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Waste and Materials Management Study Group

The Waste and Materials Management Study Group is a stakeholder working group formed in 2016 by the DNR's Waste and Materials Management Program. The group serves as a forum for the program to receive input from, and provide information to, stakeholder organizations. The study group provides the Waste and Materials Management Program with constructive feedback on policy and technical issues and works collaboratively with DNR staff to find workable solutions.

The study group identifies issues and topics of interest that can be addressed by ad hoc subgroups. Subgroup members are expected to research and develop recommendations on the selected topics for presentation to the full group.

The study group meets quarterly or semi-annually, with additional subgroup meetings scheduled as needed. Meetings are open to the public.

Study Group and Subgroup Members and Meetings

Study Group

Study Group Members

Waste and Materials Management Study Group members are appointed by the DNR secretary.

  • Tim Curry, GFL Environmental
  • Chad Doverspike, Brown County (representing Solid Waste Association of North America, Wisconsin Badger Chapter)
  • Tom Karwoski, SCS Engineers
  • Julie Ketchum, WM
  • Brandon Knudtson, Hilltopper Refuse and Recycling Service, Inc. (representing Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin)
  • Paul Mathewson, Clean Wisconsin
  • David Pellitteri, National Waste and Recycling Association
  • Bart Sexton, Sand County Environmental
  • John Welch, Dane County (representing Wisconsin Counties Solid Waste Management Association)

Meetings

Note: all documents referenced in notes are not clickable within the documents, but are available through the links below.

Date & Time Location Information
Feb. 1, 2024
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Teams meeting
Nov. 2, 2023
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Zoom meeting/GEF2 in Madison
Aug. 3, 2023
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Zoom meeting
May 4, 2023
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Feb. 2, 2023
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Nov. 3, 2022
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Aug. 4, 2022
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

May 5, 2022
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Feb. 3, 2022
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Dec. 2, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Oct. 7, 2021
1- 1:30 p.m.

Solid Waste Interested Parties meeting to follow (1:30 to 3:30 p.m.)

Zoom meeting

Aug. 5, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

June 3, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

April 1, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Feb. 4, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Zoom meeting

Dec. 3, 2020
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Skype meeting

Oct. 1, 2020
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.

Skype meeting

August 6, 2020
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Skype meeting

June 5, 2020
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Skype meeting

April 9, 2020
9:30 - 11:30 a.m.

Skype meeting

Feb. 6, 2020
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Wisconsin Rural Water Association

Dec. 6, 2019
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Appleton Public Library

Oct. 4, 2019
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

DNR Fitchburg Service Center

August 2, 2019
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

DNR Fitchburg Service Center

June 7, 2019
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Main Portage County Library
Stevens Point, WI

April 5, 2019
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Appleton Public Library

Dec. 7, 2018
9 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
DNR Central Office
Oct. 2, 2018
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Marathon County Public Library
August 10, 2018
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
June 27, 2018
12:30 - 3:30 p.m.
Main Portage County Library
April 13, 2018
9 a.m. - 12 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
Oct. 10, 2017
1-4 p.m.
Main Portage County Library
Aug. 16, 2017
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
June 6, 2017
1-4 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
April 6, 2017
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Schmeeckle Reserve Visitor Center
Feb. 16, 2017
1-4 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
Dec. 7, 2016
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
Oct. 26, 2016
1-4 p.m.
Portage County Courthouse Annex
Aug. 9, 2016
12:30-3:30 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
June 23, 2016
12:30-3:30 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center
April 14, 2016
9:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Portage County Library
Feb. 15, 2016
1-3 p.m.
DNR Fitchburg Service Center

Recovery & diversion subgroup

The subgroup will evaluate the modern landscape of waste recovery and diversion as compared to the original intent of recycling laws and landfill bans. Focus areas include:

  • standard definitions for the various terms associated with recycling, waste reduction, diversion and beneficial use;
  • effectiveness, challenges and opportunities of diversion of additional materials from landfills;
  • contaminants/problematic items in the recycling stream and how to address the issue;
  • funding mechanisms and processes; and
  • 21st century framework for evaluating success of waste recovery and diversion programs.

Subgroup members

*Subgroup member is also a WMM Study Group member

  • Chris Blan, Brown County
  • Amanda Haffele, Portage County
  • Megen Hines, Menomonie
  • Meleesa Johnson*, Marathon County
  • Amber Meyer Smith, Clean Wisconsin
  • Lynn Morgan*, Waste Management
  • Jennifer Semrau, DNR
  • Karin Sieg, Recycling Connections Corp/Associated Recyclers of Wisconsin

Meetings

Date & Time Location
Oct. 20, 2021
12:30 - 3 p.m.
Zoom/conference call
July 20, 2021
1 p.m. - 3:30 p.m.
Zoom/conference call
May 18, 2021
9:30 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Zoom/conference call
Jan. 28, 2021
12:30 - 2:30 p.m.
Zoom/conference call
Dec. 2, 2020
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Zoom/conference call
Sept. 18, 2020
10 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Zoom/conference call
March 12, 2020
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Portage County Public Library
Jan. 17, 2020
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Portage County Public Library
Nov. 14, 2019
9 - 10 a.m.
Conference call
Oct. 9, 2019
1 - 2:30 p.m.
Portage County Public Library