Workshop on Agricultural Plastics Waste Collection & Recycling

Developed by the Joint NEWMOA/NESCAUM Open Waste Burning Workgroup (funded by grant from EPA Region 1-NE)

Meeting Materials

The following presentations are available for download:

• Collecting Agricultural Films
  • Natalie Starr, DSM Environmental Services
• New Jersey’s Agricultural Plastics Recycling Program
  • Dennis DeMatte, Cumberland County Improvement Authority, NJ
• Lessons from Marina Shrink Wrap Programs
  • Gerry DiSchino, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association
• The Plastofuel Option for the Dirtiest Plastics
  • Jim Garthe, Pennsylvania State University
• Overview of Agricultural Plastics Waste Generation in the Northeast
  • Lois Levitan, Cornell University Environmental Risk Analysis Program

You may also download the discussion notes.

Agenda
9:30 – 9:40 Introductions & Review of Agenda

9:40 – 10:10 Overview of Agricultural Plastics Waste Generation in the Northeast: Amounts & Types and Challenges to Recycling
Speaker: Lois Levitan, Environmental Risk Analysis Program, Cornell University

10:10 – 10:30 New York Dairy Farm Study/ Big Foot Baler Demonstration
Speaker: Lois Levitan, Environmental Risk Analysis Program, Cornell University

10:30 – 11:00 New Jersey’s Agricultural Plastics Recycling Program
Speaker: Dennis DeMatte, Cumberland County Improvement Authority, NJ

11:00 – 11:15 Break

11:45 – 12:15 Lessons from Marina Shrink Wrap Programs
Speaker: Gerry DiSchino, Rhode Island Marine Trades Association (invited)

12:15 – 1:00 Lunch

1:00 – 1:30 Collecting Agricultural Plastics for Recycling: Summary of Challenges & Opportunities
Speaker: Natalie Starr, DSM Environmental

1:30 – 3:00 Facilitated Panel Discussion: Markets for Plastics Collected from Agricultural Uses
Panel members: Dennis DeMatte, Cumberland County Improvement Authority, Andrea Dahl, Trex in Winchester, VA (invited); Paul Tomasi, Northeast Kingdom Solid Waste District, Lois Levitan, Cornell Evironmental Risk Analysis Program

3:00 – 3:30 The Plastofuel Option for the Dirtiest Plastics
Speaker: Jim Garthe

3:30 – 4:00 Wrap Up & Next Steps