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 Ruth Abbe of Zero Waste USA 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 · Invitations sent to SRO Executive Directors.Wednesday, August 5
11:00 AM – 5:00 PM ETWelcome Address
Kimberly Carroll Steward
2026 Congress Co-Chair · NRC Board of Directors
Opening Keynote
Ruth Abbe
Zero Waste USA
Moderator: Teresa Bradley, NRC Board PresidentSRO 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.
Hybrid Presentation & Fireside Chat
Women in Circularity: Advancing EPR
Featuring MaryEllen Etienne, At-Large Member, NRC Board of Directors and Director of Market Transformation & Development at the U.S. Green Building Council — member, Association of Ohio Recyclers — and Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of EPR Solutions at Reverse Logistics Group — member, Association of New Jersey Recyclers. The session will cover key Extended Producer Responsibility trends, women’s leadership in the circular economy, career pathways, stakeholder engagement, industry best practices, and emerging trends.
Breakout Rooms · 60 min
Choose the room that fits you
Choose among concurrent breakout options coordinated by Kristine Kubat, NRC Board of Directors, or use the hour as personal break time.
- 01Personal Break Time
Step away, recharge, grab lunch, or catch up before the afternoon program.
- 02NetZero360 CEUs
Earn continuing-education credits with Lisa Puckett, NRC Board of Directors.
- 03Grant-Writing Workshop
Practical grant-writing guidance with Michelle Dehaven, WSU.
- 04Get to Know Your Coalition
Open networking and conversation with NRC board members, led by Kristine Kubat.
Keynote
Jordan Harvill
Environmental justice and Native communities perspectives.
Moderator: Lisa Puckett, NRC Board of DirectorsBusiness 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, NRC Board 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 Rios, NRC Board of DirectorsDay One Wrap-Up
What We Heard Today
Jay Bassett, NRC Board Chairperson, 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 · NRC Board Treasurer
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 Puckett, NRC Board of DirectorsCommittee Report
NRC Plastics Committee
Committee report and findings — mass balance and the recycling definitions impacting you.
Moderator: Sue Momberger, At-Large Member, NRC Board of DirectorsPresentation
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 Steward, NRC Board of DirectorsSRO 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.
Moderators: Sarah Alessio-Shea, NRC Board of Directors, and Delaney Demro, Secretary, NRC Board of DirectorsCelebration · 60 min
NRC Awards Presentation
Honoring the people, programs, and organizations moving recycling forward across the country.
Moderators: Christine Kiourtsis, NRC Board of Directors, and Mehreen Chowdhury, NRC Board of DirectorsSRO Fireside Chat
Policy & Advocacy
Adrian Hernandez, Executive Director of the State of Texas Association for Recycling (STAR), and Tony Rios of Puerto Rico, NRC Board of Directors, 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 Bassett, NRC Board ChairpersonAgenda subject to change · all times shown in Eastern Time (ET)
