Sunday, June 11, 2017

Session summary: Join FDEP for discussions and tips on how to increase your county recycling rate by finding additional non-certified and miscellaneous tons as well as how to calculate your landfilled tons.

In addition, we will discuss the 2012 statutory changes regarding what counts and what does not count toward the recycling goal as well as discuss using ReTRAC to submit county annual reports.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Jennifer Nelson, Uncommon Friends

Patti Hammond, Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County

Brad Avery, WCA – Moderator

Former Senator Lee Constantine

 Session summary:  Under funding from the Hinkley Center, University of Florida researchers and a working group of state solid waste experts are examining the current state of solid waste management in Florida.  This presentation provides an update on this project including solid waste generation, disposition, and recycling rates by sector; the carbon footprint of the state’s existing solid waste management system; and an evaluation of alternative metrics for looking at progress toward recycling in the state, including the use of sustainable materials management principles.

Patti Hammond, Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County – Moderator

Tim Townsend, Ph.D., University of Florida

Session summary:  Cities and counties now have the option to work with a variety of companies offering new customer engagement platforms.  Learn how these companies utilize mobile apps and web-based technology to ensure your recycling message reaches residents.  Hear from other municipalities about how they selected the right company for their needs, what their experience has been using these new programs, and guidance on what may work best in your community.

Marissa Segundo, RRS – Moderator

Stephanie Watson, Pinellas County Department of Solid Waste

Tom Franklin, Sarasota County Solid Waste

Session summary:  Keurig and the Closed Loop Fund will share how they invest to improve recycling across the system to increase recycling and expand the types of acceptable materials.  Learn how investments in recycling and public-private partnerships like these are optimizing the recycling system, improving recyclability of packaging and improving the economics of recycling.

Barbara Heineken, RRS – Moderator

Christina Bosch Ladd, Keurig

Bridget Croke, Closed Loop Fund

Event summary:  Join us for this interactive networking session highlighting leading equipment, technology, and service providers in the industry.  This special session features our exhibitors and sponsors and we encourage our attendees to visit each to obtain information on how they can be of service to your daily operations.  In addition, the event will feature hot table topics provided by our exhibitors, recycling games, a silent auction, and more.  Don’t miss this opportunity!

Overview:  Take an opportunity to hear talks on sustainable programs as

well as attend an environmental tour from where you play to where you

stay.  *Pre-Registration required.

Option #1 – Central County Solid Waste Disposal Complex (CCSWDC) and The Landfill Gas to Energy Facility at the CCSWDC Tour – FREE

Join us for a tour of the Sarasota County’s 550-acre Central County Solid Waste Disposal Complex located in Nokomis, FL. Participants will have the opportunity to learn about and observe the operation of:

• The county’s 20-year old landfill where annually around 275,000 tons of garbage are disposed;

• The various material diversion and recycling processes in place for a variety of materials such as white goods, tires, C&D, yard waste, and one of the county’s three community hazardous waste drop off facilities; and

• The new Landfill Gas to Energy Facility that recovers landfill gas and generates over 35,000 MW/hr of electricity per year. We will also be discussing how the landfill’s operation is contributing to the restoration of the Dona Bay ecosystem.

Option #2 – Sea Life Encounter Cruise

Join a marine biologist on this 1 hour, 45-minute cruise through Sarasota and Roberts Bays. Observe our Florida manatees and resident population of bottlenose dolphins while learning about the ecology, history, and folklore of the area. – Cost $27.00 per person

Click here to register for the either the landfill or cruise environmental tour.

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 – RFT General Track

Session summary:  Is your municipality interested in fostering environmental stewardship and sustainability within the business community? Learn from the successes of Sarasota County’s Green Business Partnership about how to engage with the business community, what a green business program should focus on, results from participating businesses, and advice on how to start similar programs back home in your community.

