Schedule of Events

Exhibit Hall Hours

Wednesday, October 11 - 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, October 12 - 7:30 AM - 7:00 PM

Times, sessions and speakers are subject to change.

07:00 AM – 09:00 AM

LRS Facility Tour (additional fee)
Sponsored By

09:00 AM – 11:00 AM

LRS Facility Tour (additional fee)
Sponsored By

10:00 AM – 07:00 PM

Registration Open

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM

Sustainable Packaging Workshop (additional fee)
In this session, recent trends in packaging are reviewed and factors that affect the sustainability of paper packaging are discussed. The workshop covers new package types that, while promoted as “more circular,” are questionable in terms of sustainability. The rapid growth of e-commerce and the implications for shipping packaging will be addressed, as well as changes in curbside recycling in recent years and the implications of adding new types of packaging. Different types of paper packages will be analyzed in terms of how they fare when sorted at the MRF (materials recovery facility). Finally, the impact on the recyclability of nonpaper elements, such as inks, labels, wraps and more, on packages are discussed.
Susan Cornish
Speaker Susan Cornish President Insight + Action LLC, United States View Bio
Bill Moore
Speaker Bill Moore President Moore & Associates, United States View Bio

01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

Recovered Paper in Developing Asia: Changes in the Wake of China's Ban on Imports
We examine the role of the Southeast Asian RCP markets have played in replacing the former export demand from China.
Mike Belus
Moderator Mike Belus Vice President - International Trading & Strategic Market Development GP Harmon Recycling LLC View Bio
Randy Kim
Speaker Randy Kim Export Director Kousa International View Bio
Brett Lurie
Speaker Brett Lurie President The Wilmington Group View Bio

01:00 PM – 02:15 PM

The Global Plastics Treaty: An Update
Sponsored By
The United Nations voted in favor of a global treaty to address the plastic pollution crisis in early 2022. Five Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee meetings were proposed, the first two of which were in November 2022 and May 2023. We review the U.N.’s goals for the treaty and the approach the U.S. is taking.
Jon Stephens
Moderator Jon Stephens CEO Natura PCR View Bio
Adam Shaffer
Speaker Adam Shaffer Assistant Vice President of International Trade and Global Affairs Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) View Bio
Patrick Krieger
Speaker Patrick Krieger Vice President, Sustainability Plastics Industry Association View Bio

02:15 PM – 02:30 PM

Networking Refreshment Break
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02:30 PM – 03:45 PM

Corrugated Boxes, Containerboard and OCC: Where Do We Stand?
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This session examines the new capacity that has come online for containerboard and the rationalization that is expected to occur to balance supply and demand. We also look at how OCC and mixed paper demand will be affected as a result.
Bill Moore
Moderator Bill Moore President Moore & Associates, United States View Bio
Ryan Fox
Speaker Ryan Fox Corrugated Packaging Market Analyst Bloomberg View Bio
Andrew Dunbar
Speaker Andrew Dunbar Director of Marketing East WM View Bio
John Grinnell
Speaker John Grinnell Vice President & General Manager Greif Recycling View Bio

02:30 PM – 03:45 PM

Chemical Recycling: Where Are We Now?
We provide an update on the chemical recycling investments in the U.S. and their approach to supply and offtake agreements.
Andrea Bassetti
Moderator Andrea Bassetti Senior Analyst, Plastics Recycling - The Americas ICIS View Bio
Marija Massey
Speaker Marija Massey Strategic Sourcing Manager, Circular Feedstocks, North America Eastman View Bio
Clint Thompson
Speaker Clint Thompson Chief Commercial Officer Nexus Circular View Bio

03:45 PM – 04:00 PM

Networking Refreshment Break
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04:00 PM – 05:30 PM

Opening Keynote: Opportunity at the Intersection of Volatility and Uncertainty
Sponsored By
As the Eurasia Group notes, modernity is characterized by volatility and uncertainty. In this keynote session, learn more about the changing geopolitical landscape and the risks and opportunities it presents to businesses in the recycling industry.
Shari Friedman
Speaker Shari Friedman Managing Director, Energy, Climate and Resources Eurasia Group View Bio

05:30 PM – 07:00 PM

Opening Reception in the Exhibit Hall
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07:30 AM – 07:00 PM

Registration Open

07:30 AM – 08:30 AM

Networking Continental Breakfast in the Exhibit Hall
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08:30 AM – 10:00 AM

From A to B: The Outlook for Transportation
Sponsored By
The tightness seen earlier in the pandemic in the trucking and container ship sectors has eased, though pricing remains higher than prepandemic levels. Experts examine the transportation landscape and where it might be heading in 2024.
Dan Gee
Moderator Dan Gee Senior Associate Moore & Associates View Bio
John Paul Hampstead
Speaker John Paul Hampstead Strategic Analyst FreightWaves View Bio
Anupa Pradhan
Speaker Anupa Pradhan Vice President Sealink International Inc. View Bio
Tyler Brown
Speaker Tyler Brown Business Development Leader AmeriLux Transportation & Logistics View Bio

