Conference Program

The WasteExpo 2009 Conference Program covers the latest trends and topics in the solid waste industry. Through our conference sessions, workshops, boxed lunch discussions and breakfast forum, all led by industry experts, you will gain the knowledge needed to perform your job more effectively and efficiently. This year’s topics include: Green Management, Green Technology, Business of Energy, Recycling, Technology, Safety, Compliance Issues, Business, Accounting & Finance, and Labor & Employment. 

Monday, June 8, 2009

Recycling

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
E-Waste: New Laws, New Programs
E-waste has become a mainstream recycling issue.  Many states are moving forward with new laws to manage these materials.  These laws and trends on collection, processing, and disposal operations will be discussed.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Food Waste: Compost, Digest, or Other Use?
Increased focus on food waste has lead to a debate over the best methods to manage these materials – composting, digesting, and other options.  Share your views with food waste managers.  What does the future hold?

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Recycling Safety -- Collection and Processing
A panel of safety experts will focus on the unique challenges that impact employees involved in recycling operations, including driver safety and handling materials at processing facilities.

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Glass and Metal Recycling
The key to successful recycling programs is the ability to take advantage of the best commodity markets.  A panel of experts will discuss fluctuating markets, trends and policies for glass and metal.

Green Management

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
LEED – U.S. Green Building Practices
The U.S. Green Building Council established a program called the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) as a means of creating a nationally accepted benchmark for the design, construction, and operation of high performance green buildings.  Speakers will explain the program with examples of waste industry green buildings and how you might implement LEED at your facility.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Measuring and Reducing Your Facility’s Carbon Footprint
Reducing greenhouse gas emissions will not only protect the environment and public health, but also will increase efficiency of your operations.  This session will provide an overview of the process of performing a carbon audit, its costs, and necessary changes to reduce your carbon footprint.

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Green Initiatives and Your Company’s Image
“Going green” is a matter of social and environmental responsibility and perhaps regulatory mandate.  These initiatives also are an opportunity to create a positive image of your company with existing and future customers.   Learn how to get credit for environmental stewardship and avoid the pitfalls of “green washing.”

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Solid Waste Perspectives on Climate Change
Climate change is the dominant environmental challenge today.  Federal and state policymakers will discuss current efforts to regulate greenhouse gas emissions and their potential impacts on the solid waste industry.

Accounting and Finance

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Rethinking Billing: Considerations for Environmental, Business, and Technology Changes
Over the last few years significant factors have impacted billing methods, including pressure to make environmental improvements, increases in postal costs, intelligent barcoding, and electronic billing.  An expert in billing functions will address these issues and the steps you can take to be more efficient and increase savings.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Business and Property Taxes: Know the Latest Rules
Tax laws have been changed to protect consumers and small businesses.  Make sure that you understand these changes, ask outside accountants the right questions, and maximize tax benefits for your company.

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Leveraging End-of-Life Assets to Improve Cash Flow in a Struggling Economy
Don’t let end-of-life assets linger on your books!  Take advantage of options for managing end-of-life, idle, or damaged assets; learn about the ins and outs of the online marketplace; and benefit from asset auctions.

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Wall Street’s View of the Solid Waste Industry
How has the solid waste industry performed in this major economic crisis compared to other industries – better, worse, and why?  A Wall Street analyst and an industry executive will share their views on what characteristics make the waste industry different from others.

Labor and Employment
Track sponsored by:

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Special Issues for Temporary Workers
Temporary workers can enhance the labor force of hauling and disposal operations, but also pose unique issues.  Be sure your company is properly managing records, ensuring compliance with labor laws, and addressing operational concerns for these workers.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Immigration, Hour and Wage Law Protections: We Guarantee that You are Doing Something Wrong
As overtime and other labor-related lawsuits continue to increase across the country, solid waste employers must protect themselves using the latest legal techniques, including understanding conflicting requirements.  Protect your company from doing something wrong.

