Materials Management

Working as a research scientist in Division of Materials Management of NYSDEC for last four years. Responsible for regulatory oversight on regulated medical waste and beneficial use determination. Earned Ph. D. from University of Calcutta, India in Biology. Conducted research for almost 25 years in the discipline of microbiology, molecular biology and biochemistry in two different universities in US.
Jenny Poland currently serves as the Solid Waste Permit Coordinator for Virginia’s Department of Environmental Quality. Growing up in Richmond, Virginia, she graduated from Virginia Tech. Prior to joining DEQ in 2003, Jenny worked in environmental consulting focusing on waste management and water modeling. At DEQ, she has worked as a solid waste permit writer for 19 years prior to accepting the Solid Waste Permit Coordinator position in May 2022.. In her spare time, she enjoys traveling, baking, serving her community in the Salem Host Lions Club and spending time with family.
Charlie manages the Policy, Planning, & Special Programs Branch within the MS Department of Environmental Quality’s Waste Division. Part of the work conducted by his branch includes implementation of the state’s beneficial use and waste tire management programs. Prior to this position, he had 10 years of multimedia permitting experience at MDEQ dealing with solid waste management facilities. He has served on the Beneficial Use Task Force since October 2020 and served as Vice-Chair from February 2021 until October 2022 when he assumed the role of BUTF Chair. Charlie received a B.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Mississippi State University as well as a M.S. degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Jackson State University. He is cheerfully outnumbered at home by his beautiful wife and 2 precious daughters.
Susan has over seventeen years of experience at the Indiana Department of Environmental Management (IDEM). She worked more than ten years as an Environmental Engineer in IDEM’s office of Land Quality before moving to the Risk Assessment group for five years and eventually transitioning to lead the Science Services Branch in late 2021. Susan has been a member of IDEM’s Technology Evaluation Workgroup, IDEM R2 Closure Guidance Workgroup, IDEM PFAS workgroup and the Vapor Intrusion Workgroup. Susan has a Bachelor’s degree in Chemistry along with a Masters in Civil/ Environmental Engineering from Purdue University.
Joel Billinger is the Unit Chief for the Solid Waste Processing Unit in the Kansas Department of Health and Environment (KDHE). The Solid Waste Processing Unit oversees a variety of solid waste activities, including transfer stations, waste tires, medical waste, and of course, beneficial uses. Joel has worked for KDHE for 6 years, before which he got his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Kansas and worked in an algae biofuel lab there. Outside of work, Joel enjoys listening to music, playing D&D, and trying to not throw his discs in the water while playing disc golf.
Mike Bankoff is an Environmental Protection Specialist with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment. Mike works on a wide variety of solid waste and materials management issues, with a focus on the beneficial use of solid waste. Mike has a diverse background with over 12 years of experience in environmental consulting, hazardous waste management, and environmental restoration.
Patrick Snider is a senior supervising environmental scientist with the State of California Department of Resources Recycling and Recovery (CalRecycle). He has been with the CalRecycle Permitting and Assistance Branch for over 13 years assisting Local Enforcement Agencies with all things solid waste related. Patrick joined the Beneficial Use Task Force under the Materials Management Subcommittee in 2021.

