National Recycling Coalition · Virtual Congress
35th National Recycling Congress
From East to West, Circularity is Best
About This Year's Congress
This year the Congress comes to you in a fully virtual format — two days built around our coalition family.
Presented over August 5 & 6, the program opens with a keynote from Judi Gregory of Go2Zero Strategies and closes with Jenny Wendt of the MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance — with keynotes on environmental justice and fundraising, the NRC Member Meeting and the start of the 2027–2030 board election, and the NRC Awards Presentation in between.
The focus is on you: four SRO fireside chats pair Affiliate leaders from across the country to talk leadership development, communications, membership, and policy — plus sessions on battery EPR, plastics, food-waste recovery, Women in Circularity, and breakout rooms for CEUs, grant writing, and networking.
Save the Date
SRO Leader Executive Retreat
The day before Congress, State Recycling Organization leaders and Executive Directors gather for a dedicated retreat — an opportunity to connect, share, and set the table for the two days ahead.
Tuesday, August 4, 2026 · Details & registration to followWednesday, August 5
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM ETWelcome Address
Kimberly Carroll Steward
2026 Congress Co-Chair
Opening Keynote
Judi Gregory
Go2Zero Strategies
Moderator Teresa Bradley, President, NRC Board of DirectorsSRO Fireside Chat
Leadership Development Pathways
Tracie Bills, CRRA Executive Director, and Melissa Young, NYSAR3 Vice President and Director for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University, in a facilitated conversation on common priorities, opportunities, challenges, and future collaboration across the coalition.
Presentation
Women in Circularity
Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of EPR Solutions, Reverse Logistics Group & PRO — member, Association of New Jersey Recyclers.
Moderator MaryEllen EtienneBreakout Rooms · 60 min
Choose the room that fits you
Three concurrent rooms run during this block, hosted by Kristine Kubat — jump into whichever interests you, or take a personal break.
- 01NetZero360 CEUs
Earn continuing-education credits with Lisa Puckett.
- 02Grant Writing
Practical grant-writing guidance with Michelle Dehaven, WSU.
- 03Coalition Networking
Get to know your coalition — open conversation with NRC board members, led by Kristine Kubat.
Keynote
Jordan Harvill
Environmental justice and Native communities perspectives.
Moderator Lisa PuckettBusiness Session · 60 min
NRC Member Meeting
Coalition update, election nomination presentations, and the official start of the 2027–2030 Board of Directors election. The member meeting will stand in recess until election results are complete.
- NRC 2.0Charles Kamenides, Executive Director
- New NRC ActionValue statement & purpose work, membership growth, and strategic partnerships — Teresa Bradley, President
- Treasurer's ReportMartie Solomon, Treasurer
- Board ElectionsNomination presentations & 2027–2030 election kickoff — Pete Adrian, Slate Committee Chair
SRO Fireside Chat
Communications & Outreach
Bobbi Barnowski, Executive Director, TSWAN, and Mary McClellan, Executive Director, Carolina Recycling Association, share what's working in their regions — perspectives, examples, successes, and ideas for future collaboration.
Closing Panel · with Q&A
Battery EPR & Collection Safety
Marta Keane, The Battery Network (Call2Recycle) — findings from the Illinois battery study, battery EPR in Illinois and other states, embedded batteries, and collection safety.
Moderator Tony RiosDay One Wrap-Up
What We Heard Today
Jay Bassett closes Day 1 with key takeaways and a look ahead to Thursday's program.
Thursday, August 6
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM ETWelcome Address
Martie Solomon
2026 Congress Co-Chair
Keynote
Kiersten Hill
Empowering Fundraisers: A Practical Guide to Gain Confidence and Knowledge to Make the Ask! — Practical strategies and expert insights for fundraisers at every stage: building lasting donor relationships, leveraging branding and marketing, identifying sponsorship opportunities, and overcoming common barriers to giving with ethical practices that inspire trust.
Moderator Lisa PuckettCommittee Report
NRC Plastics Committee
Committee report and findings — mass balance and the recycling definitions impacting you.
Moderator Jeremy DrakePresentation
EPR in the Heartland
Kent E. Holm, Director, Douglas County Environmental Services, and Matthew Howe, Legislative Aide to Senator Jana Hughes, explore the growing momentum behind Extended Producer Responsibility across the Midwest — recent legislative developments, implementation challenges, and opportunities for collaboration among producers, policymakers, recyclers, haulers, and local governments.
Moderator Kimberly Carroll StewardSRO Fireside Chat
Membership & Engagement
Brandy Moe of Recycle Colorado and Patty Overman, President of the Missouri Recycling Association, on growing and engaging membership — common priorities, challenges, and ideas for future collaboration.
Presentation · 60 min
Food Waste Reduction & Recovery
Angel Veza, ReFED, joined by Copia (speaker to be announced), on strategies for reducing and recovering food waste.
Moderator To be announcedCelebration · 60 min
NRC Awards Presentation
Honoring the people, programs, and organizations moving recycling forward across the country.
Hosted by Christine Kiourtsis & Mehreen ChowdhurySRO Fireside Chat
Policy & Advocacy
Adrian Hernandez, Executive Director of the State of Texas Association for Recycling (STAR), and Tony Rios of Puerto Rico discuss policy priorities, advocacy challenges, and opportunities for coalition-wide collaboration.
Closing Keynote
Jenny Wendt
MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance — closing out the 35th National Recycling Congress.
Moderator Jay BassettAgenda subject to change · all times shown in Eastern Time (ET)
