RCU’s 2023 America Recycles Day Annual Conference:

Join RCU for our America Recycles Day 2023 Annual Conference, Thursday November 9th 2023.  This is a one day conference full of speakers geared toward the recycling community.  This is a great networking event to work with your peers in the recycling industry.  Lunch is provided and new this year, each registered attendee will receive a Cotopaxi back pack!  Not only do you get relevant content, you get a great gift as well for attending!

Event Location:

Located just off Interstate I-15, Salt Lake Community College is a short 15 minute drive from Salt Lake International Airport.  Free parking at the event center is also available.

  • Salt Lake Community College Miller Conference Center at SLCC in Sandy, Utah
  • 9750 S 300 W, Sandy, UT 84070

2023 Conference Sponsors:

Interested in becoming a sponsor of the RCU Conference, email us for more information. Table top sponsorships available as well.

Conference Agenda:

Thursday, November 9th

8:20 am           Registration

8:30 am           Welcome to the Annual RCU Conference

8:35 am           “Recycling and Sustainability – Why Cities are Driving it”  – Mayor Jeff Silvestrini, Mayor, Millcreek City.  

9:00 am           “Public/ Private Partnership for Communities, Local Businesses, Haulers & MRF’s for Hard to Recycle Plastics”– Paul Benvenuti, Rivers Edge Environmental Consulting, LLC.  Paul Benvenuti from the Hefty ReNew Program will discuss efforts by local communities across the US to collect hard to recycle plastics which create litter and management issues in the recycling system. By diverting these materials from landfills, communities, haulers, and MRF operators can address climate change and waste reduction goals while putting the hard to recycle plastics to better use.

9:30 am           “DEQ: Updates on Utah’s Recycling Database – Dr. Stevie Norcross, Asst. Director, Division of Waste Management & Radiation Control, Utah DEQ (invited).

10:15 am           Networking Break

10:45 am          “Prime Sustainability: Turning Organics Into Energy”  – Elizabeth Barrett, Procurement Manager, Wasatch Resource Recovery. The Wasatch Resource Recovery anaerobic digestion facility in North Salt Lake City began receiving food waste in 2019. It operates under both wastewater and solid waste permits. Here is where your kitchen scraps are turned into natural gas and fertilizer. Hear how this operation is the key to better recycling in Utah.

11:30 am          RCU Board Elections

11:35 am          Utah Recycler of the Year Awards/ Presentations

12:15 pm          Lunch Break, Break for lunch but don’t miss out on the afternoon session

1:15 pm           “Panel discussion: More Hard to Recycle Items: Carpet Pad and Mattresses” – Recycle It Owner William Able, and Springback Owner, Jeff Jewitt will talk about the in’s and out’s of mattress recycling in Utah.

1:45 pm           “Utah Companies Making Recycling Happen”

Tidey, Founder, Jeremy Porter.  Tidey’s mission is to end poverty and stop ocean plastic.  Tidey works in developing countries where the ocean plastic crisis is the worst, unemployment is high, and wages are low. Using a crowd-sourced collection model for plastic increases efficiency and gives anybody that wants an opportunity to make money. This is an empowering system for those living in poverty because there are no limits to how much money they can make.  All collected plastic is recycled.

Spoil To Soil, Founder, Michael Mimbach.  Spoil to Soil is located in Peoa and Park City, Utah.  They are known for their unique composting and glass pick-up services. This innovative recycling service allows customers to contribute to their community’s sustainability efforts and even receive their compost back in the form of mulch.

2:15 pm           Educating the Masses on Recycling” Mary Closser and Carolyn Wawra (invited) from Recycle Utah will share their experience and details of how to educate the public on recycling.

2:30 pm           “Recycling Markets: What are Recycling Markets doing? What is my Recycling Really Worth?” –Marvin Acey, Rocky Mountain Recycling & RCU Board Member (invited). The recycling industry has had its share of craziness in terms of supply chain and pricing. Learn from industry expert, Marvin Acey about   current market conditions and the future of recycling.

3:00 pm           Conclusion

Conference Tickets:

Tickets on Sale Now on our Eventbrite platform.  Sign up online.  If you are a member of RCU, select the RCU Member Rate and save.  Interested in becoming a member, email us!