JC Moving Towards Zero Waste Conference

Jersey City, like many urban areas in the United States, is expected to experience an enormous increase in population for decades to come. As more residents and businesses begin to call cities home, the consumption of resources creates a new, over-whelming stream of waste, which will impose an ever-increasing burden on the environment and an enormous waste removal fiscal challenge for urban areas as well. It’s an unsustainable scenario and Zero Waste is the solution.

Panels will include speakers from:

• Terracycle
• Keep America Beautiful
• SILVERMAN
• Bayshore Recycling
• Hudson County Improvement Authority
• Environmental Protection Agency
• New Jersey Dept. of Environmental Protection
• Greener Corners
• Hudson County Improvement Authority
• Sustainable JC
  

Breakfast and Light Lunch to be provided.

Event Schedule

8:00-8:45 Registration & Breakfast

8:45-9:00 - Mayor’s Welcome Address & Keynote Speaker Introduction

9:00-9:30- Keynote Speaker: Judith Enck
Judith Enck, Administrator for EPA Region 2, will introduce the topic of Zero Waste and explain the importance of moving towards waste elimination in communities with the help of local government and citizen initiatives.

9:45-10:30 Panel 1: Community- The Grassroots of Reducing Garbage
Every citizen has the power to make a difference in their community through waste reduction. This panel features Jersey City Local Trash heroes, who have cleaned up their neighborhoods through art, gardening, composting, and crafts. Speakers will talk about their own innovative projects and how every Jersey City resident can creatively reduce their garbage out-put.

Panelists for Panel 1:

• April Buther Wennerstrom, Director Affiliate Services,
  Keep America Beautiful
• Debra Italiano, Founder & Chair, Sustainable JC
• PJ Wasigner, Upcycle Artist
• Dennis Whitinghill, Urban Farmer

10:30-11:15 Panel 2: Business- Transforming Trash to Cash
Waste reduction does not only provide an opportunity to save financial resources - it can be an economic opportunity as well! This panel features three types of businesses, each of which transforms waste management into not only a cost effective tool, but also a business model. Speakers will discuss their own endeavors and how businesses can apply similar techniques.

Panelists for Panel 2:

• Albe Zakes, VP of Global Communications, Terracycle
• Eric Silverman, Principal, Silverman Properties
• Rob Wisniewski, Principal, AgriArk
• Aaron Klein, CEO, Greener Corners

11:15-12:00 Panel 3: Government - Upcycle Your Government
Leadership and programming in local government is imperative to accomplish a Zero Waste goal. Speakers from the federal, state, county, and local levels of government will discuss their experiences in waste management, including their current programs. Opportunities which attendees can utilize for their own success will also be covered.

Panelists for Panel 3:

• Dale J. Carpenter, Chief Sustainable Materials Management Section, EPA Region 2
• Sondra Flite, Environmental Specialist, Bureau of Recycling and Planning, NJ Dept. of Environment Protection
• Norman Guerra, Executive Director, Hudson County Improvement Authority
• Gary Sondermeyer, VP of Operations, Bayshore Recycling & Former Chief of Staff, NJ Dept. of Environmental Protection

12:00 Light Lunch