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Differing Perspectives on Employee Training -- What Role Should Technology Have in Your Program?
Good employee training programs often include electronic and web-based techniques as well as more traditional training methods.  Waste industry educators will discuss when to use these methods and how to integrate them into a successful program at your facility.

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Employee Monitoring, Harassment, and Retaliation Laws, A Waste Industry Update
A labor law expert will explain the advantages and pitfalls of monitoring waste industry employees, including legal restrictions and employee concerns, and provide an update on harassment and retaliation laws and the techniques that employers can use to stay out of trouble, such as drafting an effective policy.

Boxed Lunch

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Growth and Posterity, Waste Industry Transitions
Join the EIA Women's Council for an exciting program where two industry executives will talk about positioning their companies for growth.  Waste Industries President and CEO Jim Perry will speak on the recent conversion of his company from a publicly-traded to a privately-held company.  Republic Services Chairman and CEO Jim O'Connor will present his views on leadership style.

Sponsored by:

Workshop

9:00 a.m. – 4:40 p.m.
Landfill Operations for Managers
With an A to Z approach to landfill operations, this all day workshop for managers includes matching resources to incoming tonnage, increasing equipment productivity, and effectively establishing benchmarks. 

Tuesday, June 9, 2009

Recycling

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Where is Paper Going? Recycling and the Future of Paper
Paper recycling markets changed dramatically in the Fall.  In this annual WasteExpo dialogue, paper recyclers will analyze and forecast where markets are going and for how long.

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Trends in Plastics Recycling
Environmental and consumer groups continue to express a desire to increase the re-use of plastics; but is this enough to build upon existing markets or to develop a need for new secondary markets?  This question will be discussed and answered by in-the-field recycling experts.

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Construction and Demolition Debris -- Markets and Obstacles
Construction and demolition (C and D) waste is an important source for beneficial recycling, but its recovery rate needs a push.  A discussion of current and potential markets and impediments to increase C and D recycling will be examined during this session.

Green Technology

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Waste Conversion Technologies: Fact or Fiction
Many private and public sector solid waste officials and considering alternatives to landfills and incinerators, including plasma arc, gasification, and other waste conversion technologies; but are they viable?  This session will include a discussion on these technologies and how to assess whether they make sense in your community.

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Implementing Zero Waste Initiatives
Many businesses are looking at waste initiatives as a means of environmental sustainability and cost saving measures. In this session, presenters will discuss how they are implementing successful zero waste programs.

3:15 p.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Waste-to-Energy Plants: Are They Coming Back?
With pressure to reduce our dependence on foreign oil and reduce future costs for waste disposal, local governments are analyzing whether waste-to-energy plants have become a better option.  Experts will discuss municipal decision-making and the future of waste-to-energy.

Safety

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Governmental Views on Waste Industry Safety
Regulators from several federal and state agencies will share their views on waste industry safety, where the industry is making real progress, and in what areas companies and local governments should focus their attention.

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Effective Work Observation and Route Hazard Analysis
Observing your employees is one of the keys to a successful safety program.  Make your work observation and route hazard analysis programs more effective in reducing injuries and accidents through the concrete steps provided in this session.

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Fire Protection Systems: Ensuring Facility and Employee Safety
Fires in industrial settings result in deaths and the loss of millions of dollars worth of industrial equipment every year.  The right fire detection and suppression system can present these losses.  Fire protection system experts will discuss options that make sense for waste industry facilities and operations.   

Business and Energy

10:15 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Take Charge of Fuel Prices: Effective Risk Management
Unprecedented increases in the cost of fuel prices and the extremely volatile energy markets present unique challenges to fleet operators.  By effectively managing fuel price risk, operators can budget for a worse-case over a given time period and increase profit margins.  Take control of energy costs and manage your financial risk by attending this session. 

1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Improving Your Operations with Use of Extended Drain Lubricants
Understand the many factors that impact maintenance and service intervals of engine oil and hydraulic fluids, including the best methods to utilize oil analysis, reduce consumption, and lower expenditures.  The results will improve your equipments’ longevity.