I am an Environmental Specialist 2 with the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection, Division of Sustainable Waste Management. My responsibilities consist of rule manger for New Jersey's Recycled Content Law and overseeing a grant program funding recycling research projects at New Jersey Institutions of Higher Education. I graduated with a B.S. in environmental science from the University of New Hampshire in 2019.
Adam Schlachter is a program manager for the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control. As part of the DNREC Division of Waste and Hazardous Substances, he supports waste management and reduction in Delaware, including permit compliance, technical assistance, regulation development, legislative reporting and other activities related to solid waste facilities. In addition, he manages Delaware's Universal Recycling program which provides outreach support and technical assistance to residents and the regulated community. Prior to joining DNREC, he held various roles related to environmental education and outreach focused on recycling and sustainability. He earned a Bachelor of Science in environmental economics from Cook College, Rutgers and a Master of Science in sustainability management studies from New England College. Adam lives in Dover, Del. where he tries not to yell at his neighbors to “Recycle Right!” on pick-up day.
James Jennings has been the Materials Management and Compliance Section Manager for the Illinois EPA since 2016 and is responsible for managing the Illinois EPA Bureau of Land’s materials management programs, RCRA and solid waste compliance programs, and state and federal reporting obligations. James is a member of the Environmental Council of the States Compliance Governance Team and the United States Scrap Tire Workgroup Goals Committee, a board member of the Land of Lincoln Chapter of SWANA, a member of the Illinois Sustainable Technology Center Advisory Board, and a governmental liaison to the Illinois Recycling Association and Illinois Food Scrap Coalition. Prior to becoming Section Manager, James served as legal counsel to the Illinois EPA, representing the Agency in a variety of land and water regulatory and enforcement matters. James has also worked for the Illinois Executive Inspector General and the Kentucky Department of Public Advocacy. James obtained his law degree from the University of Kentucky and his undergraduate degree from the University of Cincinnati.
Racheal Ajayi coordinates household hazardous waste at the Missouri Department of Natural Resource. In her role, she provides technical guidance and programmatic elements associated with household hazardous waste, electronic waste and product stewardship endeavors. Prior to joining the Department, she has worked in both private industry as an environmental consultant and in local government as a spatial analyst. She developed key frameworks and strategies to drive sustainability initiatives in both private and government sectors and worked on world-class novel projects such as 2010 FIFA world cup, Green Procurement policy in the Western Cape and the Durban declaration on electronic waste. She is on the board of the Product Stewardship Institute and on the training committee of the North American Hazardous Materials Management Association. Racheal holds an M.Phil. In Environmental Management from the University of Cape Town and a Ph.D. in environmental management focusing on circular economy, zero waste and food waste from Griffith University in Australia. She presents at both local and international conferences such as International Impact Assessment Association, Waste Expo etc. She is a reviewer for top impact journals such as Stoten. Her interests include nature, reading, networking, music and volunteering at charitable organizations.

Casey Lamensky is the Solid Waste Coordinator for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. In the role of Solid Waste Coordinator Casey works on issues including food waste diversion, infectious waste management, construction and demolition waste, and waste characterization and also supports plan review, inspections and compliance for Wisconsin’s non-landfill facilities. Casey has been the Vice Chair of the Disposal and Conversion taskforce since October of 2022. With the Disposal and Diversion Taskforce, Casey is excited to work on issues including pyrolysis, gasification, anaerobic digestion and composting. In her free time Casey enjoys playing as many intramural sports and yard games as possible.
Patrick Riley has worked in the field of solid waste management more than twenty-five years. He has worked at the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) since 2009 where he currently manages the Solid Waste and Sustainability Unit in the Land Protection Division. This unit includes sections responsible for Solid Waste Permitting, Compliance and Enforcement, Used Tire Recycling, Pollution Prevention and Sustainable Materials Management. Patrick studied biology and chemistry at Drury University in Springfield Missouri and earned a Master of Environmental Science degree from the University of Oklahoma. Prior to joining DEQ Patrick worked as an environmental consultant, a recycling coordinator, and a junior high school science teacher. In his spare time, he enjoys spending time with family, kayaking, canoeing, and building furniture from scavenged lumber.
Heather Merritt is a licensed Professional Engineer working for the Kansas Department of Health and Environment, Bureau of Waste Management (BWM). Heather is Chief of the Solid Waste Landfills Unit. She and her unit review operating and construction documents, and issue permits for solid waste landfills in Kansas. Heather has worked to facilitate greater communication between landfill permit holders and BWM, including improvements to the permit modification process, and laying a foundation for updating and amending facility operating plans. She values reduce, reuse, recycle especially when applied to landfill design work as long as the regulatory requirements are upheld. Heather enjoys drawing and lives in lovely Lawrence, Kansas with her husband and twin preschoolers.
Jody Weikart is Wyoming’s Solid Waste Permitting and Corrective Action Program (SWPCA) Manager. Jody and her team of five are responsible for the permitting of solid waste facilities and the planning, implementing, and managing of the SWPCA. Prior to taking this position in 2021 Jody served as the District 1 Supervisor for the SWPCA. Currently, she is the chair for ASTSWMO’s Disposal and Conversion Task Force and is excited to continue their work on coal combustion residuals. She has also spent time representing Region 8 for ASTSWMO’s Radiation Task Force. In her free time, she plays euphonium for a number of Cheyenne community concert bands.
Marni Solheim just hit the 25-year mark working for Washington Department of Ecology’s Solid Waste Management Program. She is currently a regional manager, but spent most of her career reviewing documents and providing statewide regulatory expertise related to solid waste facilities, organics management, recycling, household hazardous waste handling and biosolids. Being in such a beautiful part of the country, Marni appreciates many outdoor activities including hiking, camping, snow skiing, kayaking, but enjoys mountain biking the best.

