Join the Post-Collection Safety Webinar
September 10th 2-3:30 pm ET
Keeping your team safe starts here.
Join us on September 10th from 2 – 3:30 PM EST for the Post-Collection Safety Webinar!
Join industry experts as we dive into essential safety practices in post-collection operations. This webinar will deliver practical insights to help keep your teams safe, informed, and prepared.
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Meet the Speakers:
Susan Eppes
MS, CSP, ARM, President
EST Solutions, Inc.
Susan Eppes is President of EST Solutions, the full-service safety and health consulting firm she founded in 2002 in Houston, Texas. She currently serves as consultant to recycling and waste companies and assists them with all aspects of safety and regulatory compliance, including pre-purchase equipment reviews to ensure the system provides proper maintenance access and safety features and that it complies with OSHA and ANSI standards. Since 1992, Susan has served on ANSI Z245 series subcommittees as both a representative of major waste and recycling companies and a consultant. She is currently chairperson of the ANSI Z245 committee for standards that apply to all waste and recycling companies, as well as subcommittees for ANSI Z245.41, Facilities for the Processing of Commingled Recyclable Materials – Safety Requirements and ANSI Z245.42 – Waste Transfer Station Safety Requirements. Susan is an expert in safety and health management and has more than 30 twenty years of industry experience with Fortune 500 companies, including Waste Management, BFI, IBM and Mobil Oil.
Clay Layne
Co-Founder
PurposeFirst
With more than 30 years of experience in heavy equipment operations, Clay Layne has dedicated his career to advancing safety, training, and operational excellence within the waste management industry. Clay’s deep understanding of heavy equipment and operator performance was forged through decades of hands-on experience. Seventeen of those years were spent with Caterpillar Inc., one of the world’s most respected names in heavy machinery. During his time there, Clay worked closely with engineering teams on research and development projects, helping test and refine the very equipment used in the waste and construction sectors today. His insight as both a seasoned operator and a trainer proved invaluable in bridging the gap between design and real-world performance. Beyond technical expertise, Clay became a driving force in operator education and safety training, developing programs focused on equipment best practices and operational consistency. His work has had a lasting impact across landfill and transfer station operations, where well-trained, safety-conscious teams can make the difference between efficiency and injury. Clay’s passion for his work stems from a deep respect for the frontline men and women who keep the waste industry running every day. He is driven by the belief that everyone deserves to go home safely after every shift — and that through strong leadership, consistent training, and the right culture, the waste industry can become one of the safest in the world.
Kevin Fitzgerald
Director of Safety
Recology
Kevin Fitzgerald is Director of Safety at Recology, where he leads safety strategy and programs across multiple states, focusing on risk management, compliance, and building a strong safety culture. He brings over 16 years of experience across government and private sectors, including leadership roles with the Federal Railroad Administration, and is known for driving organizational change and developing high-performing teams.
Kristyn Oldendorf
Senior Director of Public Policy & Communications
Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA)
Kristyn Oldendorf is Senior Director of Public Policy and Communications for the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), leading advocacy, public affairs, and safety initiatives for the organization. Kristyn spearheads the SWANA Core Advocacy Group, the Safety Ambassadors, and the Lithium-Ion Battery Workgroup, among other projects.Prior to joining SWANA, Kristyn worked in international waste and resource recovery consulting, supporting major brands with establishing and pursuing their waste reduction and diversion goals. In addition, Kristyn spent over ten years working for the City of Baltimore, first in policy and legislation and later in supporting operations and leading the Office of Waste Diversion. Kristyn’s work in the waste and resource management sector began with setting up community recycling programs in rural Honduras during her service as a Peace Corps Volunteer. Kristyn received a bachelor’s degree in international studies from American University and a Master of Public Policy degree from the University of Maryland Baltimore County.
Jason Pumphrey
Business Development Manager
Geotab
Jason Pumphrey is the Business Development Manager for Geotab, specializing in fleet management solutions for the Waste Management industry. With over 18 years of experience in business management, solution delivery, and client relations, Jason supports waste fleets in meeting the complex demands of their industries while driving superior fleet efficiency and optimizing asset utilization
Jeff Smithberger
Solid Waste Director
Solid Waste Management, Mecklenburg County Government
Jeff Smithberger has more than 40 years of experience in management and leadership of complex Solid Waste Management Systems. Jeff started his public service career in Fairfax County Virginia in the early 1980’s and rose to the director of their Solid Waste organization. He retired from Fairfax in December 2011. Soon after retirement, he went to work for a small jurisdiction in Maryland to assist with several expansion issues that the community was facing. After completing work there, he moved to Charlotte in 2014 to be the director of solid waste for Mecklenburg County. For Mecklenburg County, Jeff leads a strong resilient program of over 140 staff, engaged in all aspects of waste management for the community of more than 1.2 million residents. During Jeff’s tenure, recycling has dramatically increased, and the program has a capital improvement budget of over $170M and an annual operating budget of over $64M. Jeff also served on the SWANA International Board for almost 10 years and continues there to serve as a mentor for young professionals of the industry.
Meet the Sponsors:
Environmental Solutions products feature groundbreaking technology that seamlessly integrates vehicle, equipment, operator, and customer data. This interconnected Connected Collections ecosystem provides unparalleled insights that enhance safety, efficiency, and profitability while directly linking fleets to their customers. Waste-hauling companies face unique challenges in connecting with customers and managing their fleets efficiently and safely. Connected Collections, offered by Environmental Solutions companies 3rd Eye, Soft-Pak, Heil, and Marathon, provides innovative solutions that integrate cameras and cutting-edge technology to deliver the data fleets need to make better decisions, faster. For more information, visit https://www.terexesg.com/brand/connected-collections/
The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is a member-based association of professionals from across the waste and resource management industry. SWANA serves industry professionals through technical education, publications and research, and a large offering of technical training courses and credentialing to create a highly skilled workforce. For more information, contact [email protected].
Waste & Recycling Workers Week is a 501(c) (3) nonprofit organization dedicated to lifting up and celebrating the men and women of the waste and recycling industry. Our Mission: To recognize and celebrate the men and women in the waste and recycling industry as front line responders. Our Vision: A world where every man and woman in the waste industry is respected and celebrated for the important work they do in service to our communities. For more information, visit https://wasterecyclingworkersweek.org.