Schedule of Events
Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference 2022
Exhibit Hall Hours
Wednesday, October 19, 2022 - 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM
Thursday, October 20, 2022 - 10:00 AM - 7:00 PM
Times, sessions and speakers are subject to change.
Session Topics
11:00 AM – 07:00 PM
Registration Open
Event Function
11:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Packaging Sustainability Workshop (additional fee required)
General Session
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM
Hiring & Retention
General Session
Every aspect of the supply chain has been impacted by the challenges of today's labor market. In this session, representatives from both the public and private sectors will share their successes and lessons learned when it comes to hiring and retaining employees.
01:00 PM – 02:00 PM
Chemical Recycling
General Session
Chemical recycling has the potential to complement mechanical recycling, but questions remain about the technology's environmental impacts. In this session, we consider the life cycle assessments of the plastics made from the raw materials generated by chemical recycling and the push-back chemical recycling has seen from NGOs.
02:00 PM – 02:15 PM
Networking Refreshment Break
Event Function
02:15 PM – 03:45 PM
Commodity Focus: PET
General Session
Voluntary brand commitments and recycled-content mandates have increased demand and pricing for recovered PET, though the collection rate remains low. Panelists in this session discuss PET market dynamics and whether legislation can help to improve recovery of this material.
02:15 PM – 03:45 PM
Commodity Focus: High Grades
General Session
03:45 PM – 04:00 PM
Networking Refreshment Break
Event Function
04:00 PM – 05:30 PM
Keynote: Economic Update
Keynote Session
05:30 PM – 07:00 PM
Welcome Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Event Function
05:30 PM – 07:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Exhibit Hall Hours
07:30 AM – 07:00 PM
Registration Open
Event Function
07:30 AM – 08:30 AM
Networking Continental Breakfast
Event Function
08:30 AM – 10:00 AM
EPR & Sustainable Packaging Part 1
General Session
EPR was once a far-off idea, but it has since gained traction in the U.S. Kicking off two parts of this conversation, our speakers will break down what EPR really means and present a debate featuring differing views on the topic.
10:00 AM – 10:30 AM
Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Event Function
10:00 AM – 07:00 PM
Exhibit Hall Open
Exhibit Hall Hours
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Commodity Focus: OCC/Mixed Paper
General Session
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Commodity Focus: Polyolefins
General Session
Prices for recovered HDPE and PP reached new highs last year, fueled in part by problems with virgin production and brand-owner demand. Panelists share their thoughts on where markets for these plastics as well as for LDPE and LLDPE film are headed and the factors that are influencing them.
12:00 PM – 01:30 PM
Networking Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
Event Function
01:30 PM – 02:30 PM
Moving Materials: Part 2
General Session
Trucking and container shipping still present many challenges across the supply chain. As a follow up to our conversation in 2021, we will look into new areas of impact on the horizon for transportation.
01:30 PM – 02:30 PM
EPR & Sustainable Packaging Part 2
General Session
02:30 PM – 03:00 PM
Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Event Function
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM
MRF Technology
General Session
Whether it's an expansion project, a new build, or a retrofit, the technology implemented in a MRF requires a strategic plan for successful integration. Our panelists will discuss their approach to new technology and the strategy behind it.
03:00 PM – 04:00 PM
International Trade
General Session
04:00 PM – 04:30 PM
Networking Refreshment Break in the Exhibit Hall
Event Function
04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Plastics Consumer Session
General Session
Plastics are used extensively in commercial and consumer packaging, pipe, and sundry other products. In this session, speakers share their approaches to using PCR to replace virgin plastics in the production of their products, supply challenges they have encountered, and how they work proactively with suppliers to ensure PCR of sufficient quality and quantity.
04:30 PM – 05:30 PM
Mill Buyers Panel
General Session
05:30 PM – 07:00 PM
Networking Reception in the Exhibit Hall
Event Function