Presented by The Battery Network 2026 Title Sponsor
Illinois Recycling Foundation SWANA Illinois
2026 Program

Conference Agenda

Two days of plenaries, concurrent breakouts, and field experiences exploring the future of materials management, circular economy, and recycling in Illinois.

Dates
August 19–20, 2026
Venue
EVEN Hotel & Tinley Park Convention Center
Tracks
Education / Diversion · Industry Insights
Plus
Optional Thursday Field Trip
Jump to 1 Wednesday · Aug 19 2 Thursday · Aug 20 ★ Field Trip
01/02
Wednesday
August 19, 2026
Opening day featuring federal and state EPA leadership, statewide needs assessment findings, and four concurrent breakout slots spanning textiles, batteries, paper, packaging, organics, and policy.
8:00 – 9:00 AM 60 min
Registration, Coffee & Exhibit Hall Opens
Check in, collect badges, visit exhibitor booths, and connect with colleagues before the program opens.
9:00 – 9:15 AM 15 min
Welcome from The Battery Network & Host Organizations
Opening remarks from the Title Sponsor and representatives of the Illinois Recycling Foundation and SWANA Illinois.
9:15 – 10:00 AM 45 min
Opening Keynote

Federal & State Leadership: A View from Region 5 and Springfield

Anne Vogel, Regional Administrator — U.S. EPA Region 5
James Jennings, Acting Administrator — Illinois EPA
10:00 – 10:50 AM 50 min
Morning Plenary

Illinois Statewide Needs Assessment: Packaging, Paper & Waste Characterization

Eunomia Research & Consulting

Findings from the statewide recycling needs assessment — packaging and paper analysis, waste characterization, and the data shaping Illinois' next decade of recycling education and infrastructure.

10:50 – 11:30 AM 40 min
Networking Break — Exhibit Hall Open
Visit the exhibit hall, connect with sponsors, and prepare for the first breakout slot.
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM 60 min
Education / Diversion Salon A
Green Era: A Working Model of the Circular Economy
Susannah Sun, Business Operations Manager Green Era · Chicago, IL
Source-Separated Organics Collection in Lake Forest
Tommy Vaughan, Growth & Municipal Manager WasteNot · Chicago, IL
Reducing Institutional Food Waste at County Facilities
Zach Samaras, Zero Waste Program Manager Illinois Sustainable Technology Center · with Cook County Health
Organics & Food Waste Diversion in Practice — moderated panel format
Industry Insights Salon B
From Chicagoland to Global Markets: The Real Path of Recycled Textiles
Justin Woycke, Vice President Chicago Textile Recycling · Carol Stream, IL
Marlene Rampaul SWALCO
Additional textile industry voices being confirmed
12:30 – 1:30 PM 60 min
Lunch — Networking & Table Discussions
Seated lunch in the main ballroom. Sponsor tables available.
1:30 – 2:30 PM 60 min
Education / Diversion Salon A
Feed the Cart: Partner Lightning Round
Project partners presenting rapid-fire program highlights
Speakers being confirmed
City of Chicago Recycle Coach Implementation
Carter O'Brien City of Chicago
Industry Insights Salon B
Battery Recycling: How & Why
Program update, marketing, education, downstream markets, and safe handling — featuring The Battery Network
Speakers being announced
2:30 – 3:30 PM 60 min
Education / Diversion Salon A
Packaging in Circulation
Aleksandra Plewa, CEO EcoShip NFP · Chicago, IL
PFAS-Free, Compostable Foodware in Chicagoland Food Businesses
Cassie Carroll, Assistant Director / Founder EnergySense Resilience Center · Illinois Green Business Program · Champaign, IL
Industry Insights Salon B
Evolving Paper Supply & Demands
George Ward Jr., Waste Diversion Director Midwest Paper Retriever · Joliet, IL
3:30 – 4:00 PM 30 min
Afternoon Break — Exhibit Hall Open
Coffee and light refreshments. Last scheduled exhibit hall visit of Day 1.
4:00 – 5:15 PM 75 min
Education / Diversion Salon A
Recycling 2.0: DIY Approaches to Resource Capture & Reuse
Carolee Kokola, Director of Enterprise Operations Bubbly Dynamics LLC / The Plant · Chicago, IL
Results from a Circular Economy Startup Simulator: Engaging Illinois Youth in Sustainable Innovation
Anne-Marie Hanson, Associate Dean, College of Health, Science & Technology University of Illinois Springfield · with Dr. Neetu Singh & Dr. Hei-Chi Chan
Industry Insights Salon B
Illinois Policy Panel: What's Changing for Batteries, Electronics & Packaging
Multi-speaker panel covering Illinois' evolving regulatory landscape — embedded batteries, 2027 electronics legislation, and producer responsibility frameworks.
Panelists being confirmed
5:30 – 6:30 PM 60 min
Networking Happy Hour with Exhibitors
Drinks and hors d'oeuvres in the exhibit hall.
6:30 – 7:30 PM 60 min
Dinner
Seated dinner in the main ballroom.
8:00 – 9:30 PM 90 min
Post-Dinner Networking
Informal networking reception with the casino night and DJ.
02/02
Thursday
August 20, 2026
Closing day featuring specialty diversion case studies, large-scale organics, and the SWANA Young Professionals plenary — wrapping at noon, with an optional afternoon field trip to three Chicagoland circular economy sites.
8:00 – 9:00 AM 60 min
Breakfast
Buffet breakfast and coffee in the main ballroom.
9:00 – 10:00 AM 60 min
Education / Diversion Salon A
Specialty Recycling as Landfill Diversion in Downstate Thrift Stores
Nathan Montgomery, Executive Director Salt & Light · Urbana, IL
Betsy Ruckman, Sustainability Technician Illinois Sustainable Technology Center
Donate Used Furniture: Sustainability & Ending Furniture Poverty
Mary Novak, Chief Revenue Officer & Sustainability Leader Chicago Furniture Bank · Chicago, IL
Industry Insights Salon B
Food Scraps Program Update: Large-Scale Organics in Practice
A practitioner's view of large-scale organics diversion — hauling logistics, processing capacity, and markets for resulting compost and renewable natural gas.
Speakers being confirmed
10:00 – 11:00 AM 60 min
Closing Plenary

