
2024 WMU Fiber Recycling Course
The WMU Paper Pilot Plant has partnered with TAPPI to offer the Coating Course and Fiber Recycling Course.
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August 2024—TBA
2 1/2 day course | Time: 8 a.m.–5 p.m.
WMU Paper Pilot Plant will hold their next WMU Fiber Recycling Course in August of 2024—dates to be announced in early 2024. Numerous networking opportunities and a broad spectrum of attendees and contacts make this a great course for veterans of the industry looking to broaden their knowledge or those new to the industry who want to see the entire process of fiber recycling. From brand perspectives, sustainability drivers, recyclable certifications, and legislation, to the collection, MRF sorting, reprocessing, and papermaking; this course covers a full view of the circular economy of fiber recycling. Please join us!
Who should attend?
This course is designed for the newcomer to the paper recycling industry, as well as those with experience who wish to broaden and update their knowledge and understanding of the basics of recycled fiber collection, processing, use, and market drivers. This is a 2.5-day course held in Kalamazoo Michigan, on WMU's beautiful Engineering Campus.
Learning objectives
- Recyclability Protocols and Product Labeling
- Recycled Fiber Global Markets Update
- Sustainability — Brand Owner Perspective
- Regulations and Market Drivers
- Collection and MRF Operations
- Paper Mill Operations
- Hands-on Fiber Recycling/Papermaking Option
- Speakers include: Industry Experts and WMU Faculty
Take a look at this past year's information
2023 Course Schedule 2023 Speaker Lineup
Networking opportunities
Networking opportunities include a dinner at the world-famous Bell's Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo.
Lodging and Transportation
Free WMU shuttle service will be provided from the host hotel to WMU’s campus for the course each day and to and from the off-site dinner. The Radisson Plaza Hotel will be the shuttle pickup and dropoff location.
Radisson Plaza Hotel Kalamazoo Center
100 W Michigan Avenue
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
+1 (269) 343-3333
The following hotels are within walking distance of the shuttle service at the Radisson.
Hilton Garden Inn
303 North Rose Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
Home2 Suites by Hilton
303 North Rose Street
Kalamazoo, Michigan 49007
2023 Speaker Lineup
Larry Anker
Solenis
Director of Commercial Operations
Bret Biggers
ISRI
Senior Economist
Mark Bond
Sustana
Business Development
Susan Cornish
Insight + Action
President
Neal Fetterly
Kadant Black Clawson
Sr. Process Engineer
Savannah Guinyard
How2Recycle
GreenBlue Project Coordinator
Stuart Johns
Solenis
Applications Project Manager MB/CC
Sandeep Kulkarni
KoolEarth Solutions, Inc.
Founder and President
Brad Kurzynowsk
Global Corporate Sustainability, RRS
Program Specialist/Consultant
Kecheng Li
WMU Paper Engineering
Professor & Dept. Chair
Bill Moore
Moore & Associates
President
Mark Neitzey
Van Dyk Recycling Solutions
Director of Sales
Lon Pschigoda
WMU Paper Pilot Plant
General Manager
Paul Schutes
Recycled Paperboard Technical Association
President
Jason Wang
WMU Paper Pilot Plant
Research Scientist
Optional add-on course:
WMU Paper Pilot Plant Experience — Hands-on Fiber Recycling and Papermaking
Held on the last day of the course from noon-5 p.m.
Spend the afternoon with the WMU’s Paper Pilot Plant crew and see the processes firsthand. This includes fiber recycling operations (pulping, screening, cleaning), paper making on the newly installed dual fourdrinier pilot machine (the only one of its kind in North America), and time in our papermaking/paper testing labs. You will see a bale of recovered paper enter the process, the recovery of the fibers, and the production of recycled paper (forming, pressing, drying, calendering). Whether you are new to the industry, enjoy learning on your feet, or simply want to see our facilities operate, this will be time well spent. Space is limited.
Western Michigan University
A leader in the field of papermaking, coating and recycling research and applications as well as a leading provider of undergraduate and graduate engineers and scientists, is offering its fiber recycling course. WMU has certified hundreds of products as repulpable and recyclable using industry agreed-upon protocols. This course is exciting, offering from WMU that will bring together many industry and technology leaders as guest speakers to seriously upgrade your fiber recycling knowledge.