Throughout the day
Participant Arrivals & Hotel Check-In
Check in to the group’s hotel.
Jaz in the City Hotel · Windmühlgasse 28, 1060 Vienna
European Circular Policy Expedition
About the expedition
The European Circular Policy Expedition is a curated, in-person learning experience for U.S. policymakers and stakeholders seeking direct exposure to how circular systems function on the ground.
Across Vienna and nearby Bratislava, participants engage firsthand with the infrastructure, institutions, and organizations that make packaging EPR and deposit return systems work in practice — from PROs and technology providers to brands, recyclers, and the regulators who shaped the policy in the first place.
The program is structured around the two U.S. policy areas with the most active European precedent: deposit return systems (Days 1–3) and packaging EPR (Days 4–5).
Why this expedition
As packaging EPR and related circular policies continue to develop across the United States, decision-makers need more than summaries and secondhand briefings. They need the opportunity to see mature systems in action, ask detailed questions, and better understand the relationship between policy design and operational reality.
This expedition is designed to create that opportunity. By combining experiential learning with structured reflection, Circle helps participants translate what they observe in Europe into practical insight for U.S. policy conversations and state-specific decision-making.
What participants will explore
Days 1–3 | Deposit Return Systems (Austria & Slovakia)
Operational mechanics, fraud prevention, retailer participation, sorting and processing infrastructure, and bottle-to-bottle circularity. Sessions led by EWP (Austria's national DRS operator), TOMRA, the European Deposit Return Systems Association (EDRSA), and Reloop — with producer panels featuring Coca-Cola and Red Bull.
Days 4–5 | Packaging EPR (Vienna)
The EU regulatory context — the Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (PPWR), the Waste Framework Directive, and the Circular Economy Act. An introduction to Austria's PRO landscape. And a comparative U.S. briefing with Minnesota Representative Sydney Jordan on writing and passing her state's packaging EPR law.
Participants will explore:
- how packaging EPR systems are structured and administered
- how deposit return systems function across collection and recovery pathways
- how infrastructure supports collection, sorting, and recycling outcomes
- how public, private, and civic stakeholders interact across the value chain
- what implementation lessons may be relevant to emerging U.S. policy contexts
Site visits include:
- Redemption points and retail collection
- PreZero's materials recovery facility (MRF)
- A PET and LDPE film recycler
- Operational infrastructure across the value chain
Outcomes
A working understanding of how packaging EPR and DRS programs function operationally — not just in statute
Direct relationships with European operators, regulators, and brand-side practitioners who will take your follow-up questions
A grounded sense of what's transferable to U.S. contexts and what isn't
A sharper, more concrete frame of reference for U.S. policy conversations — including state-level implementation decisions
Who should attend
The Expedition is built for cross-stakeholder leaders shaping circular policy and implementation in the United States.
Circle Program · Policy Circle
Circular Policy Expeditionary Summit
Vienna, Austria & Bratislava, Slovakia
Brought to you in partnership with the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators (NCEL) & Reclay Group
Chatham House RuleA special thanks to Reclay & the National Caucus of Environmental Legislators
Day 1 · Monday
July 6 · Vienna, Austria
Jaz in the City Hotel · Windmühlgasse 28, 1060 Vienna
7:30 – 9:30 PM
Welcome Reception & Introductions
Check in and meet fellow participants over light food and refreshments.
Hotel Rooftop · “Mariatrink”
Day 2 · Tuesday
July 7 · Vienna, Austria
8:00 – 9:00 AM
Breakfast Available & Legislator Learning Goals
Begin the week by informally discussing learning priorities and key questions participants hope to explore over breakfast.
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Restaurant “Rhythms”
9:00 – 10:15 AM
Overview of Deposit Return & U.S. Scene Setting
Scene-set the current deposit return landscape in the United States and discuss common policy questions and implementation considerations. Engage in open Q&A with experts and participants.
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Conference Room “Backstage 2+3”
Featured Voices
- US Overview: Who is Who? · Dylan de Thomas, Coalition for High Performance Recycling
- What are recycling refunds? Who are the main stakeholders?
- Impetus of US recycling refund and decentralized system structures
- Pairing with packaging EPR in the US
- US Money Flow & Common Questions · Beth Milligan, Senior Consultant, RecycleMe USA
- Hot Topics in US DRS · Olivia Barker, Vice President of Policy & Public Affairs + Global Sustainability Practice Lead, ClearStrategy
- Discussion of fraud prevention, return in retail redemption mandates, redemption technologies, unredeemed funds & scrap sales
10:15 AM – 12:00 PM
Introduction to European & Austrian Recycling Refund & Key Stakeholder Panel
Hear directly from leaders involved in Austria’s newly implemented recycling refund (deposit return) system. Discussions examine system & policy design, governance, technology, and recovery & recycling rates.
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Conference Room “Backstage 2+3”
10:15 – 11:15 AM
Austrian recycling refund system operator introduces mandate, policy, governance, and system operations.
- Monika Fiala · Managing Director, EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich gGmbH
- Katharina Reuckl · Audit & Quality Manager, EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich gGmbH
11:15 AM – 12:15 PM
Key system stakeholders reflect on roles, logistics, system evolution, and real-world opportunities & challenges.
