National RecyclingCongress 2026
From East to West, Circularity is Best
Two days online with your coalition family — State Recycling Organization leaders, Executive Directors, and Affiliates from across the country. Hosted by the National Recycling Coalition.
Register NowMember discounts & group rates available — details at registration
Everything you need to know
- DatesAugust 5–6, 2026
- Hours11:00 AM – 5:00 PM Eastern daily
- FormatVirtual Event
- HostNational Recycling Coalition
- ThemeFrom East to West, Circularity is Best
- RegistrationNow Open — Register
Counting Down
Until the Congress goes live
August 5, 2026 · 11:00 AM Eastern
This Year’s Theme
From East to West, Circularity is Best
A national virtual gathering of the coalition family — getting to know one another and learning what’s happening in recycling across the country.
This year the Congress comes to you in a fully virtual format for easy accessibility. Across two days, the program features presentations and plenary sessions — but the focus is on you: our Affiliates, State Recycling Organization leadership, and Executive Directors.
It’s a time to get to know your coalition family and learn what’s going on across the country — from East to West.
Connect
Get to know your coalition family — SRO leaders, Executive Directors, and Affiliates from coast to coast.
Learn
Hear what’s working nationwide through featured presentations, plenaries, and SRO fireside chats.
Collaborate
Build connections across the coalition and the wider recycling community, and bring ideas home.
The Program
Complete 2026 Congress agenda
Two full days of keynotes, practical presentations, State Recycling Organization conversations, member business, networking, and national collaboration.
Welcome
Kimberly Carroll Steward, 2026 Congress Chair
Opening Keynote
Ruth Abbe, Zero Waste USA
SRO Fireside Chat: Leadership Development Pathways
Featuring Tracie Bills, Executive Director of the California Resource Recovery Association, and Melissa Young, NYSAR3 Vice President and Director for Sustainability Engagement at Syracuse University.
This facilitated discussion among Affiliate leaders will explore common priorities, opportunities, challenges, leadership pathways, and ideas for future collaboration. Panelists will share practical examples, successes, and lessons learned.
Women in Circularity: Advancing EPR
Featuring MaryEllen Etienne, NRC Board member and Director of Market Transformation & Development at the U.S. Green Building Council and a member of the Association of Ohio Recyclers, and Andriana Kontovrakis, Director of EPR Solutions at Reverse Logistics Group and a member of the Association of New Jersey Recyclers.
This hybrid presentation and fireside chat will cover key trends in Extended Producer Responsibility, women’s leadership in the circular economy, career pathways, stakeholder engagement, industry best practices, and emerging trends.
Breakout Rooms & Personal Break
Concurrent options coordinated by Kristine Kubat.
Keynote: Environmental Justice and Native Communities Perspectives
Jordan Harvill
NRC Member Meeting
- Charles Kamenides, Executive Director: NRC 2.0
- Teresa Bradley, President: NRC action, value statement and purpose work; membership growth; and strategic partnerships
- Martie Solomon: Treasurer’s Report
- Pete Adrian, Slate Committee Chair: Election nomination presentations and launch of the 2027–2030 Board of Directors election process
The member meeting will recess after the nomination presentations and reconvene on a date to be announced when election results are complete.
SRO Fireside Chat: Communications & Outreach
Featuring Bobbi Barnowski, Executive Director of TSWAN, and Mary McClellan, Executive Director of the Carolina Recycling Association.
This facilitated Affiliate leadership discussion will focus on shared communications priorities, outreach opportunities, challenges, successful approaches, and future collaboration.
Closing Panel Presentation with Q&A: Battery EPR and Collection Safety
Marta Keane, The Battery Network (Call2Recycle), will discuss findings from the Illinois battery EPR study, developments in other states, embedded batteries, and collection safety.
What We Heard Today
Day 1 wrap-up with Jay Bassett.
Welcome
Martie Solomon, 2026 Congress Chair
Keynote: Empowering Fundraisers
Kiersten Hill presents A Practical Guide to Gain Confidence and Knowledge to Make the Ask!
This session will equip fundraisers at every stage with practical strategies, expert insight, and confidence. Topics include donor relationships, branding and marketing, sponsorship development, overcoming barriers to giving, and ethical fundraising practices that inspire trust and support.
NRC Plastics Committee Report
Committee findings, mass balance, and recycling definitions that may affect your work.
EPR in the Heartland
Featuring Kent E. Holm, Director of Douglas County Environmental Services, and Matthew Howe, Legislative Aide to Senator Jana Hughes.
This session explores growing momentum behind Extended Producer Responsibility policies across the Midwest, including recent legislative developments, implementation challenges, and collaboration opportunities among producers, policymakers, recyclers, haulers, and local governments.
SRO Fireside Chat: Membership & Engagement
Featuring Brandy Moe of Recycle Colorado and Patty Overman, President of the Missouri Recycling Association.
This facilitated Affiliate leadership discussion will address common priorities, member engagement opportunities, challenges, successful practices, and future collaboration.
Food Waste Reduction and Recovery
Featuring Angel Veza, ReFED, and a speaker to be announced from Copia.
Short Break
Stretch your legs, grab a coffee, or check email before the NRC Awards Presentation.
NRC Awards Presentation
SRO Fireside Chat: Policy & Advocacy
Featuring Adrian Hernandez, Executive Director of the State of Texas Association for Recycling (STAR), and Tony Rios of Puerto Rico.
This facilitated Affiliate leadership discussion will focus on common policy priorities, advocacy opportunities, challenges, successful approaches, and future collaboration.
Closing Keynote
Jenny Wendt, MidAmerica Clean Future Alliance
Agenda subject to change. All program times are shown in Eastern Time.
Why attend
- Take away practical strategies you can put to work right away
- Stay ahead of recycling policy and market developments
- Learn from programs and solutions from across the country
- Get to know your coalition family across the country
- Strengthen the case for recycling in your community
- Bring fresh ideas back to your team and stakeholders
Who should attend
- State Recycling Organization leaders & Executive Directors
- NRC Affiliates and coalition members
- Recycling coordinators and program managers
- State and local government staff
- Nonprofit and association leaders
- Sustainability professionals, educators & advocates
All sessions are listed in Eastern Time out of respect for attendees coast to coast.
Two Full Days
Coalition voices, national ideas
Hear keynotes from Ruth Abbe, Jordan Harvill, Kiersten Hill, and Jenny Wendt, alongside SRO leaders, NRC committees, circularity professionals, fundraisers, policy advocates, and award recipients from across the country.
Joining Online
How to attend
The Congress runs entirely online — no travel required. Here’s how to take part.
Register
Complete your registration through the NRC registration page to reserve your spot.
Get your link
You’ll receive your access details by email ahead of the event so you’re ready to join.
Join live
Log in each day from 11:00 AM–5:00 PM Eastern for live sessions, presentations, and discussion.
Questions
Frequently asked questions
When and where is the Congress?
How do I register?
Are discounts or group rates available?
What time zone are sessions in?
Who should attend?
What is included in the agenda?
How can my organization sponsor?
Sponsor the Congress
Put your organization in front of recycling leaders, professionals, and decision-makers from across the country — before and during the virtual Congress. Reach out to explore sponsorship opportunities.
Become a SponsorFrom East to West, Circularity is Best
Register now for the
2026 Congress
Registration is now open — join the national recycling community online for the complete two-day Congress program.
Member discounts & group rates available — details at registration or via your NRC member email
Who should attend
- Recycling coordinators and program managers
- State and local government staff
- Nonprofit and association leaders
- Haulers, processors, manufacturers, end-market partners
- Sustainability professionals and consultants
- Educators, advocates, and students
