Overview

Thank you to everyone who attended the 2025 SWANA Northern Lights Conference in Winnipeg, MB.

SAVE THE DATE: The 2026 NLC Conference will be held April 22-24, 2026 in Calgary, AB.

Below are copies of the available proceedings from the conference. Click on the speaker’s name to download their slide deck (PDF format).

Workshop: Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR)

Keynote: Where is the Babe Ruth of the Energy Transition?

Small Town Heroes – Small & Remote Community Waste Management – Session 1A

Lessons from Remote Waste Management in Canada: Insights from Nunavut, Nunatsiavut, and Northern Manitoba – Mario Poveda, Dillon Consulting
Reality Check: Waste Management in Indigenous Northern Communities – Julian Russell and Michael McPhee, Sambaa K’e First Nation
Steps to Improve Waste Management & Diversion in Remote Communities – Kori Wuttunee, Saskatchewan Aboriginal Land Technicians
The Austin Matthew’s Effect – How to advance waste & recycling management as a team in a small town – Molly Fyten, 201 Solutions

PFAS – The Forever Foul – Session 1B

How worried should I be about PFAS? – Dr Joe Ackerman, Biosystems Engineering, University of Manitoba
Managing (PFAS) in Landfill Leachates: Current Challenges and the Path Forward in Treatment and Regulation – MD Tanvir Hasnine, University of Manitoba – presentation not available
Evaluation of Destructive PFAS Technologies for Contaminated and Concentrated Treatment Residuals – A Technical Review of Existing Technologies – Tim Abbott, AECOM

Up to Bat? Waste and Recycling Programs – Session 1C

High-rises to ground-floor suites: The ups and downs of introducing three-stream source separation to apartments and condos – Vahid Rashidi, City of Edmonton
If you Build it, they will Come: A Story of Community Food Waste Drop off Stations – Amanda Wolfe, Compost Winnipeg, and Ash Raichura, City of Winnipeg
Revealing The Value of Waste Audits – Shaun Spalding, Environmental Consulting Solutions
The Playbook for Circularity – introducing the R-Ladder tool for prioritizing material management activities in a circular economy – Jennifer Koole, Recycling Council of Alberta

The Defensive Line – from Leachate to Liners – Session 2A

Feedback on the long-term integrity of Multi-linear drainage geocomposites installed on landfill final covers after 10 and 12 years of operation – Stephan Fourmont, Afitex-Texel Geosynthetics inc.
Willows at Work: A Phytotechnology 101 for Leachate Management – John Lavery, Ramo Western Division (Bionera Resources)
Waste Closure Solutions with Geosynthetics & Renewable Energy – Vincent Diviacchi, AGRU America, Inc

Keep the Ball in Play – Circular Economy in Action – Session 2B

Consistent data collection and reporting: The role of standards in the circular economy – Christina Seidel, sonnevera international corp. & Iris Monner, CSA Group
Redefining Packaging: Advancing Mycelium-Based Materials for a Sustainable Future – Chen Li & Dr. Ali Zoungrana, University of Manitoba
Establishing Reusable Packaging Programs – Charles Binks-Collier, Circulr
The Role of Circular Procurement in Municipal Waste Management Strategy – Mike Fernandes, StrategyMakers Consulting Inc.

Stop, Drop, and Landfill – Planning, Operations & Landfill – Session 2C

Power Plays – Landfill Gas – Session 3A

Surface Emissions Monitoring Technology Comparison: City of Vancouver Landfill – Hanna Musslick, City of Vancouver
Landfill Gas Regulations and the Canadian Solid Waste Industry – making for strange bedfellows? – Michel Lefebvre, Tetra Tech
How many ways can Landfill Gas be used at one site and hit it out of the park? – Denise Burgess, Comcor Environmental Ltd.

Old Gear, New Game – Reuse and Repair Programs – Session 3B

Playing for the Long Game: Share Reuse Repair Action Guide for Local Government – Tamara Shulman, Tamara Shulman and Associates
“It ain’t over till its over” – Salvage and Reuse at the Foothills Landfill – Joe Angevine, Foothills Regional Landfill & Resource Recovery Centre
Stay out of the Penalty Box – Lessons from the Hodge Podge Lodge – Erin Wildeboer, Strathcona County
Keeping the Ball Rolling: Repair Café – Bobbie Duns, Saskatchewan Waste Reduction Council
“Seeds of Change” – Giving Another Life to Second Hand Items – Pam Miller, 16-43 Waste Management

No Overtime – Climate Change – Session 3C

Climate Change Risk Management for Landfills – Juliana Tang, Associated Engineering Alberta Ltd.
Preparing for the 100-Year Storm every 4 Years – John Greathead, Pursuit Collection
Assessing the Risks of Climate Change on Solid Waste Infrastructure Using the PIEVC Process – Jeff O’Driscoll, P.Eng., IRP – Associate, Climate Risk Institute

Covering Your Bases – Insurance in the Waste Management Industry – Session 4A

Extinguishing E-Waste Fires: A Collaborative Approach – Spencer de Klerk, City of Edmonton
Navigating the Insurance Landscape: Improving your Risk Profile – Adam Fowler & Shawn Bower, Lloyd Sadd Insurance Brokers
Panel Discussion included examples, research and potential paths forward:
- Christine Major, Portage and District Recycling Inc.
- Jack Winram, Manitoba Environmental Industry Association – no slides to share

“Tackling” Food Waste – Organics – Session 4B

FCM’s Green Municipal Fund – Funding for your Organic Waste to Energy Projects – Noemie De Vuyst, FCM
Compost Facility Commissioning: Practical Considerations for Industrial Facilities – Mark Molesky, City of Lethbridge
We have built it – will they come? A new comprehensive commercial composting option for Manitoba opens, but universal adoption of organics diversion, and circularity remain elusive – Alex Singbeil, Catapult Environmental

Building a Winning Team – Staff/Management – Session 4C

Social Procurement at SARCAN – Chantelle Diakuw, SARC/SARCAN Recycling
(This presentation explored the implications of the Modern Slavery Act on our procurement practices).
Pizza doesn’t pay the bills: toward more meaningful staff recognition in a difficult economy – Matt Rawluk, Claystone Waste Ltd.
Supporting Decision-Making and Driving Continuous Improvement: Emerging Performance Management Frameworks and Metrics – Jeannie Bertrand, Dillon Consulting

Keynote Speaker “You say it can’t be done? Watch Me!!”

Michelle Sawatzky-Koop, Canadian Olympian and co-founder of Heroes in our Midst podcast – no slides to share