SWANA Young Professionals Plenary

Moderator: Shea Walter — SWANCC
Panelists: Betsy Ruckman · Shirley Kalapala · Briana Moore · Spencer LaBelle · Maximilian Ehret · Myles Barnes

Voices from the next generation of solid waste and circular economy practitioners in Illinois — pathways into the field, current projects, barriers encountered, and priorities shaping the work ahead. Co-organized by the SWANA Illinois Young Professionals network.

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM 60 min
Closing Program — Awards, Acknowledgments & ICC 2027 Preview
Recognition of award recipients, thanks to the Title Sponsor, host organizations, speakers, exhibitors, and attendees. The conference adjourns at noon.
Optional Thursday Afternoon

Three-Stop Circular Economy Tour

A guided afternoon tour of three Chicagoland circular economy sites — hard-to-recycle materials, organics-to-energy, and electronics refurbishment — showing how the topics covered in the program operate at street level.

Boarding 12:00–12:30 PM
Departure 12:30 PM Thursday
Return ~3:30–4:00 PM
Capacity 50 passengers
Includes Boxed lunch on board

CHaRM Center

Hard-to-Recycle Materials

The Center for Hard to Recycle Materials at South Suburban College — a permanent drop-off facility for Cook County residents diverting millions of pounds of difficult-to-recycle materials from landfills and waterways. Programs include a recycling warehouse, composting, and mobile event services.

Green Era

Anaerobic Digestion & Composting

A first-of-its-kind community-owned circular economy campus on Chicago's South Side that converts food waste into renewable energy, compost, and good local jobs.

PCs for People

Electronics Refurbishment & Digital Equity

See how donated electronics are refurbished and redistributed to low-income households and nonprofits, closing the loop on e-waste while bridging the digital divide.

Note: This agenda is preliminary and subject to change. Speakers and session details are continuously updated as confirmations come in.

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