Ohio Department of Transportation Northwest Ohio Litter Summit
NorthWest Ohio Litter Summit Registration
Litter is a persistent and preventable problem, and one that knows no boundaries; it affects neighborhoods, communities, local roads, and highway corridors. Since 2007, ODOT has collected 3.7 million bags of trash statewide along state, US, and interstate highways costing taxpayers $37 million. Unfortunately, litter is back as soon as it is picked up.
ODOT recognizes communities, citizens, law enforcement, businesses, and leaders are frustrated with Ohio’s litter problem and is working with its litter partners to find a solution.
On Wednesday, March 6th at The University of Toledo's Nitschke Hall 1600 North Westwood Ave., Toledo, Ohio 43606, ODOT will host the Northwest Ohio Litter Summit from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. The Summit is a joint effort between ODOT, Keep Ohio Beautiful, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful, the Lucas County Solid Waste District, and the City of Toledo.
The Summit will bring together litter stakeholders to identify litter pickup and prevention programs, available resources, and litter hot spots; learn about national litter research; hear case studies and best management practices; and leave with educational resources and action items.
Two CLEs for legal professionals, five CEUs for sanitarians, and six CEUs for SWANA professionals are available for participating in the Summit.
Northwest Ohio Litter Summit Agenda ‘Litter Knows No Boundaries’
8:30 a.m. to 9:00 a.m. Registration
9:00 a.m. to 9:15 a.m. – Welcome Mike Mennett, Keep Ohio Beautiful Executive Director, Joel Hunt, ODOT Highway Beautification and Pollinator Habitat Program Administrator, and the Honorable Wade Kapszukiewicz, City of Toledo Mayor
9:15 to 10:30 a.m. The Perils of Plastic Dr. Sherri Mason, The Pennsylvania State University, Behrend
10:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Engaging Law Enforcement, Prosecutors, and Judges –Codes, Litter Laws, Illegal and open dumping – Panel Discussion City of Toledo Code Enforcement, Police Department & City Attorney and the Lorain County Environmental Crimes Task Force
Moderator: Dennis Kennedy, Commissioner, City of Toledo Division of Code Enforcement Panel: John Madigan, Senior Attorney for the city of Toledo; Detective Brian Lewandowski, Crimes Against Property Unit of Toledo Police Department; Sergeant Laurie Renz – Forensic and Cyber Crime Section of Toledo Police Department; and Deputy Mike Lopez, Lorain County Environmental Crimes Task Force.
11:45 p.m. to 12:45 p.m. Networking Lunch
12:45 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. Litter Abatement Best Management Practices Doug Gruver, ODOT Highway Management Administrator
1:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m. Beautification Action Team (BAT) Partner Program Dennis Kennedy, Commissioner, City of Toledo Division of Code Enforcement
2:15 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Break
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Breakout Sessions
#1 – Community Engagement (Creating and Managing Litter Events) Engage Toledo, Partners for Clean Stream, and Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful #2 – Law Enforcement Case Studies City of Toledo Code Enforcement & Police Department and Lorain County Environmental Crimes Task Force #3 – Reducing Single Use Products & other Lake Erie Initiatives Melissa Green Hopfer, Toledo-Lucas County Sustainability Commission; Cathi Lehn, Ph.D., Sustainable Cleveland; and Dr. Sherri Mason, The Pennsylvania State University, Behrend
3:30 p.m. – 3:45 p.m. Wrap-up and Adjourn Adam Cassi, Executive Director, Keep Toledo/Lucas County Beautiful
