About the Event
EDUCATION BY COMPOSTERS FOR COMPOSTERS - Managing compostables and avoiding contamination before it gets into the compost: working with haulers, collectors and diverters; field testing; preprocessing
The second workshop on compostables will be focused on the question of contamination. This workshop is where composters get to share their experiences and how they have worked with this feedstock or how they worked around it. With Speakers like Wayne Koeckeritz, Cary Oshins, Carla Castagnero, Alex Thomas and Emily McGill. Join the USCC to dive into the nitty gritty of compostable products.
Cost: Members - $45 / Non-Members - $95 / Non-Member Composters - $70
* Included Single 2 hour event, Live Q&A with panelists, Recordings Available
About the Speakers
Carry Oshins - USCC Associate Director
Cary Oshins
Cary Oshins is the Education Director for the Composting Council Research & Education Foundation, where he runs the Composter Training Program, including the highly regarded Composting Operations Training Course. He also oversees educational curriculum development and creating other training opportunities for the Foundation. Cary is also the Associate Director of the US Composting Council where his work focuses on member services, including the annual conference, developing the professional credential program, and industry advocacy at the state and national levels.
Wayne Koeckeritz - Product and Zero Waste Specialist at Eco-Products
Erin Skelly
Erin Skelly is the Environmental and Compliance Technician at the SMSC Organics Recycling Facility. Erin has a B.S. Degree in Environmental Science from Winona State University. Erin has worked with SMSC for the past 4 years. In her position, she monitors all aspects of the composting process, inspects and evaluates incoming material, works with haulers to reduce contamination, creates compost recipes, preforms lab testing, and ensures outgoing product meets specifications.
Alex Thomas - Compost Manufacturing Alliance | Field Supervisor and Project Lead
Emily McGill
Emily is Manager of Research and Communications for BSIbio Packaging Solutions. BSIbio is a founding partner of the Compostables Field Testing Program (CFTP), alongside the Compost Research & Education Foundation (CREF). Emily is the acting Program Coordinator for the CFTP, and has facilitated field testing of compostable foodware in both aerobic and anaerobic organics facilities across North America since 2014. Emily's expertise centers around waste prevention and resource recovery, especially at the intersections of food supply, waste diversion, and behavior change. She co-founded and co-facilities Master Recycler Vancouver, an adult education program for waste prevention and reduction, has worked as a consulting engineer in solid waste management planning, and consults on governance and sustainability practices for organizations. With a Bachelor in Bioresource Engineering, Emily has a passion for integrating research, analysis and design to spark systems change.
Wayne Kockeritz
Wayne is an Operator Specialist (OS) for Eco-Products covering the South and Southeastern regions. As an OS, his role is to help implement Zero Waste programs, conduct waste audits and analysis, provide product information, and connect haulers and composters with end users. Prior to joining Eco-Products in the fall of 2018, he was a food waste hauler for 6+ years in Charleston, South Carolina. Wayne earned the Certified Composting Professional (CCP) designation from the USCC in 2019, which helps him further leverage his composting experience and industry contacts. He currently resides in Knoxville, Tennessee and enjoys hiking in the nearby Great Smoky National Park.
Erin Skelly - Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community Organics Recycling Facility (SMSC ORF)
Alex Thomas
A Wisconsin native, Alex completed his undergraduate degrees in Biology and Waste Resources before working on waste planning efforts in Eastern Washington, where he joined the CMA Field Team. He has been working as CMA's Field Supervisor for the past year. Alex also works a Graduate Research Assistant at the University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point under the Soils and Waste Resources department. There, on top of his CMA work, he is researching the effects composting can have on infectious diseases like Chronic Wasting Disease and E. coli. Alex is happy to have been a part of the CMA team this past few years and is looking forward to continuing to move forward the mission of effective compostables.
Emily McGill - Manager, Research & Communications BSIbio
PLEASE NOTE: Attendee may receive USCC Certification Commission credit when they attend.
Want to learn more about the workshops and summit? Visit the USCC website for more information.