National Zero Waste Conference - Keynote Showcase 2024

All activities are on the Main Stage – except Concurrent Sessions.
Click session titles to access their descriptions.

Bianca Lopez

Co-founder – Valley Improvement Projects (VIP), based in Stanislaus County, California

Bianca is a 1st generation migrant from Guadalajara Jalisco, raised in Los Angeles. Bianca is now a mother of two small children and co-founder of Valley Improvement Projects (VIP) based in Stanislaus County, in California’s northern central valley.

VIP was formed in 2012 by a group of activists and community organizers from the Northern San Joaquin Valley with the mission of improving the quality of life of underrepresented and marginalized residents of California’s Central Valley by promoting social and environmental justice issues through youth outreach, education, technology, and art. VIP is active in air quality, pesticide reform, climate justice, clean vehicle empowerment, and Zero Waste.

In 2023, VIP collaborated with community members to develop the Stanislaus County Zero Waste Plan. The plan identifies the policies, programs and infrastructure to reduce waste and increase reuse, recycling and composting – creating new jobs, reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and marking the path from incineration to Zero Waste.

Bianca is a grassroots, frontline community member leading the way for sustainable practices and just transitions in Stanislaus County.

Dan Fritschen

Researcher – Waste Free in ’23 – Nairobi, Kenya

Dan Fritschen is a researcher with WasteFree23.org. Dan brings more than 30 years of management, development and engineering experience to the WasteFree23 team to combat the greatest challenges of our times – Global Warming and Plastic Pollution.

WasteFree23 is an international network of individuals, communities, and organizations that create, promote, and train any interested participant on processes and equipment needed to end the burning, trucking, and dumping of household waste. The solutions we create and promote cost nothing to start and can be expanded to process 1,000 tonnes of waste per week. The processes promote education and self-reliance. They each can be profitable, create employment, start careers and build wealth in all communities. WasteFree23 offers all content,
services, and online training free-of-charge.

Started in Nairobi in 2023 – WasteFree23.org and its network of communities have:
-Enabled 12,000 households to be waste-free
-Empowered groups to implement solutions in 23 cities in 9 countries
-3,900 jobs have been created or wages increased
-320 tonnes of household waste has been recycled instead of burnt, dumped or trucked
-6,500 students have received the Pencils for Plastics sustainability classes
WasteFree23.org has made accessible to every community worldwide the safe and effective solutions to recycle ALL the communities’ own household waste. Processed at a profit:
– All plastics
– Diapers
– Food waste
– Latrine waste
– Green/Agricultural waste
– Paper

In 2024, WasteFree23.org created and has begun promoting a Zero Pollution Zero Fuel cost Sustainable Heatbank and Community Kitchen (SHaCK) that eliminates the consumption of firewood by 500,000 schools worldwide. The schools will now save $500 million dollars a year in fuel costs and prevent the cutting of tens of millions of trees.

Vanessa Rogier

Conservation Manager – The Trash Punx

Vanessa is a ‘lifer’ for conservation. Growing up across the globe she experienced life in remote natural environments which served to fuel her passion for animals, people and protecting the Earth.

Vanessa was the Conservation Director for a Bay Area attraction for 25 years where she created several global programs for the protection of endangered species. Joining The Trash Punx was a no-brainer for Vanessa as it paralleled her desire to give back to the community while protecting the planet and its inhabitants.

The Trash Punx provides a variety of programs for the community and environment. The Trash Punx host cleanup events for groups, schools, and companies to remove litter and waste from our local environment by focusing on waterways, parks, and streets.

The Trash Punx have partnered with Sabore Ole Oyie, Maasai elder and warrior, of Kenya, to clean up the town of Ewaso Ngiro, outside of Nairobi. Ewaso Ngiro is a small town approximately 60 miles from the famous Maasai Mara National Reserve and is the lifeblood for thousands of people who attend the weekly livestock and produce market where they buy their food. the challenge this town faces is they have no trash service, no trash bins and no means of trash disposal. The trash is thrown on the ground and the town is filthy. Follow along with The Trash Punx as they travel 10,000 miles from the San Francisco Bay Area to Kenya! https://www.thetrashpunx.org/projectpickup

Jamala Djinn, Ph.D.

Policy Advisor – Break Free From Plastic

Dr. Jamala Djinn is a materials physicist and senior policy advisor from Detroit, MI. She uses her many years of experience in government and science to curb the presence of toxic chemicals in our bodies and the environment.

#BreakFreeFromPlastic is the global movement working to achieve a future free from plastic pollution. More than 13,000 organizations and individuals around the world have come together to demand reductions in single-use plastics and to advocate for lasting solutions to the plastic pollution crisis. BFFP members work together to bring about systemic change by tackling plastic pollution across the whole value chain – from extraction to disposal – focusing on prevention rather than cure.

Global efforts are tied to what happens in our communities. Jamala Djinn reports back from the recent Global Plastic Treaty negotiations that took place in Ottawa, and will share about how the circularity movement connects to the treaty negotiations. As a materials scientist, Dr. Djinn advocates for a Zero Waste materials economy that moves towards sustainable alternatives to plastic. In this talk, she will speak about how local action as an opportunity for the US to leave a lasting mark in crafting an ambitious Global Plastics Treaty.

Stephanie Barger

As director of market transformation & development for the TRUE Zero Waste Certification, Stephanie Barger is responsible for the growth and development of the TRUE program. Barger helped launch TRUE, owned and administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI) in 2017. GBCI is the premier organization independently recognizing excellence in green business industry performance and practice globally and administers all LEED green building certifications. TRUE was acquired by GBCI in 2016 and was previously known as U.S. Zero Waste Business Council, which Barger formed in January 2012.

TRUE (Total Resource Use and Efficiency) strives to change the way materials flow through society so that all products are eventually reused and diverted from landfill, incineration (waste-to-energy) and the environment.

Administered by Green Business Certification Inc. (GBCI), the TRUE Zero Waste certification system is a complement to LEED and other green rating systems. As markets continue to urbanize and industrialize, cities and businesses are faced with an increasing amount of waste that puts strain on resources and communities.

Stephanie Barger, Founder of the global TRUE Certification program, will share the success stories from small to large businesses of creating micro and macro zero waste economies. “We need to break down the barriers and debunk the myths. Every company already has the capability to achieve their zero-waste goals. By focusing on what we can do and not what holds us back, we can expedite our journey to a circular economy.” Barger encourages. By working with supply chains, reprocessors, and empowering employees, we can unleash the estimated $4.5 trillion in circular economic benefits by 2030! Stephanie will highlight the growing ecosystem of service providers, innovators, consultants, nonprofit, and businesses that are moving the needle from 20% to 60% to 90%. Please bring your definitions and actions items for GEN ZW! To be shared during this interactive keynote!