Pre-Conference Certification & Organics Classes / Tours

Organic's Tour - Lancaster Area Food Waste Recycling & Composting (6 Hours ReCert Credits)

The following places will be toured:

Blessings of Hope / Stoner Compost {Lunch at Jakes on Main in Salunga} Brubaker Farms / Lancaster Farmacy

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

Recycling Tour - York area Recycling Tour (6 Hours ReCert Credits)

The following places will be toured:

Penn Waste / York County Solid Waste Authority {Lunch and Tour at YCSWA} Recyclops

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

PROP Board of Directors Meeting (Dinner included)

Early Exhibitor Setup

Registration Open

Exhibitor Setup

The Universal Pitch Playbook, Speak Their Language at Every Level. “Certification Class 420”

This class helps non-educators effectively present information to adults and children. The class will focus on training participants to effectively communicate recycling information to both adult and youth audiences.

Understanding Marine Debris Impacts and Actions

The harmful impacts of marine debris are widely observed—from microplastics contaminating the freshwater Great Lakes to derelict vessels littering tributaries and coasts. Explore the variety of actions taking place nationwide to address marine debris, including emerging end markets for recovered debris and interdisciplinary approaches to tackling the issue.

Organics - Food Waste Collections & Permitting

A discussion on successful food waste collection programs / options and current Food Waste permitting requirements (DEP) and regulatory requirements in surrounding states.

Brunch and Meet the Exhibitors

2026 Conference Welcome from the Lancaster County Solid Waste Management Authority's Executive Director Daniel Youngs and Director of Sustainability Michelle Marsh

Keynote: TBA

Data Driven Results

We will have a summarization of recent RMC Projects including the recent Economic Impact Study, and the newly piloted Propane Extraction/Steel Recovery Unit.  We will also have a presentation on how to collect and analyze quality data in order to improve your program.

International Recycling Models

We will be highlighting Fiji, Switzerland, and other European models.

Break

California’s regulated organics, recycling and packaging initiatives

We will be sharing a candid, real-time look at how California’s regulated organics, recycling and packaging initiatives are actually playing out on the ground—what’s working, what’s challenging, and what the data is really showing. The goal is to offer practical lessons and cautionary insights that Pennsylvania recyclers and policymakers can use as they shape their own diversion and circular economy strategies.

Marketers Town Hall

County Coordinators Round-table

 This town hall style open discussion session will be with County Recycling Coordinators who want to share their trials and tribulations.  Our open forum will allow discussions with the audience sharing how we have overcome obstacles and found resources. You need not be a county coordinator to attend.

Municipal Coordinators Round-table

This town hall style open discussion session will be with Municipal Recycling Coordinators who want to share their trials and tribulations.  Our open forum will allow discussions with the audience sharing how we have overcome obstacles and found resources. You need not be a municipal coordinator to attend.

Reception & Annual Picnic

Registration Open

Beyond the Classroom; Comparing K-12 Standards Across All Learning Settings

This session examines how K-12 Education Standards are applied, interpreted, and adapted across public school, private institutions, homeschool environments, and youth organizations such as 4-H, FFA, and Girl Scouts.  Participants will explore where these learning pathways converge around shared academic goals and where they diverge in philosophy, structure, and accountability.  Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how diverse educational environments collectively shape students learning and development.

Organics - Food Waste Management - Use & Sale of Compost

College & University Recycling - Two Universities, One Problem: What Penn State and Villanova Revealed About Recycling System Opportunities.

A compelling comparison between private and public university recycling programs, including differences in waste management operations, haulers, and relationships with counties.

Tire Recycling Panel - Part 1 - Illegal Dumping / Problems / Vector Issues

•  Illegal Dumping on Abandon Mine Lands & EPCAMR's efforts in cleaning up waste tire piles
• Schuylkill County and Schuylkill Keep it Pretty will discuss Illegal Dumping
• Vector issues - Mosquitoes, what makes a tire the optimal place for them to thrive, and what Cumberland County does to help eliminate the issue.

Environmental Behavior:
Sustainability is not just a technical problem—it’s a human one. In this talk, we’ll discuss how understanding environmental behavior can help turn good intentions into lasting, real-world change.

Tire Recycling Panel - Part 2 - Collection/Processing/Funding

• Dauphin County – Presenting on the Center for Employment Opportunities
• Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center - End uses and Products, PA Tire Markets
• How Cumberland County runs and funds their collection, its results, and what other counties in the state do in regard to tires, (funding, fees, etc.)

Registration Open

AI Session - Incorporating it into your life.  How can we leverage AI for our benefit.

• Pennsylvania Recycling Markets Center - AI for the Recycling Professional
• Chester County Solid Waste Authority - How can we leverage AI for our benefit.
• Centre County Recycling & Refuse Authority – How CCRRA is leveraging AI at the Centre County MRF
• AMP Sortation – Transforming Waste Sortation Using AI-Powered Technology

Local Impact, Lasting Change: The Power of Reuse

How refill and reuse models can realistically integrate into communities, behavior change, and where there may be gaps in current systems. (Presenters - Happen Ventures / Refillism)