Travis Barnes, Hillsborough County – Moderator

Randy Penn, University of Florida/IFAS Extension Sarasota County

–        Waste Reduction Agent II with Sarasota County Green Business Partnership

 Jesse White, Owner/Founder, Sarasota Architectural Salvage

Session summary:  This interactive session will break participants out into geographic regions of the state to ensure attendees get to know their counterparts in adjacent communities and businesses within their region.  Why reinvent the wheel when you can simply phone a friend?  Participants will be asked to discuss the top recycling initiatives, challenges, and facilities in their regions and to identify potential regional collaboration or partnerships to achieve common goals.

Travis Barnes, Hillsborough County and Dee Dee Green, City of Key West – Moderators

Session summary – Join this session to hear a legislative summary update, including an overview of the bill process, updates on recent bill activity, and the opportunity to voice your thoughts on legislative issues that impact our industry.

Brad Avery, WCA – Moderator

Keyna Cory, Florida Recycling Partnership

Dawn McCormick, Waste Management, Inc. of Florida

Karen Moore, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Session summary – National groups, the Recycling Partnership and Food Service Packaging Institute, have created exciting new tools to support community recycling and outreach programs. This session will share resources that recycling coordinators can immediately implement to increase recovery and reduce contamination. This engaging session will also focus on the importance of research before creating communications materials resulting in metrics for communications.

Barbara Heineken, RRS – Moderator

Key Takeaways:

·        Recycling education to reduce contamination

·        Education tools to improve your current communications

·        Easy ways to measure your recycling communications

Marissa Segundo, RRS representing FPI

Jason Hale, The Recycling Partnership

Session summary – This session features our 2016 Recycle Florida Today Environmental Sustainability award winners.  Join us as we hear updates and information of their award-winning programs.

Shelley Samec, Alachua County Waste Alternatives – Moderator

Marie Steinwachs, University of Florida, Physical Plant Division – The Real Dirt on Campus Composting

Ron Cook, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Tuesday, June 13, 2017 – Organics Track

Session summary:  Join in our discussion of changes to FDOT’s Landscape Soil specification and how we can increase the use of compost on FDOT projects!

Chris Snow, Consolidated Resource Recovery – Moderator (Organics Track)

·       History of FORA and RFT’s efforts to use compost on FDOT jobs –Chris Snow, Consolidated Resource Recovery

·       Creation of FDOT page on FORCE website –

Miriam Zimms, Kessler Consulting, Inc.

·       Overview of compost use requirements by DOTs in other States – David Hill, CycleLogic

·       Compost use by FDOT – Now and in the future –

       Timothy J. Ruelke, P.E., Director, Office of Materials, Florida Department of Transportation

·       Group Discussion of Florida’s compost industry and its interest in newly-developed group efforts to expand compost use in road projects –

Chris Snow, Consolidated Resource Recovery

• FDEP Organics TAG/Strategic Plan Review and Discussion
• FDEP Organics Survey Review and Discussion

 Session summary:  FDEP has been active this past year in promoting organics recycling. Come hear summaries of their efforts and join in discussing next steps!

Karen Moore, Florida Department of Environmental Protection

Miriam Zimms, Kessler Consulting, Inc.

Session summary:  Discussion to include program explanation, requirements, support services, and benefits associated with participation in the USCC STA program.

Christopher Bolyard, Waste Management

David Hill, CycleLogic

Lorrie Loder-Rossiter, US Composting Council

Supplying the Medical Marijuana Growers’ Market

Session summary:  On Tuesday, November 8^th, Florida voters overwhelmingly approved the legalized use of medicinal marijuana. As a new innovation in pharmaceutical agriculture, this change represents a new frontier and a highly significant opportunity for Florida compost producers and growing medical suppliers. This presentation will define the market and highlight the prospects for the supplying product to the licensed growers.

David Hill, CycleLogic

Session summary:  Information will be presented on the use of Inoculants to improve and reduce the amount of time to make mature and stable compost with case studies of facilities in Florida.

Darren Midlane, Harvest Quest

Session summary:  Case studies will be presented on how to select an organic waste solution for an agricultural business and the use of compost in the efforts to contain Citrus Greening.

Research Update: Citrus Greening and Compost Utilization

Monica Ozores Hampton, University of Florida/IFAS/SWFREC

 Session summary:  Open topics to discuss and network on organics recycling issues and activities in Florida.