3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
From Crisis to Paradigm Shift: A Visionary Business Approach for the Waste Industry
Randy Brown, Heil Environmental's Global Vice President of Sales and Marketing, will present a visionary outlook for the future, discussing how to break free from outmoded ways of doing business and how the current economic crisis may actually be a good thing for the waste industry.

Boxed Lunch

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
"Environmentalists. Every Day."sm -- Improve Your Community Profile
The Environmental Industry Associations has launched a campaign to build the waste industry’s image among community leaders, government decision-makers, and industry employees.  Participants will talk about the campaign and how you can get involved.

Free Session – Introduction to the Waste Training Institute – free to all WasteExpo badged participants
1:45pm to 3pm

Workshop

10:15 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Route Auditing for Experts
Your company probably has a route auditing system in place.  In this workshop, attendees will learn how to assess whether their company’s route auditing system is effective and how to reduce costs and increase profits.  An easy to follow systems for performing route audits will be provided.

Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Special Ticketed Session: Breakfast Forum

9:00 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Landfill Success Stories: A Roundtable
In this session, landfill managers will share their success stories from collecting and utilizing landfill gas and engaging in carbon emissions trading to installing and operating bioreactors, and other interesting projects.    

Compliance Issues

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Roadside Inspections
Using an actual garbage truck on the show floor, a local enforcement officer will conduct a roadside inspection showing the violations that are typically found and discussing the penalties for violations.  Please be on time, we will be leaving for the show floor promptly at 9:00 a.m.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Proposed Legislation Could Increase Unions
The "Employee Free Choice Act" is an attempt by unions across the nation to increase their membership.  The waste and recycling industry is a target.  Learn from "S.O.S." (Save Our Secret Ballots) on how they plan to combat the union's effort.

Safety

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Changing Driver Behavior
Many accidents involving solid waste collection vehicles occur because the driver of the truck made a mistake.  Find out what common mistakes are being made by private and municipal drivers and how to coach your drivers to change their unsafe behaviors.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Sleep Apnea: Preventing Workplace Accidents
A recent study found that 36 percent of CDL holders have a medical condition called sleep apnea, when a person stops breathing repeatedly during sleep.  When left untreated, sleep apnea may be responsible for job impairment and motor vehicle accidents.  Fortunately, sleep apnea can be diagnosed and treated.  Learn how to identify and treat a sleep apnea problem in your workplace.

Technology

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Facility Floor and Structural Repair Techniques: Saving Time and Money
When facility floors and structures require repair and renovation, managers must consider downtime, loss of fees, and future impacts.  A panel of experts will discuss techniques that save time and money, for example, using more durable materials and innovative designs.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Back Office to Front Office, Integrating High Tech Systems with Employees and Customers
As waste and recycling facilities consider more high tech options for their management systems, they must ensure the satisfaction and functionality of these systems for employees and customers with differing interests and capabilities.  IT professionals in the waste services industry will talk about these issues and how to make the best high tech decisions.   

Business

9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.
Waste Industry Contracts: Pratical Advice in Uncertain Times
In difficult economic times, what types of contractual provisions can protect your interests?  A leading waste industry professional will provide advice and insight, including a discussion of price adjustments, surcharges, changing markets, and flexible service requirements.

10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.
Haulers Roundtable: Opportunities for Small Companies
In today’s solid waste market, are there more or less opportunities for small haulers to grow and flourish?  A panel of small haulers will answer this question and your questions in an audience interactive and stimulating exchange.

Boxed Lunch

12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Change Reaction: Managing Employees in Turbulent Times
A crazy economy and a new administration have all come together to form the perfect storm for chaos is the workplace.  This session will set the course for steady leadership of your organization toward practical strategies that will pull you through and strengthen your employee relations equation.

Waste Training Institute

Waste Training Institute Workshop – Costing and Pricing of Services – Part 1 *Separate registration is required
9am to 10:30am

Waste Training Institute Workshop – Costing and Pricing of Services – Part 2 *Separate registration is required
Wednesday, 3:15pm to 4:45pm