10:00 AM – 10:30 AM

Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

Polyolefins Market Outlook
Sponsored By
We look at the factors shaping supply and demand for recycled polypropylene and ethylene plastics.
Lee Cornell
Moderator Lee Cornell Director of Mill Supply Firstar Fiber View Bio
Hendrik Dullinger
Speaker Hendrik Dullinger Vice President Business Development EFS-Plastics US View Bio
Joe Shamatta
Speaker Joe Shamatta Director, Supply & Trading Envision Plastics View Bio
Greg Janson
Speaker Greg Janson President and CEO Granite Peak Plastics View Bio

10:30 AM – 12:00 PM

PSI Session: Legislated Disruption
Various recycled-content and EPR laws have been enacted. We look at the effect this legislation is having on the supply of and demand for recycled materials and the pros and cons associated with the changing paradigm on how recycling is funded.
Resa Dimino
Moderator Resa Dimino Managing Partner Signalfire Group View Bio
Shannon Crawford Gay
Speaker Shannon Crawford Gay Director of Recycling & Environmental Policy WM View Bio
Robin Wiener
Speaker Robin Wiener President Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI) View Bio

12:00 PM – 01:30 PM

Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

01:30 PM – 02:30 PM

MRF to Mill: Addressing Foodservice Packaging
In the past several years, the Foodservice Packaging Institute (FPI), along with industry partners, have commissioned studies that indicate foodservice packaging materials, such as paper and plastic cups, pizza boxes and takeout containers, can be recycled. These studies have led to action including further research and testing of material sorting/processing, and discussions between MRFs and mills/end markets on how to increase acceptance of these materials. This session highlights success stories that have used collaboration and communication to identify, test and increase the acceptance of foodservice packaging at the MRF and end markets.
Brianna Langley Henderson
Speaker Brianna Langley Henderson Regional CX Manager Waste Connections View Bio
Matt Todd
Speaker Matt Todd Senior Consultant RRS View Bio
Mark Bond
Speaker Mark Bond Director of Pulp Sales Sustana Group View Bio

01:30 PM – 02:30 PM

PET Market Outlook
We look at the factors shaping supply and demand for rPET.
DeAnne Toto
Moderator DeAnne Toto Editorial Director Recycling Today Media Group, United States View Bio
Lori Carson
Speaker Lori Carson Market Development Manager Phoenix Technologies International LLC View Bio

02:30 PM – 03:00 PM

Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
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03:00 PM – 04:00 PM

Where's the Money: Funding MRF Advancements
Modernizing MRFs takes considerable investment. Panelists discuss the options that are available to help MRF operators retool their operations to respond the changing market dynamics.
Bill Keegan
Speaker Bill Keegan President Dem-Con Companies View Bio
Scott Breen
Speaker Scott Breen Vice President of Sustainability Can Manufacturers Institute View Bio
Stephen Klemann
Speaker Stephen Klemann Director of Sales Closed Loop Partners View Bio
Amy Uong
Speaker Amy Uong Senior Recycling Manager Nespresso USA View Bio

03:00 PM – 04:00 PM

How Recycling Could Benefit from Standardization
Recycling in the U.S. lacks consistency given the variation that occurs in municipal programs. This session examines how standardization could improve participation and reduce confusion and what standardization could look like.
Brittany LaValley
Moderator Brittany LaValley Senior Director of Materials Advancement The Recycling Partnership View Bio
Mitch Hedlund
Speaker Mitch Hedlund Founder and Executive Director Recycle Across America View Bio
Nena Shaw
Speaker Nena Shaw Director, Resource Conservation and Sustainability Division US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) View Bio
Scott Mouw
Speaker Scott Mouw Senior Director of Strategy and Research The Recycling Partnership View Bio

04:00 PM – 04:30 PM

Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By

04:30 PM – 05:30 PM

Inside the Modern MRF
Sponsored By

Technology is rapidly changing the way MRFs function as they become highly automated sortation facilities. The business model around the facilities has also changed as processing fees have become the industry norm. Future changes will emerge as EPR evolves and consumer brands want to increasingly gain visibility into the recovery and recycling rates of their packaging.

This unique session will provide insights from some of the industry’s largest operators as to how they see the modern MRF evolving over the coming years.

Nat Egosi
Moderator Nat Egosi President RRT Design & Construction View Bio
Dan Kurtz
Speaker Dan Kurtz Executive Director Waste Connections View Bio

04:30 PM – 05:30 PM

Demand Growth in Latin America
Recovered paper and plastics flow into Mexico as well as Latin America. We examine the demand growth potential in the region in this session.
Vincent Leon
Moderator Vincent Leon Principal AFRY Management Consulting View Bio
Rusty Getter
Speaker Rusty Getter Director Commodities Team Balcones Resources View Bio
Jonathan De Leon
Speaker Jonathan De Leon Fiber Procurement and Logistics Manager Bio Pappel View Bio
Adriana Williams
Speaker Adriana Williams Senior VP Latin America NewportCH International View Bio

05:30 PM – 07:00 PM

Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Sponsored By