Workshop Tracks
This year, we are offering two optional workshop tracks to help you plan your day and focus on the topics most relevant to your role. While all sessions are open to everyone, these tracks provide guidance to help you navigate the program and make the most of your time.
OPERATORS Track (O)
The Operators Track features hands-on, boots-on-the-ground workshops focused on the day-to-day realities of running a solid waste and recycling facility. Sessions in this track emphasize practical skills, safety, materials handling, and real-world problem solving that operators can apply immediately at their sites.
If your work involves managing materials, interacting with residents, maintaining safe operations, or keeping facilities running efficiently, this track is designed with you in mind.
MANAGERS Track (M)
The Managers Track features workshops that take a broader view of operations, planning, and decision-making. Sessions focus on budgeting, contracts, policy, program development, regulatory requirements, and long-term planning — all areas that influence how solid waste and recycling programs are managed and sustained.
This track is ideal for municipal leaders, facility managers, town administrators, and anyone responsible for program oversight or strategic decisions.
Mix and Match
Solid waste and recycling programs work best when operators and managers understand each other’s challenges. Attendees are encouraged to explore sessions across both tracks based on their interests and responsibilities.
MONDAY, May 18th
- 8:15am - Registration & Exhibit Hall
- 9:00am - Session 1 Workshops
- Batteries & Vapes 2.0 - What We Know NOW | (O) by Paige Wilson and Mike Nork Paige Wilson of NHDES - WEBSTER room
- Writing the Future of Mattress Recycling Together | (O) by Mary Horsman of Tough Stuff - PIERCE room
- Decentralized Composting as a Path to Prosperity for New Hampshire | (M) by Andrew Brousseau of Black Earth Compost - MERRIMACK room
- Operator Roundtable (Topic TBD) | (O) with NH Recycles' Member Services team - CONCORD room
- Handling First Amendment Auditors & Other Difficult People | (M) by Jonathan Cowal of the NH Municipal Association - CAPITAL room
- 10:00am - Coffee with Exhibitors
- 10:45am - Session 2 Workshops
- Learning through Experience: A Lesson in Weird Things & Incidents | (O) by Tara Albert of NHDES - WEBSTER room
- E-waste - The How, Where, and What it Becomes | (O) by Roland Brewer of TerraCycle - PIERCE room
- Grant Writing Fundamentals to Strengthen Funding Competitiveness | (M) by Marilee Enus of UNH T2 Center - MERRIMACK room
- Strategies to Comply with NH’s Food Waste Ban | (M) with Emma Sabella and Khrysti Smyth Barry of CET and Jenny Mitchell of NHDES - CONCORD room
- Emergence of Product Stewardship Policy in New Hampshire | (M) by Scott Cassel of the Product Stewardship Institute - CAPITAL room
- 11:45am - Lunch, Networking, and Recycling Videos
- Enjoy a networking lunch with speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and fellow attendees - connect over shared interests or find new or old connections to deepen. We will also be sharing NH Recycles' new Recycling from Transfer Station to End Market video series.
- 1:00pm - Session 3 Workshops
- Advancing Battery Safety in Collection and Recycling Operations | (O) by Todd Ellis of The Battery Network - WEBSTER room
- Budget? Fudge It! Why Does it Matter? | (M) by Tammy Letson of the NH Municipal Association - PIERCE room
- Demystifying Single Stream – How MRFs Process Material | (O) by Andre Hardaway of WM - MERRIMACK room
- Operator Roundtable (Topic TBD) | (O) with NH Recycles' Member Services team - CONCORD room
- What is the NH Legislature Doing About Waste? | (M) by Susan Richman of the NH Network for Environment, Energy and Climate; Cynthia Walter, Ph.D; and Kristine Baber, Ph.D - CAPITAL room
- 2:00pm - Networking Break with Exhibitors
- 2:30pm - Session 4 Workshops
- Sharing Lessons Learned: Increasing Capacity and Innovation at The WSWMD Compost Facility | (M) by Bob Spencerof Windham SWMD, Brian Jerose of Agrilab Technologies, and Tim Petit of Sanborn, Head & Assoc. - PIERCE room
- Demystifying Single Stream – How MRFs Process Material | (O) by Andre Hardaway of WM - MERRIMACK room
- NH Recycles' Board Meeting (by invitation) - CONCORD room
- Practical Circular Economy Tools for Municipal Recycling | (M) by Yves Gakunde of the City of Keene - CAPITAL room
- 3:30pm - End of Conference (see you next year!)
