Maximizing Recovery and Beneficial Use of Disaster Debris - Workshop in conjunction with WASTECON 2008

Complimentary Workshop Registrations Available for
Florida Public/Government Officials!

On Monday October 20th, Kessler Consulting Inc. (KCI) will present an in-depth workshop on maximizing recovery and beneficial use of disaster debris. Sponsored by Sumter County with a grant from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection, the workshop will be held in conjunction with SWANA’s upcoming WASTECON Conference (Tampa Bay Convention Center, Monday, October 21 -23, 2008).

This four hour workshop will go well-beyond traditional disaster debris management training courses and focus squarely on implementing tactical plans that maximize recovery and beneficial use of disaster debris. Through a series of intensive case studies and interactive discussions, the workshop will feature the following best practices:
• Pre-planning steps to identify and secure end-markets for vegetative and other storm debris and create processing systems to meet the material quality specifications of those markets;

• Key elements in debris management contracts that require contractors to maximize diversion and beneficial use of vegetative storm debris;

• Public outreach strategies to ensure residents and businesses adhere to storm preparedness guidelines and follow curbside debris set-out procedures that maximize material quality and minimize contamination.

The first 50 Florida public / government officials that register online will be provided with a complimentary workshop registration. The registration deadline for this offer is October 13, 2008. Please remember that you must be a Florida public/government official to take advantage of this offer. All others can register directly through SWANA: http://wastecon.swana.org. Florida public/government officials can register online using the following link: http://workshop-registration.notlong.com.

If you need further assistance with the registration process for Florida public/government officials only please email Jessica DelGrosso with KCI at jdelgrosso@kesconsult.com.

Things To Do in Tampa Bay

You might know Tampa Bay for its beautiful sunsets and sparkling beaches but there is so much more to enjoy! Acclaimed for its tropical weather and colorful foliage, Tampa Bay also offers diverse attractions and exciting nightlife.

If you want to enjoy a little piece of the “Big Guava” during your stay for WASTECON, you should check out…

Raymond James Stadium

Check out Jon Gruden and his Tampa Bay Buccaneers as they take on the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday, October 19th. Click here for ticket information and pricing.

Visit trendy International Plaza for nationally acclaimed restaurants and bars after the game. You’ll enjoy exquisite flavors, artistic presentations, and a dining experience with international inspiration. Capital Grill and The Grape both offer extensive wine collections.

St. Pete Times Forum

Check out Tampa Bay Lightning Hockey after the WASTECON conference. Games start at 7:30 pm and tickets start as low as $15.

October 18th – Wild vs. Lightning
October 21st – Threshers vs. Lightning
October 25th – Sharks vs. Lightning

Tickets can be purchased at the McDonald’s Box Office at the St. Pete Times Forum and all Ticketmaster outlets. To order tickets by phone, call Ticketmaster at 813.287.8844 or 727.898.2100, or call the Lightning Ticket Office at 813.301.6600.

St. Pete Times Forum isn’t just about great hockey – they tout impressive recycling stats too. Here are some recycling facts from their website:

• The Times Forum recycles an average of 24,000 pounds of beverage cans per year


• It uses more than 320,000 aluminum cans per year with a near 100% recycle record


• It uses approximately 70,000 wine and liquor bottles per year; 100% of those are recycled


• Its recycling efforts reduce green house gas emissions, equal to taking 123 cars off the road per year


• Its energy savings from recycling equals the total energy used by 30 houses per year


• Its paper recycling program saves 576 trees from being cut down per year


• Its waterless urinals save an average of 1,665,000 gallons of water per year

Singer, songwriter Neil Diamond is performing at the St. Pete Times Forum for only one night on Friday, October 24th, 2008. Tickets are on sale now. Visit the St. Pete Times Forum website for tickets and more information.

Libations after the game?

After the game, hang out with the locals at Hatricks Bar located at 107 S. Franklin St. Tampa. Or, take the charming trolley to trendy Channelside Bay Plaza where you can enjoy a movie, martini or both! You can sing along at the lively piano bar, Howl at the Moon, or catch a fruity drink at Margarita Mama’s or Banana Joe’s. Convenient connections between the vintage replica trollies and streetcars transport visitors between downtown hotels, historic Ybor City and Channelside.

Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center

TBPAC is located downtown on a picturesque nine-acre site along the east bank of the Hillsborough River, the 335,000 square-foot TBPAC provides an environment for a wide variety of world-class events. It boasts one of the nation's leading Broadway series and is nationally respected for producing grand opera, as well as presenting a wide variety of concerts, performances and events. More than 500,000 patrons attended 4,375 on-site events in TBPAC's 2006-2007 season.

The performing arts complex consists of five distinct theaters, a performing arts Conservatory, a rehearsal hall, boutiques, and three on-site restaurants and banquet facilities. The five individual theaters at TBPAC are Carol Morsani Hall (2,610 seats), Ferguson Hall (1,042 seats), the Jaeb Theater (268 seats), the TECO Energy Foundation Theater (250 seats) and the Shimberg Playhouse (130 seats).

Performances during WASTECON:

October 14th – 19th Wizard of Oz
October 16th – 19th Hats the Musical
October 23rd –November 9th Hats the Musical
October 24th Florida Orchestra presents: Opening Night: Beethoven Symphony No. 7

And that's not even the tip of the iceberg...next time we'll go across the Bay into Pinellas.

Getting in Touch with the Local Committee

As we near this year’s WASTECON, the local Florida committee has been hard at work setting up a great Wednesday night party, and assisting the SWANA association offices with the other logistics of WASTECON – setting up recycling, recruiting volunteers, etc.

And to give you a better idea of what is going on in FL, we have a guest blogger joining, Rick Clarke with the Pinellas County Solid Waste Dept. Rick currently works in the recycling section of the dept and gives tours and presentation of their facility to local children. As a matter of fact, Pinellas County recently won 2 SWANA Excellence Awards for its education program. Check out some info on their programs here: http://www.pinellascounty.org/utilities/PDF/swo_student_tours.pdf

So check back as Rick gives as an inside view of all things FL as well as a behind the scenes look at the great work the local committee is doing as a guest blogger for Around the Bin.