2025 MRN/SWANA-MA Conference Program - Maryland Recycling Network

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2025 MRN/SWANA Mid-Atlantic Conference Program

Preliminary Program (subject to change)

7:30 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.	Registration Open
8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.	Continental Breakfast in Exhibit Area
9:00 a.m. - 9:50 a.m.	Opening General Session - Safety: It's Everybody's Business II – A panel of mid-Atlantic recycling and solid waste professionals will share the policies, procedures, technologies and tools they’ve put in place to keep the workers and customers safe. Kirk Sander, Senior Vice President, Chief Safety and Standards, National Waste & Recycling Association (Moderator) Panelists: TBD Be sure to check out Safety: It’s Everybody’s Business I (webinar)*, an overview of national safety initiatives from Jim Olson, former VP Safety for Republic Services.
10:00 a.m. - 10:50 a.m.	*Concurrent Sessions* Effective Data-Driven Procurement Strategies – Learn best practices you can employ to drive the purchase of products made with recycled content and optimize the purchase of integrated services for waste, recyclables and organics. Victoria Nellis, Green Purchasing Program Manager, Maryland Department of General Services John Neyman, Manager Municipal Sales, Republic Services Cara Murray, MPA, Program Analyst, Baltimore City Department of Public Works Rebecca Culler, Deputy Division Chief - Solid Waste, Maryland Environmental Service (Moderator) Legislative & Regulatory Updates for Solid Waste Operations – A look at recent permit review/compliance initiatives along with steps taken to meet the requirements. *Kristyn Oldendorf,* Director of Public Policy, SWANA
10:50 a.m. - 11:30 a.m.	Break and Exhibits Open
11:30 a.m. - 12:20 p.m.	*Concurrent Sessions* Creating Messaging to Help Your Residents, Live, Laugh, Love Your Integrated Solid Waste Messaging – Learn about an area program that measurably improved the performance of residential recycling. *Paul Varga, Communications Manager, Frederick County* MDE Update – Catch up on the agency’s latest regulatory activities and understand the implications for your solid waste management operations. *Andrew Grenzer,* Chief, Solid Waste Operations, Land & Materials Administration *Paul Hlavinka,* Chief, Industrial Stormwater Permits Division, Wastewater Pollution Prevention & Reclamation Program *Scott Thompson,* Regulatory and Compliance Engineer - Senior, Air and Radiation Administration
12:20 p.m. - 1:35 p.m.	Lunch and Exhibits Open
1:35 p.m. - 2:20 p.m.	General Session - Batteries: Recharged – An update on effective methods to keep batteries out of the waste stream and manage the consequences when they do get in. *Emil Nusbaum*, Chair, Maryland Lithium-Ion Battery Commission Marc Boolish, Director, PRBA - The Rechargeable Battery Association
2:30 p.m. - 3:20 p.m.	*Concurrent Sessions* Reuse Amplified – Learn how to scale up reuse programs to effectively complement recycling in your area. Extended Producer Responsibility – An update on the HDR needs assessment and the implications for recycling and solid waste programs.
3:20 p.m. - 3:50 p.m.	Break and Exhibits Open
3:50 p.m. - 4:40 p.m.	*Concurrent Sessions* Food Scraps Update – Two area operators share successes and lessons learned in the design and implementation of their programs. Gina Van De Walle, Recycling Outreach Coordinator, Howard County Department of Public Works Robert Marsili, Director of Public Works, City of College Park Solar Panels: Uh Oh…Where Do They Go? – A growing number of solar panels have begun to reach their end of life. Explore strategies to keep them out of the landfill.
4:50 p.m. - 5:35 p.m.	Closing General Session - AI: The Next Generation of Solid Waste and Recycling Management – Learn how you can apply AI to solid waste/recycling decision-making and robotics to optimize processing and minimize contamination. *Scott Lewis*, Director of Municipal Partnerships, AMP Robotics
5:35 p.m. - 7:00 p.m.	Crabfeast/Barbeque