Workshop Details
Session 1 Workshops (9:00am)
Batteries & Vapes 2.0 - What We Know NOW (Webster Room)
New Hampshire’s lithium-ion (Li-ion) battery disposal ban is changing how solid waste facilities manage batteries — and how municipalities communicate with residents. Under RSA 149-M:27, municipalities and facilities are required to educate residents about the ban and provide information on available recycling options. In this session, NHDES staff will explain practical approaches for recycling lithium-ion batteries, share outreach resources communities can use to support compliance, and provide guidance on managing vapes under current Hazardous Waste regulations so attendees can better meet legal requirements while maintaining safe facility operations.
- Presenter Paige Wilson, Waste Reduction & Diversion Planner, NHDES
- Presenter Mike Nork, Supervisor of Materials Management, NHDES
- OPERATOR Track
Writing the Future of Mattress Recycling Together (Pierce Room)
This session will explore the benefits of mattress recycling and resource recovery, including how mattress recycling works, how the industry has evolved, and what communities can realistically achieve today. Presenters will share best practices and success stories, along with insights into where mattress recycling is headed in the future. The session will include ample time for discussion and Q&A, giving attendees the opportunity to share challenges and problem-solve common issues related to mattress diversion and recycling. Designed for operators, municipal staff, and residents.
- Presenter Mary Horseman, Northeast Manager of Sales and Marketing, Tough Stuff Recycling
- OPERATOR Track
Decentralized Composting as a Path to Prosperity for New Hampshire (Merrimack Room)
Managing organic waste through a decentralized network of composting facilities can reduce costs, strengthen system resilience, and increase local composting capacity while producing valuable soil amendments for communities. This session will examine how decentralized composting systems are being built in Massachusetts and Rhode Island and what it would take to implement similar models in New Hampshire. Attendees will gain practical insights into opportunities, challenges, and strategies for expanding composting at the local level.
- Presenter Andrew Brousseau, Managing Partner of Compost Operations, Black Earth Compost
- MANAGER Track
Operator Roundtable (Concord Room)
Join other recycling facility operators and staff at this informal roundtable to discuss common concerns, issues, and solutions seen across recycling facilities.
- Moderator Brian Patnoe, NH Recycles Member Services Director
- Moderator Steve Bean, NH Recycles Municipal Recycling Advisor
- OPERATOR Track
Handling First Amendment Auditors & Other Difficult People (Capital Room)
This session will help local officials and facility staff understand how to respond to First Amendment auditors and other challenging interactions with the public. Presenters will review the basic rights of individuals, relevant provisions of RSA Chapter 91-A, and the rights and responsibilities of municipal employees. The workshop will also cover practical strategies for handling difficult situations at transfer stations, including angry or argumentative customers, repeat rule violators, and individuals attempting to provoke confrontations. Attendees will leave with clear guidance and communication tools to maintain professionalism while protecting staff and site operations.
- Presenter Jonathan Cowal, Legal Services Counsel for NH Municipal Association
- MANAGER Track
Session 2 Workshops (10:45am)
Learning through Experience: A Lesson in Weird Things & Incidents (Webster Room)
Join the NHDES SWOT Coordinator, Tara Mae Albert, as she interviews certified solid waste operators on the weird things they have encountered while managing their solid waste facility. Discussions will be had regarding the steps taken to navigate managing the weird wastes, sometimes difficult people and seemingly redundant paperwork.
