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Surviving the Chinese Sword

In 2018, China – the No. 1 destination for US recyclables – cracked down on imports of “recyclables” that contained trash, and had even stopped taking certain materials altogether.  Referred to as the “Chinese Sword” this policy decision has driven up the cost of business for US recycling facilities, which in turn started significantly increasing fees they charge municipalities and assessing substantial penalties for contamination.  These higher recycling costs have caused some cities to consider eliminating curbside recycling.   During this session, participants will be provided with an update on the Chinese Sword, presented with case studies on how municipalities have offset higher recycling processing fees by decreasing collection costs through technology and routing efficiency, and strategies to reduce contamination in recyclables.

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Creating a State of Art Public Works Garage Facility: Garages that Enhance and Support Operations, Circulation, Repairs, Storage and Worker Safety

Many public works garages were first built for vehicles that were much smaller and with workplace environments that are minimal by today’s standards. While many cities have made additions and…

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PWX 2019 General Session: “How to Think Like a Futurist” with Sheryl Connelly

As the Chief Futurist for the Ford Motor Company, Sheryl Connelly often jokes that she doesn’t use a crystal ball, or know the winning lottery numbers, but she does know how to interpret what’s going to happen next in a fast-moving world, and how to take advantage of it. With an eye to the big picture, she looks at the “STEEP” factors – social, technological, economic, environmental and political trends – to help shape long-term strategy. In a constantly changing marketplace, Sheryl helps organizations learn how to overcome information addiction and recognize trends that will become reality for the next two to twenty years. At Ford, Sheryl is responsible for identifying consumer trends that inform functions across the entire company including design, product development and corporate strategy. Fast Company named her the 24th Most Creative Person in Business in 2013. At the request of the World Economic Forum, she sat on its Global Advisory Committee in 2016. Sheryl was a featured speaker at TED2018. Before working for Ford, she practiced law. In addition to a Juris Doctorate, she holds a bachelor’s degree in finance and a master’s in business administration.
 
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Quantifying Pavement Rehabilitation Impacts to Improve Work Zone Planning

Roadway maintenance and rehabilitation are critical tasks to sustain our transportation system. However, these activities often generate delays to road users, which can result in road user costs, work zone…

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Complexities, Tragedies, Trials and Triumphs-A Day in the Life of One City Engineer and His 19 Million Dollar Gorilla-Worthington, Ohio’s North East Gateway Project

In 2012, the City of Worthington, Ohio, embarked on a massive undertaking, the full scope of which was not understood in the early stages. A problematic intersection, dubbed “The North…

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INTERNATIONAL PERSPECTIVE: How Is Your Planning Taking the Needs of Children into Consideration? Experiences from the Nordic Countries

In the Nordic countries, a great deal of policy-making is directed toward the needs of children. In Sweden, the United Nations convention on the rights of the child is law…

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Adaptive Management of Municipal Street Sweeping and Catch Basin Cleaning Operations in the Digital Age

Faced with meeting sediment removal goals outlined by Water Quality Improvement Plans (WQIPs, the City of San Diego and its engineering firm partners were tasked with developing an Optimized Implementation…

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Environmental Remediation Following Removal of Encampments in Santa Ana River (Flood Control Facility)

In 2016, homeless encampments started appearing in the Santa Ana River—a 30-mile-long flood control facility in the heart of Orange County, California. The encampment numbers rapidly grew to over 700…

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Autonomous Vehicles (AVs): Are You Prepared for This Profound, Fast-approaching Auto Industry Revolution That Will Transform Our Lives, Safety, and Mobility?

The changes coming from the auto industry’s evolution to fully electric, interconnected, and electronically controlled autonomous vehicles (AV) will necessitate tremendous planning by public agencies and immense changes in the…

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Preparing for the Right Winter Weather Event

Whether a winter event will be snow, sleet, freezing rain, rain or all of the above significantly affects how you’ll fight the next storm. Dual-Pol radar often allows you to see which of these precipitation types will be part of the incoming storm, as well as the intensity and timing of the storm. Let’s go through case studies and discover tips and tricks to better prepare you and your crews for the right storm.

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