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Pinellas Partners in Recycling – Low Waste Event Guide Work Group Charter

Purpose

Work Groups are established to support and advance the objectives of Pinellas Partners in Recycling (PPR) in accordance with its Policies and Procedures.

The purpose of the Low Waste Event Guide Work Group is to:

  • Develop, maintain, and promote a Low Waste Event Guide.  
  • Provide resources to the representatives of solid waste, recycling, and special events/community outreach departments of local and regional governments.

Scope

Pinellas County has a vision of zero waste to landfill by 2050. The County’s 30-year Solid Waste Master Plan provides recommended strategies to obtain this goal and serves as the guide for solid waste operations and program development to meet the future solid waste management needs of the County in the short (through 2024), intermediate (2025 through 2033) and long (2034 through 2048) terms. One of 28 recommended strategies is to Promote Low Waste/ Zero Waste Events at Public Venues. 

The Work Group seeks to develop a regional guide for low waste or zero waste events. To support the Master Plan, this Work Group will develop guidance for pre-event planning as well as event set up and tear down.

Resources

The Work Group maintains the following resources:

  • Low Waste Event Guide (in progress)

Responsibilities of Officers

The Officers are Chair and Secretary. Their responsibilities are:

  • The Chair guides conduct of meetings, builds unity of purpose, helps prepare agendas, welcomes new members, and introduces guests, knows and understands the group’s purpose, ensures sufficient consideration of issues, tries to promote consensus, prevents anyone from dominating discussions, progresses through the agenda on time, summarizes problems, points, and decisions, ensures decisions are carried out, delegates tasks, and represents the group to PPR.  
  • The Secretary prepares agendas, arranges meetings, keeps formal records of the group’s process and decisions, ensures that resources are accessible to group and PPR, ensures that members have access to records, and assists in representing the group to PPR.  

Responsibilities of Members

Member responsibilities include:

  • Attending and participating in work group meetings. If members cannot attend work group meetings, they should provide written updates to Chair and Secretary prior to meetings or send an alternate.  
  • Reviewing and providing input on draft resources.
  • Supporting the promotion of the Low Waste Event Guide and resources within their regions.

Members & Organizations

Officers and members include representatives from the solid waste and recycling departments, or aligned departments, of local and regional governments, and private sector recycling collector and processors. They are listed in alphabetical order by last name:

  • Madison Avery, Coca-Cola Beverages Florida
  • Colin Bartholomew, City of Safety Harbor
  • Savannah Bennett, City of Clearwater (Secretary) 
  • Suzanne Boroff, Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
  • Stacy Boyles, City of Treasure Island 
  • Benjamin Cegelski, City of Oldsmar 
  • Jack Crooks, City of St. Petersburg 
  • Ed Farmer, Waste Pro 
  • Natalie Gass, City of Dunedin 
  • Shannon Gowans, Eckerd College 
  • Emily LeMay, Pinellas County (Chair) 
  • Shelby Lewis, City of Tampa 
  • Mary Oquendo, Manatee County 
  • Julianne Perez, City of Largo 
  • Chris Perry, Florida Department of Environmental Protection 
  • Melody Yin, City of Clearwater 

Duration

The Work Group was formed in May 2023 and meets once a month. As of June 2023, it is anticipated that it will take one year to develop the Low Waste Event Guide. The Work Group will meet annually or as needed thereafter to update the Low Waste Event Guide.

Reporting

The Work Group reports its activity to PPR, who reports the Work Group’s activity to the Pinellas County Solid Waste Technical Management Committee.