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Keynote

The outlook for commodity prices in the coming years is uncertain, and Key industry leader(s) will frame the Forum’s focus.  There are multiple pressures on recycling operations, some problems new and some have been with us for years.  Yet, recycling has grown to be an integral part of our economy and the material supply chain to manufacturing in the Southeast remains a priority.

Brent Bell, President at Waste Management Recycle America
Brent Bell has worked in the waste industry for 20 years. Brent started at USA Waste in 1997 and worked at the corporate offices during the USA Waste/Waste Management merger in the late 1990’s. Brent moved to the recycling group a few years later and helped form Recycle America Alliance, a subsidiary of Waste Management, designed to attract regional recycling processors to join the “alliance”.

Brent has held various positions with Waste Management recycling from business partner to business development and today he is the President of Waste Management Recycle America, a 100% WM owned subsidiary, and Vice President of recycling responsible for operations of 100+ facilities and the sales and marketing of nearly 10 million tons of recyclables.

Brent received a BBA with a degree in Accounting in 1995 from the Stephen F Austin State University in Nacogdoches, Texas. Born in Missouri, Brent was raised in Houston and currently lives in Friendswood with his wife and three kids.

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Material-Specific Market Complexities

The single stream mix contains several materials, each with its own complexity and challenges.  Energy prices have a direct impact on recycled commodity prices.  International trade is a key part of the industry market, and lately policy decisions are impacting markets.  This session’s panel will share current material-specific insights and efforts underway.


Myles Cohen, President at Pratt Industries

Myles Cohen is currently President of Pratt Recycling. As the chief executive of this business, Cohen is responsible for Pratt’s network of recycling plants, its Material Recovery Facilities throughout the USA, as well as directing the sourcing for Pratt’s 100 percent recycled paper mills. Cohen’s team manages a variety of recycling activities - including collection and processing of paper, plastics, metals and other materials, operation of material recovery facilities (MRFs) and more. Additionally, he leads Pratt Industries’ “close-the-loop” initiative which assists Pratt’s customers in their environmental sustainability initiatives, enabling them to achieve their zerolandfill goals through improved recycling and waste-to-energy solutions. 

Presentation not available


Nina Butler, CEO at More Recycling

Nina Bellucci Butler is the CEO of More Recycling, the next generation of Moore Recycling Associates; its name is an intentional nod to its predecessor. More Recycling is a research and technology firm with a deep understanding of the recycling ecosystem, especially for plastics. With a focus on information analysis, MORE gathers the critical information to build the tools and programs for sustainable materials management. 

Nina has more than 17 years of experience in plastic recycling and has designed and implemented numerous programs and resources. She has been a visionary, leading industry, building collaboration, and shedding light on the information necessary to overcome barriers to the recycling of plastics in the United States. Nina is the Chief Technical Advisor for the Wrap Recycling Action Program, a national plastic film recycling initiative. 

She has a Masters in Environmental Management from Duke University.

Presentation posted shortly

Joe Pickard, Chief Economist/Director of Commodities at ISRI 

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Brands Using Recycled Content

Many brands have made significant commitments to sustainability goals that rely upon a vibrant recycling infrastructure to either provide the material for content or the capture of spent packaging.  This session will cover corporate goals for the future and the purpose for achieving them.


Nicole Smith, Sustainability Manager at Coca-Cola North America

Nicole Smith is a sustainability director focusing on customer collaborations for Coca-Cola North America.  Nicole joined Coca-Cola Refreshments in 2012, working with 80 manufacturing facilities, leading energy and water efficiency training/initiatives, as well as the recycling programs.  In 2015, she transitioned to Coca-Cola North America, partnering with customer teams to collaborate on sustainability projects.  Prior to joining Coca-Cola, 

Nicole created and ran an environmental division for six years at Design & Source Productions, a boutique product and packaging design firm in New York City. 

Nicole graduated from the University of Florida with a Bachelor of Design in Architecture.  While living in New York City, she was active on the Sustainable Packaging Coalition, the NY Coalition for Resource Recovery, and a staff member of GreenHomeNYC, she also served on the Board and was President of the University of Florida Alumni Association for New York City.  She currently serves as Board Chair of SERDC (Southeast Recycling Development Council).

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Katie Wallace, CSR at New Belgium Brewery


Katie Wallace is the CSR Program Manager at 100% employee-owned New Belgium Brewing where she has been for 13 years. 

Katie helps to lead Sustainability and B-Corp efforts as they relate to operations, culture, community engagement, supply chain, advocacy, and brand. She sits on New Belgium leadership teams, co-chairs the Brewers Association’s sustainability committee, and co-founded the Glass Recycling Coalition. 

Passionate about business’s potential as a force for good in the world, Katie speaks nationally on these topics and partners with company leaders across the globe. 

She has a Masters in Applied Positive Psychology from the University of Pennsylvania.

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Eddie Ingle, VP Supply Chain and REPREVE at UNIFI 

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Roundtable/Panel

The final session of the day is a panel discussion of from some of the organizations that are having impactful programs to improve infrastructure, messaging, participation, processing, design and more. The session will build upon the information provided during the day. Leveraged investments, systematic grant programs, outreach support and more. There is a tremendous support array available. The panel will explore how to best apply resources to opportunities.

Scott Mouw, The Recycling Partnership


Sandi Childs, Director, Film and Flexible Programs at APR


Sandi Childs is the Director of Film and Flexible Programs for APR, the Association of Plastic Recyclers. She is leading APR’s efforts to expand and promote the plastic bag and flexible film recycling industry. 

Prior to APR, Sandi worked for Coca-Cola Recycling as a Recovery Development Manager, developing models for brand owner investments in the recycling value chain. Sandi started her career recycling PET plastics, as Recycling Manager for Southeastern Container and then as Eastern Regional Director for NAPCOR. 

Sandi has a BS in Human Ecology from Ramapo College of New Jersey and a Masters in Environmental Science from UNC-Chapel Hill.

Chad Leatherwood, Project Manager in the Sustainability Group at Evergreen

Chad Leatherwood is a Project Manager in the Sustainability Group at Evergreen Packaging.  He manages several of the “central office” function of the FSC, PEFC, and SFI chain-of-custody programs at Evergreen Packaging.  

 Chad supports a wide variety of corporate sustainability initiatives and Evergreen Packaging’s participation in the Carton Council. 

He serves on the Board of Directors for the Cradle of Forestry Interpretive Association in America.

A proud graduate of NC State and Georgia Tech, he happily resides in Asheville, NC. 

Will Newsome, Manager of Trade Sales & Field Procurement at Sonoco Recycling

Will Newsome has been with Sonoco Recycling for over 17 years.  During that time he’s held various roles within the company to include Finance & Accounting, Operations, Field Procurement, and Trade Sales.  In his current as Manager of Trade Sales and Field Procurement he manages the sales and procurement of all fiber & non-fiber grades for Sonoco Recycling.  


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