- Presenter Tara Albert, SWOT Coordinator, NHDES
- OPERATOR Track
E-waste - The How, Where, and What it Becomes (Pierce Room)
This session will explore what happens to electronic waste after it leaves your facility — from sorting and consolidation to de-manufacturing and final material recovery. Attendees will learn where common e-waste materials go, how components are processed, and what products they ultimately become. The presentation will provide a clearer understanding of the e-waste recycling chain, helping operators and municipal staff better communicate with residents and make informed program decisions.
- Presenter Roland Brewer, Regional Business Development Manager for Terracycle North Coast Services
- OPERATOR Track
Grant Writing Fundamentals to Strengthen Funding Competitiveness (Merrimack Room)
Grant and funding applications don’t have to feel overwhelming or mysterious. Whether you’re new to grant writing or looking for a practical refresher, this session will provide municipal and solid waste professionals with clear strategies to strengthen competitiveness and submit more effective applications. We’ll discuss how to read and interpret a Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO), organize and plan a strong response, and craft compelling narratives that tell a clear local story. Attendees will also learn practical techniques to avoid common pitfalls and improve overall clarity and impact.
- Presenter Marilee Enus, Director of the UNH T2 Center & NH LTAP
- MANAGER Track
Strategies to Comply with NH’s Food Waste Ban (Concord Room)
This session will provide an overview of New Hampshire’s Food Waste Disposal Ban, including regulatory requirements, upcoming grant funding opportunities, and early findings from NHDES’ statewide Food Waste Study. Presenters will also share practical strategies, tools, and examples that municipalities and communities can use to support business compliance and reduce wasted food through prevention, donation, and diversion. Designed for municipal staff, businesses, facility operators, and service providers, this session will leave participants with a clear understanding of the ban and practical next steps.
- Presenter Emma Sabella, Senior Waste Reduction Consultant, CET
- Presenter Khrysti Smyth Barry, Customer Relationship Lead, CET
- Presenter Jenny Mitchell, Food Waste Diversion Specialist, NHDES
- MANAGER Track
Emergence of Product Stewardship Policy in New Hampshire (Capital Room)
This session will provide an overview of product stewardship and how these programs can help municipalities and solid waste facilities manage challenging materials more safely and cost-effectively. Using recent New Hampshire proposals related to paint, batteries, mattresses, and packaging as examples, presenters will explain how stewardship programs are funded, how they operate in practice, and what they could mean for local programs and facility operations. The session will also explore emerging issues such as vape product management and share lessons from other states that have implemented similar programs. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of how product stewardship can support both operational efficiency and long-term program planning in New Hampshire.
- Presenter Scott Cassel, CEO & Founder of the Product Stewardship Institute
- MANAGER Track
Session 3 Workshops (1:00pm)
Advancing Battery Safety in Collection and Recycling Operations(Webster Room)
As battery use continues to grow in everyday products, recycling and solid waste facilities face increasing safety risks during collection, storage, and transportation — especially when batteries are damaged or improperly handled. This session will focus on practical strategies to prevent battery-related incidents and improve safety across operations, drawing on decades of experience managing large-scale battery collection programs. Attendees will learn about common failure points, handling improvements that reduce risk, and system-level approaches that support safer battery management without adding unnecessary complexity. The session will also cover how to recognize thermal runaway and respond effectively when incidents occur. Solutions that simplify safe collection, including mixed-battery consolidation approaches, will be discussed. Participants will leave with practical tools and greater confidence in managing battery safety as part of everyday operations.
- Presenter Todd Ellis, Vice President of Services & Solutions of The Battery Network (formerly Call2Recycle)
- OPERATOR Track
Budget? Fudge It! Why Does it Matter? (Pierce Room)
This session will provide an overview of the municipal budgeting process and key considerations when developing and managing a solid waste or recycling program budget. Presenters will discuss how to track budget status throughout the year, identify potential risks or shortfalls, and explore options for addressing unexpected expenses or opportunities beyond the original budget. Attendees will leave with practical insights to support stronger financial planning and more effective program management.
