2017 WRED Events

What Happened in 2017: 

March 30, 2017 |  All Charged Up: Exploring Battery Recycling
Tacoma Community College, Tacoma WA

On Thursday March 30, we kicked off the 2017 WRED season with an in depth exploration of Battery Recycling. Around 60 people joined us at Tacoma Community College to hear from an exceptional panel of national experts and innovators in the world of battery recycling. Speakers also included WSRA’s own, Jack Bradbury with All Battery Sales and Service, and Kitsap County’s Rick Gilbert. Attendees received a behind the scenes virtual tour of Battery Solutions facility in Michigan, as well as a deeper look into the safety and risks associated with lithium ion batteries. It was a charged up day with fascinating speakers!

Presentations

• Battery 101 – Jack Bradbury, All Battery Sales and Service
• Battery Solutions – Melissa Kelley and Doug Smith, Battery Solutions
• Kinsbursky Brothers and Retriev Technologies – Paul Johnson, Kinsbursky Brothers and Kathy Bruce, Retriev Technologies
• Household Batteries – A Collection Perspective – Rick Gilbert, Kitsap County
• The Transformation of Call2Recycle – Carl Smith, Call2Recycle
• Battery Lab – Melissa Kelley and Doug Smith, Battery Solutions

Virtual Tour

• Battery Solutions virtual tour

June 22, 2017 | Brokers, Ports and Operation Sword: Where Do Your Recyclables Go?
Murrey’s Disposal, Fife WA

On Thursday, June 22 we hosted our second WRED event of 2017, with a look at what happens to recyclable materials after they get sorted at a Materials Recovery Facility (MRF). Over 65 people gathered at Murrey’s Disposal to hear from a diverse panel of experts on port operations, how an MRF works, who brokers materials and who buys those materials, as well as the impacts of National Sword 2017. The documentary Plastic China was recommended viewing to gain a further understanding of why the National Sword 2017 was put into place. The WRED event was capped off with an up close and personal tour of the Port of Tacoma.

 Presentations

• Port Operations – Leslie Barstow, Port of Tacoma
• Inside a Materials Recovery Facility – Steve Frank, Pioneer Recycling Services
• A Broker’s Role – Bob Kovich, Jordan Trading
• Challenges of Exporting Materials – Alexa Berthelson, Full Container Recovery

Full Container Recovery “Waste Reduction with Environmental Integrity”

July 27, 2017 | The Waste Stream of the Future: Innovation in Composite Recycling
The Landing Mall, Port Angeles, WA

On Thursday, July 27 we hosted our third WRED event of 2017, with a look at composite recycling and our changing waste stream. Over 25 people gathered at The Landing Mall to hear from a diverse panel of experts on using composites in clean energy and clean technology, how carbon fiber is blended with a resin component, information on how the Composite Recycling Technology Center works, research and product development, and composite recycling. The WRED event was capped off with an up close and personal tour of the Composite Recycling Technology Center.

Presentations

• Clean Technology – Brian Young, WA Department of Commerce
• CRTC Overview – Norm Nelson, Composite Recycling Technology Center
• Research and Product Development – Karl Englund, Washington State University Composite Materials and Engineering Center
• Composite Recycling – Stephanie Sears, Toray Composite Materials America, Inc.

September 28, 2017 | The Compost Cycle – From Food to Farm and Back Again
In Partnership with the Washington Organic Recycling Council
Pilchuck Event Center, Marysville, WA

On Thursday, September 28 WSRA and WORC partnered to host our 4th WRED event of 2017, focusing on composting, at every part of the journey. Attendees heard from a range of speakers, including those who grow food, consume food, compost food, and use and produce compost. This event allowed attendees to see and hear about the composting cycle as well as hear about the hot topics like contamination and the effects of packaging and bags.  Attendees also got a behind the scenes tour of WSRA Member Lenz Enterprises’ compost operations in Stanwood, WA.

Presentations

• Bailand Farms and Bailey Family Farms – Don Bailey, Bailey Compost
• Composting, Contamination and Collaboration – Susan Thoman, Composter Manufacturing Alliance
• Compost Facility Overview and Contamination Challenges – Edward Wheeler, Lenz Enterprises
• A Seattle Update – Compostable Bag Legislation, Straw and Utensil Ordinance – Pat Kaufman, Seattle Public Utilities
• Apple Maggot Survey Summary – Scott Deatherage, Barr-Tech

Thank you to our additional speakers, Jeff West with Olympic Organics and Compost Manufacturing Alliance, Jay Hildebrand with Safeway Albertsons, and Dell Deierling with the Marysville Food Bank!