Start a Food Scraps Recycling Program in Your Community & Converting Food Waste: composting and biodigesters
Michelle Sterling & Ron Schulhof, Scarsdale Conservation Advisory Council, and Nadya Hall, Environmental Leaders Learning Alliance

Scarsdale’s Food Scrap Program, the first such initiative in Westchester County, has been a runaway grassroots success. The project has recycled over one million pounds of compostable material in Scarsdale alone, and served as the model for over twenty other Westchester communities. These municipalities have since set up their own collections, revolutionizing community composting in Westchester County. Got food scraps? Learn from Nadya about options for composting & digesting food scraps from community collection programs.

Friday, October 22, 11am

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Product Stewardship and Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)
Scott Cassel, Product Stewardship Institute

Product stewardship involves creating safer products for people and the planet from design to disposal. EPR shifts financial and management responsibility for product impacts from the public sector onto the manufacturer. In this session you will learn more about EPR as it relates to packaging, paint, solar panels, electronics, pharmaceuticals, plastic bags and more. Learn how some states are creating legislative incentives that require incorporating environmental considerations into product design and packaging and what we can do in New York State.

Friday, October 22, 2pm

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Composting Recycling for Municipalities

Sally Rowland, PhD, New York State DEC Environmental Engineer

Learn about the NYS Food Donation and Food Scraps Recycling Law taking effect January 1, 2022; municipal grant opportunities relating to organics recycling, including food waste; and advances in organics recycling.

Saturday, October 23, 10am

• Recording

Moving in Circles: Building a circular economy in Upstate New York

Melissa Everett Ph.D, Exec Director of Sustainable Hudson Valley

As the Seneca Meadows landfill is scheduled for closing, New York materials managers have an opportunity to stop transporting waste and instead redesign our materials management system to build a circular economy. Come hear about the materials management strategy proposed as part of the Hudson Valley Regional Climate Action Strategy, which is being jointly developed by Sustainable Hudson Valley and the Hudson Valley Regional Council.

Saturday, October 23, 10:30a

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Reuse, Recycle, Reduce and Recover

Lou Vetrone, Department of Environmironmental Facilities, Westchester County

Hear how Westchester County reduced waste by 24% since 2003 and survived the national recycling crisis caused by China's "National Sword Policy." Lou speaks about Recycle Right, and Expanding the Bottle Bill.

Jennifer Porter & Theresa Evans, GBB Solid Waste Management Consultants, Inc.

Learn about the "Circular Economy" and hear case studies and an overview of best practices for solid waste management in USA and NYS. This session will cover challenges facing municipalities plus innovative solutions—including anaerobic digesters—and will reshape how we all think about solid waste management.

Saturday, October 23, 1pm

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