- Presenter Tammy Letson, Government Finance Specialist for the NH Municipal Association
- MANAGER Track
Demystifying Single Stream – How MRFs Process Material (Merrimack Room)
Single Stream Recycling (SSR) can feel like a mystery to many stakeholders — from haulers and municipalities to the residents they serve. This session will pull back the curtain on how materials move through a modern Materials Recovery Facility (MRF), breaking down the process from inbound loads to outbound commodities. Attendees will gain a practical understanding of key separation steps, common operational challenges, and how material quality impacts safety, recovery rates, and overall facility performance.
- Presenter Andre Hardaway, Operations Improvement Manager for WM
- OPERATOR Track
Operator Roundtable (Concord Room)
Join other recycling facility operators and staff at this informal roundtable to discuss common concerns, issues, and solutions seen across recycling facilities.
- Moderator Brian Patnoe, NH Recycles Member Services Director
- Moderator Steve Bean, NH Recycles Municipal Recycling Advisor
- OPERATOR Track
What is the NH Legislature Doing About Waste? (Capital Room)
Waste management is a major focus of legislation at the New Hampshire State House this year, with bills addressing topics such as bottle deposit expansion, battery and paint disposal, advanced recycling, extended producer responsibility, and landfill regulation. This session will provide an overview of key proposals, how legislation is developed and shaped, and what these policies could mean for municipal waste programs. Attendees will hear perspectives from individuals who have worked alongside legislators in recent years and will gain insight into how policy decisions can impact local operations, costs, and program outcomes.
- Presenter Susan Richman, Founder of the NH Network for Environment, Energy and Climate
- Presenter Cynthia Walter, Ph.D
- Presenter Kristine Baber, Ph.D
- MANAGER Track
Session 4 Workshops (2:30pm)
Sharing Lessons Learned: Increasing Capacity and Innovation at The WSWMD Compost Facility (Pierce Room)
This session will highlight the recent expansion and modernization of the Windham Solid Waste Management District’s (WSWMD) composting facility in Brattleboro, Vermont. Through collaboration with technology and engineering partners, WSWMD implemented an advanced composting system designed to increase production, improve operational efficiency, and meet stringent environmental standards. Presenters will share how aeration and heat recovery technology, customized engineering design, and strong project management came together to double processing capacity, shorten processing times, improve environmental controls, and enhance the finished compost product — all without incurring long-term municipal debt. Attendees will gain practical insights into expanding municipal composting infrastructure, navigating permitting and funding, addressing environmental compliance challenges such as stormwater and odor management, and leveraging partnerships to develop cost-effective, resilient waste solutions.
- Presenter Bob Spencer, Executive Director of Windham SWMD
- Presenter Brian Jerose, President, Agrilab Technologies, Inc.
- Presenter Tim Petit, Senior Project Manager, Sanborn, Head & Associates, Inc.
- MANAGER Track
Reuse and Responsibility: Making Smart Decisions About Stuff (Merrimack Room)
Through storytelling and reuse-focused edutainment, this session offers an engaging look at the importance of keeping usable materials out of the landfill while making thoughtful decisions about what we keep and what we pass on. Drawing from a five-year project cleaning out a packed 17-room house and finding solutions for thousands of items, Alex shares real-world lessons about the difference between promoting reuse and being responsible for what we leave behind. Attendees will gain a fresh perspective on reuse, personal responsibility, and how our choices impact communities, resources, and the future.
- Presenter Alex Eaves, Reuse Edutainer, Escape the Waste
- OPERATOR Track
Practical Circular Economy Tools for Municipal Recycling (Capital Room)
This session will highlight practical strategies from the City of Keene, NH, demonstrating how municipal procurement, product management, and reuse programs can strengthen recycling and solid waste operations. Through Keene’s Swap Shop and Environmentally Preferred Purchasing Program (EP3), attendees will see how upstream purchasing decisions reduce waste, improve transfer station safety, lower disposal costs, and increase operational efficiency. Attendees will leave with actionable steps to integrate reduce, reuse, and recycle principles into everyday municipal operations.
- Presenter Yves Gakunde, Purchasing & Contract Services Manager for the City of Keene
- MANAGER Track