CRRA2019

President adn Chief Executive Officer

Michael J. Sangiacomo is president and chief executive officer of Recology, Inc., a 100-percent employee-owned company providing waste and recycling services to San Francisco since 1920. To join Recology’s campaign to reduce plastic waste and to learn more about the company’s efforts to reduce, reuse, recycle and compost, go to www.Recology.com.

Mr. Sangiacomo will present the proposal he described in an editorial in the SanFranciso Chronicle in which he said: ".. I do feel we are nearly out of time, as the planet’s oceans and wildlife are increasingly overrun by plastic waste. If the plastics industry is unable to step forward with a set of policies and programs that reverses these unfortunate trends, Recology will work to place a comprehensive policy on the next statewide California ballot — building off the EU model. We are prepared to commit $1 million toward a signature-gathering effort to that end and will work with all who are willing to move this effort forward."

Director

Doug Kobold has been “talking trash” for over 26 years.  Prior to assuming the role of Executive Director at the California Product Stewardship Council (CPSC) in August 2018, he spent over 18 years with Sacramento County. He has served as the SWANA Gold Rush Chapter President and currently serves as Vice Chair on the SWANA California Chapters Legislative Task Force (LTF).  He was Chair of CPSC and Founder and President of the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC). He’s served as Chair on the California Mattress Advisory Committee and as a committee member of the California Carpet Recycling Advisory Committee.

While the general public may believe all packages with a chasing arrow are recyclable, many of today’s products are more expensive to recycle than they were to purchase.  Worse, because plastic packaging can take many forms under nearly any of the seven resin types, it may be difficult to tell the difference between packaging that looks the same, but is made from different resins.  For example, plastic take-out foodware can be clear in color, but made from either PET, Polypropylene, or densified Polystyrene.  How are MRF staff and/or equipment supposed to tell the difference when these materials are coming down the sort line.  This is leading to contamination in homogenous bales.  Mr. Kobold's presentation will briefly explain the problem and offer a couple of potential solutions that will reduce the confusion of the general public and decrease the potential for cross contamination in bales of various plastic resins.

Lawyer

A civil litigator for 29 years in San Diego, Ms. Mendez is legal counsel to the Save the Albatross Coalition. After obtaining a Master of Advanced Studies in Marine Biodiversity and Conservation last year at Scripps Institution of Oceanography, and leading the transformation of that campus to be single-use plastic-free, Ms. Mendez returned to private practice, and continues to work daily with grassroots organizations to reduce toxic single-use plastic waste by implementing upstream reduction, extended producer responsibility, zero waste and circular economy policies. Currently, she and NCRA counsel are teaming up to hold single-use plastic producers responsible in court.

John Moore and I will be speaking to current litigation strategies in California as a tool to hold single-use plastic producers responsible for toxic single-use plastic waste in our municipalities, and in the environment, including along coastlines and in the ocean.

General Legal Counsel, Northern CA Recycling Assoc.

John is an attorney in Oakland who  has been general legal counsel for the Northern California Recycling Association since 1995 and is part of a NCRA project to force reduction of plastic litter by litigation. In 1994 he represented CRRA as an amicus in the landmark Rancho Mirage case and is a past recipient of CRRA’s service award. John is board certified in civil trial law by the National Board of Trial Advocacy and is listed in “Super Lawyers”. He represents businesses to negotiate or litigate their legal problems.

Lori Mendez and John Moore will summarize current litigation strategies in California as potential tools to hold single-use plastic producers responsible for plastic litter and debris in our communities, rivers, beaches and coastal environments.

Zero Waste Program Manager

Tim Goncharoff is a well-known innovator and environmental problem solver who has created numerous programs and authored groundbreaking ordinances which have been emulated across California and beyond. From plastic bags to sytrofoam, food service products to personal care products in hotels and much more, Tim has been at the forefront of crafting solutions to our most challenging resource recovery dilemmas.

The Frontiers of Plastic Pollution Prevention

In recent years Californians have successfully tackled plastic problems ranging from plastic bags to styrofoam.  But challenging problems remain and new products come online all the time, even as recycling markets become scarce. Cigarette butts clog storm drains and litter our beaches. Agricultural plastic film piles up in mountains at our landfills. Sea turtles and whales choke on plastic bottles and bags, and plastic microfibers are showing up in our food, water and even beer. But innovative solutions are emerging for all of these problems and more.  Come learn what's happening on the cutting edge of pollution prevention and learn how to combat the scourge of plastic pollution on your own front lines.

Director

Tedd Ward, M.S. is Director of the Del Norte Solid Waste Management Authority.  In February 2000, Ward co-authored the Del Norte Zero Waste Plan, the first municipal Zero Waste Plan in the nation. In addition to their recycling programs, Del Norte County now has product stewardship programs for mercury thermostats, all household batteries, paints and stains, carpet and carpet padding, mattresses and box springs.  Mr. Ward currently serves on CRRA’s Global Recycling Council and is on the Board of the California Product Stewardship Council.