Thomas Papura is the Chief of the Radioactive Materials Management Section within the Division of Materials Management for the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (NYSDEC). He has worked for NYSDEC since 1998, and has significant experience with the USACE FUSRAP program. Tom's first year with ASTWSMO started in mid-2022, and he is currently serving as a member of Radiation Task Force. In his free time, Tom enjoys a challenging round of golf, and plays bass guitar in a 90s'/Alternative cover band.
Nic Luciani is the Radiation Safety Officer for the State of Michigan’s radioactive materials program. In addition to his Nuclear Regulatory Commission responsibilities, he supports the Radiological Protection Section of the department of Environment, Great Lakes, and Energy in various ways, such as helping ensure the State has an up-to-date plan in the event of a release from a nuclear power plant. He is currently a member of the Radiation Task Force, under the Materials Management Subcommittee. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and eating his way around the world with his family.
Libby McCaskill is the Environmental Programs Manager for the Oklahoma Department of Environmental Quality’s (DEQ) Sustainable Materials Management Section, previously she worked in the agency’s Radiation Management Section. Ms. McCaskill has been on the ASTSWMO Radiation Task Force since 2018 and has been the Chair since 2021.
She graduated from the University of Missouri-Kansas City in December of 2015 with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Studies and three minors in Geology, Atmospheric Science, and GIS. Her first job out of college was working as a contract employee working on digitizing Apple Maps in San Jose, California between May-August 2016. She quickly realized it wasn’t the job for her, so she quit and moved back to the Midwest. Shortly after, she received a job offer working for the Kansas Department of Health & Environment in Topeka as an environmental scientist. Her primary role was in emergency spill response of hazardous materials but she was also a remedial project manager for former dry-cleaning facilities that had contamination on the sites which included environmental sampling as well as performing dry-cleaning inspections at currently operating facilities. A few years later, she switched to the Right-To-Know Program where she performed facility inspections and provided training/outreach for end users of the Tier II reporting standards for chemical storage. Currently, she is still in the Radiation Control Section at KDHE, but now works in the Environmental Monitoring/Emergency Preparedness/Radon Programs. She is looking forward to working with everyone else on the radiation task force and is excited to assist them in whatever capacity.

Mission

The mission of the Materials Management Subcommittee is to enhance and promote the development of effective State and Territorial materials management programs that incorporate product stewardship, source reduction, beneficial use, recycling, conversion technology and land disposal.

Subcommittee Chair

Kathryn Perszyk

Contact

Recent Publications

2023 ASTSWMO Statement on Coal Combustion Residuals Program Implementation

Emerging Wastes from Renewable Energy Sources Fact Sheets

Radiological Disaster Debris Self-Assessment Questionnaire – Phase 1

2022 Joint Hazardous Waste & Materials Management Training Presentations

2022 SWDC Task Force Comments on Proposed CCR Part A Decisions

View all publications

ASTSWMO Statement on Coal Combustion Residuals (CCR) Program Implementation

2021 ASTSWMO Annual Meeting Presentations

2021 ASTSWMO Mid-Year Webinar Recordings

Sustainable Materials Management Task Force Comments on Recycling Rate Measurement

Beneficial Use of Fill-Like Materials Survey Report

Task Forces

View Full Roster

Beneficial
Use

Sustainable
Materials Management

Disposal and
Conversion

Radiation

Mission

The mission of the Beneficial Use TF is to identify and inform States of information, successful practices and procedures which can be used to make beneficial use determinations (BUDs) that are protective of human health and the environment. To transfer the best available technical and administrative information to States developing or improving beneficial use work in solid waste and waste minimization programs.

Task Force Members

Mission

The mission of the ASTSWMO Sustainable Materials Management TF is to provide leadership and promote actions that reduce waste, conserve resources, prevent pollution, and foster sustainability through identifying recycling opportunities and partnerships and through the development and implementation of educational programs about recycling.

Task Force Members

Mission

The mission of the Disposal and Conversion Task Force is to assist State and Territorial solid waste managers and staff by:
1) providing solid waste program development and waste conversion technology information and
2) providing input to EPA and other interested parties on their proposed rules, priorities, and initiatives for solid waste management.

Task Force Members

Mission

The mission of the Radiation TF is to identify national level radiation issues, coordinate State input, encourage improved partnership between State and federal agencies; and produce issue papers and other products as necessary to promote State interests on national radiation issues.