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Track Session Schedule 

as of 10/14/26
To see speaker details, build a schedule for yourself, rate presentations, and more, download Yapp using the QR code

Schedule is subject to change

WEDNESDAY, February 24th​
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OFFSITE TOUR
1:00-5:45PM : URT & Deusterbeck's Brewing Company  ​
  • Tour URT's End-of-Life and IT Acid Disposition facilities, followed by a stop at a local brewery.  Registration in advance is required (sign up during conference registration).  Meet at the entrance to the Grand Geneva.
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WORKSHOP: TRACK A 
1:00-2:30PM : From Recycling Rules to Recycling Results: An Interactive Community Outreach Workshop (Chris Jimieson, SCS Engineers; Ben Schulte, City of Fitchburg; Kim Warkentin, Wisconsin Land and Water Conservation Association) ​
  • What happens when a community changes what residents can recycle? This interactive workshop uses Fitchburg, Wisconsin’s recycling program as a real-world case study to explore communication, education, and outreach strategies. Participants will work through a hypothetical recycling change, develop an outreach approach, and share practical ideas for improving recycling participation and reducing confusion.
2:45-4:15PM : EPR 101 - The Emergence of Product Stewardship Policy in Wisconsin (Scott Cassel, Product Stewardship Institute)​
  • Extended producer responsibility (EPR) is changing who pays for and manages municipal waste. This interactive workshop provides an overview of the US EPR movement, its successes and challenges, and opportunities ahead. You'll learn the core elements of all EPR laws and bills, their benefits, and discuss the products most important to Wisconsin.  (Don't miss Scott's keynote featuring the why behind EPR on Thursday morning)
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WORKSHOP: TRACK B

1:00-2:00PM : Boosting Waste Diversion Through Public-Private Partnerships: Lessons from Dane County's C&D and Shingle Recycling Programs (Wyeth Augustine-Marceil, Alejandra Viso, Allison Rathsack, Dane County Department of Waste + Renewables)

  • Discover how Dane County's public-private partnerships navigate C&D and asphalt shingle recycling in rapidly changing environments. Using data-driven insights, this presentation explores how changing markets, customer demand, and extreme weather have changed recycling operations, along with lessons learned from adapting these partnerships to support long-term waste diversion goals. 

2:15-3:15PM : From Waste Characterization to Action: Using Data to Improve Community Level ISWM Programs (Jeff Phillips, Spencer LaBelle, Hannah Sperfslage, SCS Engineers)
  • Material characterization studies help communities understand what is in their waste, recycling, and organics streams—and how to use that data. This presentation will compare three characterization approaches, including traditional field studies and AI-supported methods, and show how results are informing education, contamination reduction, diversion strategies, and long-term integrated solid waste management (ISWM) planning.
3:30-4:30PM : SWANA Safety Committee Presents: Motor Vehicle Incident Reduction for the Waste and Recycling Industry (John Peralta, Marathon County Solid Waste Department & Abby Sauer, Portage County Solid Waste Department)
  • You asked and the SWANA Badger Chapter Safety Committee will deliver! Based off the 2026 SRC (Safety Resource Center) survey, the biggest safety request was on attentive driving and vehicle safety programs. The safety committee worked to put together a Motor Vehicle Incident Prevention Program, which includes substitution, engineering controls, administrative controls, new technologies, best management practices, and programs that will span across the waste Industry.  Our committee is made up of folks from landfills, transfer stations, and haulers, so our presentation will help a variety of organizations within our industry.
THURSDAY, February 25th
KEYNOTE - 9:00 - 10:00am 
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TRACK SESSION I - 10:45 - 11:45am
  • Wisconsin Food Waste and Organics Diversion (DNR Staff, WI DNR)

    • Description coming soon

  • Reclaiming Airspace Through Waste Relocation: Lessons Learned from a Major Landfill Reconstruction Project (Nicole Shanks, Tetra Tech)​

    • Waste relocation is becoming an increasingly practical tool for extending landfill life and recovering airspace within an existing footprint. This presentation highlights a large Ohio project in which more than 2 million cubic yards of municipal solid waste was relocated – all while maintaining active landfill operations.

  • When the Roads Disappear: Building Enterprise Resilience Before the Next Wisconsin Disaster Strikes (John Peralta, Marathon County Solid Waste)

    • When access vanishes and operations fall silent, the real test begins. Using real Wisconsin disasters—including a forgotten “rain bomb” that reshaped a region—this session reveals potential weak points in our industry and how leaders can evolve their organizations before the next disruption arrives.

TRACK SESSION II - 2:30 - 3:30pm 
  • Waste Education and Outreach in Dane County - Combining IRL with URL (Wyeth Augustine-Marceil & Hanna Kohn, Dane County Department of Waste + Renewables)

    • Take a peek behind the curtain of Dane County's outreach strategy, reaching 10,000+ residents annually. From the Trash Lab and unique public events to social media transparency, discover how interactive education drives diversion and builds community trust. Plus, an early look at the design process for the upcoming WasteWorks space.

