Join us for a professional conference and vendor exhibit hall, focused on food waste composting and diversion efforts in Massachusetts. Last year’s Summit attracted over 225 professionals from 14 states, and continues to grow. This year’s agenda includes a second day offering a composting course for site operators, municipal boards of health and regulatory staff.

Who Should Attend? 

• Organics Recycling Professionals: Commercial and municipal composters, haulers, and equipment vendors.
• Government Officials: Recycling, health, public works, wastewater, and composting.
• Food Waste/Organics Generators: Supermarkets, hotels, institutional food service, restaurants, healthcare, colleges, and corrections.

Agenda

March 4, 2008: Best Western Royal Plaza, Marlborough, Massachusetts 

8:00-9:00 Breakfast, Registration & Exhibit Hall

9:00-9:15 Welcome Remarks

9:15-10:00 Keynote Address:  Composting & Climate Change

• Dr. Sally Brown, University of Washington
• Nora Goldstein, BioCycle Magazine

10:00-10:30 Break & Exhibit Hall

10:30-11:45 Breakout Sessions

Session A: Stepping up to the Plate with Biodegradables

• Steve Mojo, Biodegradable Products Institute
• Brian Balukonis, Raytheon Corporation
• Adam Mitchell, Save That Stuff

Biodegradable products are getting more media attention.  An expert talks about what you should know when looking to purchase biodegradable products and where the industry is headed.  Hear from a hauler and a corporation on how they have successfully incorporated these products into their Zero Waste events.

Session B: Beyond the Open Windrow: Alternative Composting Technologies

• Bob Spencer, Environmental Planning Consultant

How to upgrade your operations and reduce your exposure to nuisance complaints through better composting management technologies, including in-vessel systems, compost blankets, and rotary drums.

11:45-1:15  Lunch & Exhibit Hall
 
1:15-2:45  Plenary: Feasibility Studies of Anaerobic Digestion in Massachusetts

• Jonathan Keaney, P.E., Brown & Caldwell
• Jay Kilbourn, New England Organics 
• Bill Jorgenson, SJH and Company, Inc.

Hear about three different studies currently being conducted to assess the feasibility of operating an anaerobic digester in Massachusetts.  From wastewater treatment plants to landfills to small farms, can this technology be an economically viable and sustainable solution for managing food waste and other organics?

2:45-3:15  Break, Dessert & Exhibit Hall

3:15-4:00  Roundtable Discussions

Roundtable A: How to Advance Food Waste Composting Capacity at Municipal Leaf & Yard Waste Sites

• Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection
• Chip Laffey, Town of Needham

This discussion will focus on the Massachusetts regulatory process involved with expanding a municipal leaf & yard operation to accept food waste for composting.

Roundtable B: Funding Opportunities for Food Waste Diversion

• Carol Brennan, The Business Development Company
• Massachusetts Technology Collaborative 
• Katherine Gekas, Neighborhood Power

Roundtable C:  On-site Management Opportunities for Food Waste:  Emerging Technologies

• High-Volume Organic Waste to Liquid Decomposition Systems
• Pulping Systems 
• Small On-Site Anaerobic Digestion
  
  Are there other approaches for handling food waste?  Hear about several on-site alternatives and ask your questions.

Wednesday, March 5th:  Wrentham Development Center, 162 Emerald Street, Wrentham, MA 02093

8:00-5:00 (breakfast & lunch included)

Compost Training:  Best Management Practices for Today’s Operation

Course Instructors:  Dr. Robert Rynk, SUNY Cobleskill, & Sumner Martinson, MassDEP
   
Participants will spend time in the classroom learning the basics of the composting process such as creating the right mix, controlling run-off and odors, marketing and specific Massachusetts’s guidelines for maintaining compliance.  An afternoon session will be conducted in the field to demonstrate equipment, compost mixing, temperature monitoring and quality control.  Massachusetts Health Officers Association (MHOA) Continuing Ed Credits (CEUs) available.

Additional Summit Information

Best Western Royal Plaza
181 Boston Post Road (Route 20)
Marlborough, MA 01752

Hotel Rooms are available at $102 plus tax. To make reservations, call 1-888-543-9500 and mention that you will be attending the Organics Recycling Summit.

Directions:

Interstate 495 to Exit 24B. Hotel is one mile on the right. See Google Maps for customized directions from your starting point.

Wrentham Development Center
162 Emerald Street 
Wrentham, MA 02093

Directions: 

• From I-95: Take Exit 9 to Route 1 South. At the first light after Gillette Stadium (on your left), take right onto Pine Street and follow 1/4 mile.  At T junction, bear right onto Pine Street/Route 115 and follow for 1/2 mile. Take left onto Route 1A South and follow about 1.5 miles.  Turn right onto North Street and follow about 1/4 mile, then take left onto Emerald Street. Proceed 1/2 mile to Wrentham Development Center.
• From I-495: Take Exit for Route 1A North. Go about 3 miles and take left onto North Street. follow about 1/4 mile, then take left onto Emerald Street. Proceed 1/2 mile to Wrentham Development Center.

Weather: In case of inclement weather, please call 617-654-6580 and listen for a recorded message regarding conference and training status.

Register Online
Web page

Platinum Sponsors
ArrowBio
Metabolix
Stearns & Wheler
The Stop & Shop Supermarket Company LLC

Contact for additional information or if interested in exhibiting or sponsoring: Morgan Harriman at 617-654-6580 or morgan.harriman@state.ma.us