EREF 2027 Summit Call for Abstracts
The Environmental Research & Education Foundation (EREF) invites researchers, engineers, academics, industry professionals, government personnel, and other stakeholders to submit abstracts for the 2027 EREF Educational Summit, taking place March 24–25, 2027, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The Summit will bring together experts from across the solid waste industry to share research, explore emerging challenges, and discuss innovative approaches to sustainable waste management.
Interested in sharing your expertise? EREF is seeking data-driven, technical presentations that highlight research findings, practical applications, industry challenges, and emerging solutions. Presentations should be approximately 20 minutes in length and address topics relevant to solid waste management.
Topics of Interest Include:
- Waste Management Planning & Policy: Waste generation, facility planning, tonnage and composition analysis, program effectiveness, pay-as-you-throw (PAYT) programs, bottle bills, and other policy considerations.
- Collection Safety & Asset Risk: Worker safety, fatalities and injuries, vehicle and facility fires, safety equipment, risk mitigation, and emerging safety technologies.
- Facility Operations: Operational challenges, efficiencies, and innovations at material recovery facilities (MRFs), transfer stations, and landfills.
- Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR): Program implementation, policy considerations, performance measurement, and impacts on waste management systems.
- Elevated Temperature Landfills (ETLFs): Causes, monitoring, prevention, operational challenges, and management strategies.
- Organics Management: Composting, anaerobic digestion, organics diversion, processing technologies, and program effectiveness.
- Leachate Management: Treatment technologies, monitoring, regulatory challenges, and innovative management approaches.
- Landfill Gas Management & Measurement: Emissions monitoring, measurement technologies, collection system performance, gas utilization, and regulatory considerations.
Abstract Submission Guidelines
Please submit a brief abstract for consideration using this template.
Abstracts should:
- Be data-driven and technical in nature.
- Clearly outline the information to be presented, including key findings, results, or practical applications.
- Be no more than one page in length, with approximately half a page recommended.
- Abstracts must be uploaded as a single portable document format (PDF). Please name the file by the primary author’s last name, affiliation and a few descriptive words on the topic, such as “Smith-ABCBusiness-recyclingcontamination.pdf”
- Be submitted electronically by December 18, 2026 via Monday.com.
Presentations that primarily market or promote a specific product or service will not be accepted.
We encourage submissions from across the solid waste industry and look forward to highlighting research, innovative practices, and technical insights that support informed decision-making and advance sustainable waste management.
Hotel Information:
In support of EREF, we encourage you to book your hotel accommodations through EREF’s discounted room block at the host hotel.
Raleigh Marriott Crabtree Valley
4500 Marriott Drive, Raleigh, NC 27612
919-781-7000
$239/night
Rate available 03/22/27 – 03/26/2027
Booking deadline: 03/02/2027