  • The Silver Tsunami: Turning Leadership Retirements into Opportunity (Lee Daigle, Tetra Tech)

    • The solid waste and environmental industry is experiencing a significant workforce transition as experienced professionals retire and younger employees take on greater responsibility.  This panel will discuss how public agencies, private operators, consultants, and other organizations can prepare for this transition while retaining institutional knowledge, developing future leaders, maintaining important industry relationships, and adapting to a changing workforce.  The goal is for attendees to leave with practical ideas they can take back to their organizations to better prepare for the next generation of leadership.

  • Hazardous Substance Spill Response & Reporting (Caroline Rice & Riley Neumann, WI DNR)

    • The Department of Natural Resources will deliver a presentation covering hazardous substance spill reporting and response. The presentation will give an overview of the spill reporting regulation and process in WI, discussing the roles and responsibilities of Responsible Parties and the DNR in spill response.  Case studies will highlight spill response related to releases from different waste facilities.

TRACK SESSION III - 3:45 - 4:45pm 
  • Removing the Word Waste from the Wasty Industry (Andy Weins, The Battle Ready Business)

    • The waste industry does far more than haul material away. It manages resources, recovers value, and powers the circular economy. In this talk, Andy Weins challenges leaders to examine how the word “waste” shapes identity, customer perception, investment, talent, and innovation. Through practical examples, Andy shows how changing language can change behavior. Attendees will leave ready to reframe materials as resources, measure the value they recover, and communicate a stronger vision for the future of the industry.

  • Reduction in Groundwater Monitoring at Older Landfills in Wisconsin (Foth Infrastructure & Environment, LLC)

    • Learn how Wisconsin landfill owners can reduce long-term groundwater monitoring costs and liabilities by evaluating and modernizing outdated monitoring programs. This presentation reviews WDNR guidance, regulatory considerations, and case studies demonstrating successful reductions in monitoring wells and sampling requirements while maintaining compliance and environmental protection.

  • ​Waste Professionals' Role in Emergency Responses (Alex Thomas, Green Box)

    • Wisconsin waste professionals and WDNR staff will share lessons from floods, tornadoes, livestock losses, and facility fires. The panel will examine the impacts of emergencies on collection, hauling, storage, transfer, and processing, emphasizing preparedness, regulatory coordination, regional capacity, mutual aid, and practical strategies to maintain resilient waste management services. 

FRIDAY, February 26th
TRACK SESSION IV - 9:00am - 10:00am 
  • When Waste Reduction and Reuse Makes Good Cents (Jon Schroeder, MnTAP)

    • MnTAP works with clients to prevent pollution (P2) and reduce waste. One way is with process-based technical assistance, where recommendations are made through observations, and follow-up includes discussing the nuances of equipment, procedures, and products. This session highlights best-practice waste reduction strategies across sectors.

  • Storm Water and SPCC Compliance at Solid Waste Facilities (Jared Omernik, SCS Engineers)

    • Solid waste facilities may be subject to WDNR industrial storm water permitting and EPA SPCC requirements. This session will help attendees identify common applicability triggers, understand key inspection, sampling, and planning obligations, and learn practical strategies and tools for maintaining efficient, defensible compliance programs.

  • Animal Mortality and Disease Management via Composting or Landfilling (Rob Michitsch, University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point)

    • Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI) is a hot topic during the most recent outbreaks over the past 5 years, which was recently categorized as the largest bird flu outbreak in history and has not yet stopped as seen in the past. HPAI is just one highly infectious animal disease that is on the global radar. This presentation will briefly encompass CWD research but will mainly focus on HPAI work. Emerging disease concerns will be addressed.

HOTEL CHECK OUT & MORNING BREAK - 10:00 am - 10:30am 
 
TRACK SESSION V - 10:30am - 11:30am ​
  • Updates to Nonlandfill Rules in Wisconsin Administrative Code (Casey Krausensky, WI DNR)

    • Operators of licensed or license exempt solid and infectious waste facilities that manage transportation, storage, transfer, processing, composting, woodburning, air curtain destruction, incineration, and municipal waste combustion and users of disposal exemptions can come to hear what changes to Wisconsin Administrative Code are expected to go into effect within the 8-10 months. 

  • 3D Site Data Collection with Mobile LiDAR Technology (Sara Braun, SCS Engineers)

    • Mobile LiDAR scanning offers a practical, cost-effective way to capture accurate 3D site data for landfills, recycling facilities, landfill gas systems, and other environmental projects. This presentation will show how smartphone-based LiDAR workflows can support site documentation, topographic mapping, CAD integration, and better design and operational decision-making.

  • AI Without the Guesswork: Practical, Safe, and Structured AI Tools for Waste & Recycling Leaders (John Peralta, Marathon County Solid Waste Department)

    • Discover how AI can transform landfill, recycling, MRF, and hauling operations—without risk or uncertainty. This session reveals practical, safe applications using structured prompt frameworks, explores open vs. closed AI systems, and demonstrates how to use AI to improve your ideas and projects as a creative thought partner, and not the AI-slop idea maker.

CLOSING  - 11:30am - Noon 
  • Closing remarks and door prizes -- please return your name badge for us to reuse and to have a chance to win!
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