Conference At A Glance 2026

All activities are on the Main Stage – except Concurrent Sessions.
View Day 1 and Day 2 schedules for more speaker information.

Times are listed in Pacific Standard Time

2026 Home
At A Glance
Day 1
Day 2
Keynote Showcase 2026

Day 1 • October 21

Start Time Event
7:45 AM
Start Time • Networking and Zoom Assistance
8:00 AM
Opening • Welcome
8:15 AM
Plenary 1 • Using Data and AI to Drive Progress Toward Zero Waste
9:00 AM Keynote 1 • TBD
9:30 AM
Plenary 2 • TBD
10:30 AM Break
10:45 AM Concurrent AM

  • Track A – Piloting Reusable Foodware at Airports
  • Track B – Transitioning K-12 Schools to Reuse in Food Service
  • Track C – Prevention Meets Payoff – Practical Waste Reduction Assistance for Restaurants
11:45 AM Sponsor Showcase & Networking 
12:15 PM Keynote 2 • TBD
  Plenary 3

  • SMM 2030 in Practice: Closing the Loop on Transport Packaging
  • Hold the Plastic: Approaches to Reuse & Reduction on College Campuses
  • Why Zero Waste Programs Stall After the Audit & Assessment Stage
1:45 PM
Plenary 4 • Aligning Mission and Market to Build Local Economies
2:45 PM Highlights and Key Takeaways from the Day
3:00 PM End
   

Day 2 • October 22

Time
 Event
7:45 AM Start Time
8:00 AM Welcome & Opening
8:15 AM Keynote 1 • TBD
8:45 AM Plenary 1 intro • The State of Zero Waste Municipalities in the U.S. 
9:00 AM Plenary 1 • Municipalities Leading the Way Toward Zero Waste (small, medium, large)
10:00 AM Break 
10:15 AM Plenary 2 • Grassroots Community Action
11:15 AM Keynote 2 • Traditional Ecological Knowledge and Zero Waste
11:45 PM Plenary 3 • Edible Food Recovery
12:45 PM Sponsor Showcase & Networking
1:15 PM Concurrent PM

  • Track A – Plastics
  • Track B – Solutions for Hard to Recycle Materials
  • Track C – Behavior Change & Community Engagement
2:15 PM Breakout Discussions
3:15 PM Highlights and Key Takeaways from the Day 
3:30 PM End