Kelly Moran - US EPA Region 3

Repurposing Part 2: Natural Geologic Materials - Small, Medium, and Large-Scale

The session will involve how natural geological materials can be: 1) be reused in their natural form after minor processing (medium scale); 2) recycled into new products (small scale); and 3) repurposed for both energy production and mine reclamation (with additional repurposing of a natural land area (large scale)).

Organics Session - Where to start, how do I establish a program – (0.10 CEUs / 1 Hour Re-Certification Credits)

Attendees will learn where to start to establish a program, what permitting is required, sitting parameters, engineering components, collection processes, and how to be a good neighbor.

Speakers/Presenters: TBA

Registration Open

Plenary 3: Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center Update Session - Happenings and Case Studies

Bob Bylone, MEng, President, CEO, Recycling Markets Center Corporation 501c(3)

Plenary 4: PA Department of Environmental Protection Updates

PA Department of Environmental Protection Personnel