SOAR 2021 Call for Presentation Proposals

Accepting Proposals Through September 20, 2021

Delivering practical solutions to the solid waste industry’s most difficult problems, SOAR showcases the promising technologies, ideas, and solutions that help to transform waste into a resource. This technical conference connects experts and problem-solvers in industry-changing conversations about your most complex challenges.

If you have novel ideas, approaches, and solutions for addressing our industry’s pressing issues, now is the time to submit a proposal for SOAR 2022, scheduled for March 21–24 in Kansas City, MO. Your proposal should show reviewers how you are interested in sparking debate, learning and innovation; envisioning a future that promotes waste as a resource; and showing participants a way to get there.

Priority is given to sessions that:

1. Provoke “You gotta attend SOAR 2022 to get this!” Reviewers are looking for fresh content and ideas, not something anyone can Google or that has been presented elsewhere.
2. Disrupt participants’ thinking and provide insights and solutions they can apply to their work. This is not a call for academic papers; the focus is on the practical, rather than the theoretical. 
3. Engage participants. Create an experience for participants that involves them in the learning process through engaging activities; provides opportunities for reflection and integration of what they’re learning into their real-world, work life situations; and engages them in problem solving with each other.
4. Identify by name, title, organization and contact information the industry experts who have AGREED to speak in your proposed session, not the names of people you would like to invite to present with you. List only speakers you have confirmed to present.
5. Feature two or more speakers, not single-person lectures. Each submission should include at least one public sector presenter.
6. Include at least three measurable learning objectives.

All sessions are peer reviewed by SWANA Technical Division members and staff.  

Proposals must be submitted by Monday, September 20, 2021 for consideration. The proposal submission system will allow you to save a draft and edit it up until the proposal submission deadline. 

Your proposal must fall into ONE of these five tracks:

• Collection and Transfer
  Topics may include, but are not limited to, logistics, collection and transfer and Materials Recycling Facility (MRF) operations; evolution of the transfer station for increased diversion; organics and food waste collection & processing; innovative technologies; electric vehicles, artificial intelligence (AI) on trucks; tablet technology on routes; economic analysis of transfer stations; labor shortages and workforce issues; design considerations; equipment; management and financing; and the rules and regulations governing solid waste collection and transfer.
• Landfills
  Topics may include, but are not limited to, landfill design and geological considerations; groundwater monitoring and protection; PFAS contaminants and leachate collection and removal; operating practices; closure and post-closure care and funding; fire prevention and response; innovative technologies; public communication and education programs; and the codes, regulations and rule-making governing landfills.
• Landfill Gas and Biogas
  Topics may include, but are not limited to, the beneficial use of landfill gas (LFG) and biogas; control measures; managing increased liquids in the LFG collection and control system; new technologies in LFG clean up monitoring and operations; reduction of harmful gas emissions; partnering and financing LFG and biogas projects; monitoring technologies; gas to energy models; innovative technologies; public communication and education programs; and the rules and regulations governing LFG management.
• Waste Conversion and Energy Recovery
  Topics may include, but are not limited to, innovative conversion technologies; anaerobic digestion; planning, project management and operational phases of Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities; energy diversification strategies and models; plant maintenance and expansion; plant design optimization and performance evaluation; the economics of energy from waste; scalable business models; public communication and education programs; environmental and social impacts of WTE conversion plants; and the rules and regulations governing WTE. 
• Safety
  Topics may include but are not limited to, safety topics related to solid waste collection, post-collection processing and disposal; safety culture; and best practices.
• Sustainable Materials Management (SMM)
  Topics may include, but are not limited to, waste reduction strategies and models; food waste; electronics management; plastics and marine litter; the built environment; the circular economy; closed loop recycling; composting; current and emerging markets for recycling materials; litter management; impact on communities with shuttered MRFs;  recycling contamination and behavior change; collection and reuse of difficult to recycle materials; workforce development; community collaboration; public communication and education programs; and the rules and regulations governing SMM.

When developing your proposal’s learning objectives, consider how SOAR participants will be challenged to apply what they learn, which can be on one or more of three levels:

• Knowledge/Comprehension
• Application/Analysis
• Synthesis/Evaluation

Descriptions of these levels follow, along with sample action verbs appropriate for each. Additional action verbs are available here.

• Knowledge/Comprehension
  • The participant will be able to recall and explain facts, ideas and basic concepts you have presented.
  • Sample Action Verbs: define, duplicate, list, repeat, state, classify, describe, explain, identify
• Application/Analysis
  • The participant will be able to apply what you’ve presented to new situations and to draw connections among ideas.
  • Sample Action Verbs: execute, implement, solve, use, demonstrate, interpret, operate, differentiate, organize, relate, compare, contrast, distinguish, examine, experiment, test
• Synthesis/Evaluation
  • The participant will be able to use what is you’ve presented to justify a stand or decision or produce a new or original work.
  • Sample Action Verbs: appraise, argue, defend, judge, select, support, value, critique, weight, design, assemble, construct, develop, formulate, investigate.

REMINDER: Proposals must be submitted by Monday, September 20, 2021 for consideration. The proposal submission system will allow you to save a draft and edit it up until the proposal submission deadline.