- Anna Larsson · Director of Circular Economy Development, Reloop
- Beverage industry & EWP Board representative
- Daniel Olah · Managing Director, TOMRA Collection Austria
- Monika Fiala · System Operator, EWP Recycling Pfand Österreich gGmbH
12:15 – 1:15 PM
Lunch
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Restaurant “Rhythms”
1:15 – 5:00 PM
Transit & Site Visits · Redemption Sites & Technology Tour
Travel to a variety of recycling refund return points, including kiosks in markets & bulk drop-off locations, and see a technology provider’s machinery showroom. Understand consumer access and options for drop-off.
Rotations between two return site visits using the TOMRA showroom as a base.
- TOMRA Technology Showroom
- HOFER Perchtoldsdorf
- Metro Vösendorf
5:00 – 5:30 PM
Transit to Prater Park
5:30 – 6:30 PM
Open Q&A · Expert Debrief & State Contextualization
Reflect on key observations and discuss how lessons from Austria and the European policy landscape may translate to participants’ home states over refreshments and snacks. Come with questions. Hear Day 2 reminders.
Schweizerhaus, Prater Park, Vienna · Prater 116, 1020 Vienna
6:30 – 8:00 PM
Group Dinner
Schweizerhaus, Prater Park, Vienna · Prater 116, 1020 Vienna
Day 3 · Wednesday
July 8 · Vienna → Bratislava
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast & Day Overview
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Restaurant “Rhythms”
8:30 – 10:45 AM
Bus Vienna to Slovakia & Deposit Return System Comparisons
Transfer from Vienna to Slovakia. During transit, participants discuss similarities and differences between Austrian and Slovak recycling refund systems and broader European trends.
Featured Voice
- Anna Larsson · Director of Circular Economy Development, Reloop
11:00 AM – 12:20 PM
Site Visit · Slovak Central Deposit Sorting Facility
Visit the central sorting facility of the Slovak recycling refund system in Kočovce and meet system operators, including European Deposit Return System Association (EDRSA) leadership. Examine the behind-the-scenes of how returned containers are sorted, verified, and prepared for onward recycling.
Slovak Central Deposit Sorting Facility · Kočovce 241, 916 31 Kočovce, Slovakia (ONE Industrial Park)
Featured Voices
- Milan Ježovica · Secretary General, European Deposit Return System Association
- Borbála Agócsová · Office & Program Manager, European Deposit Return System Association
12:30 – 1:45 PM
Lunch & Transit
Traditional Slovak lunch under a historical castle and networking with European recycling refund system stakeholders.
Restaurant Kúria Beckov · Beckov 20, 916 38 Beckov, Slovakia
1:45 – 3:15 PM
Slovak Recycling Refund System Leadership Briefing
Hear directly from system leadership about the design, implementation, and performance of Slovakia’s national recycling refund system.
Kočovce Environmental Center · Kočovce 313, 916 31 Kočovce, Slovakia
1:45 – 2:00 PM
Welcome & Local Government Perspective.
- Monika Kopúnová · Mayor, Kočovce Municipality
2:00 – 3:00 PM
Debrief the Slovak recycling refund system, relationships with European frameworks and neighboring country management, and Q&A.
- Marián Áč · CEO, Slovak Deposit Return System & President, European Deposit Return System Association
3:00 – 3:15 PM
A presentation from Sensoneo, a data-driven waste management tool founded in Slovakia and used as the IT backbone of current deposit return systems.
3:15 – 4:45 PM
Introduction to U.S. Packaging EPR & Legislator Discussion
Scene-set the U.S.’s current packaging EPR landscape, understand key system stakeholders, and discuss common policy questions and implementation considerations. Engage in open Q&A with legislative leaders behind passed EPR legislation and policy experts.
3:00 – 3:55 PM
Introduction to U.S. packaging EPR.
- US Overview: Who is Who? · Dylan de Thomas, VP of Public Policy & Government Affairs, The Recycling Partnership
- Hot Topics & What to Watch · Olivia Barker, Vice President of Policy & Public Affairs + Global Sustainability Practice Lead, ClearStrategy
3:55 – 4:30 PM
Conversation with Representative Sydney Jordan, Author & Sponsor of Minnesota’s Packaging EPR Legislation (2024).
4:45 – 6:30 PM
Transit to Bratislava Central Historic District
6:00 – 6:20 PM
Quick Stop · Retail Collection Point Visit
Wrap up the deposit return focus with a visit to a Slovak retail collection location. Observe how consumers return containers and how retailers participate in the recycling refund system.
Supermarket Billa, en route to Bratislava Central Historic District · Bajkalská 19A, 82102 Bratislava, Slovakia
6:30 – 8:00 PM
Dinner Along the Danube
Networking and informal discussion with European system stakeholders.
Restaurant Parlament, Bratislava Historic District · Námestie Alexandra Dubčeka 1, 811 01 Staré Mesto, Slovakia
8:00 – 9:00 PM
Open Time to Explore Historic Bratislava
9:00 – 11:00 PM
Return to Jaz Hotel, Vienna
Day 4 · Thursday
July 9 · Vienna, Austria
7:30 – 8:30 AM
Breakfast Available
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Restaurant “Rhythms”
8:30 – 10:00 AM
Transit to Material Recovery Facility (MRF) Site Visit
10:00 AM – 1:00 PM
PreZero MRF Site Visit
See recovery, sortation, and pre-processing first-hand. Understand the role of packaging sortation in EPR systems and hear from facility leadership and Reclay on offtake and end markets, scene-setting Austrian and European recycling markets.
PreZero Sollenau Sortation Facility · Blumauerstraße 202, 2601 Sollenau, Austria
Featured Voices
- PreZero Facility Leadership
- Adrian Vannahme · Chief Executive Officer, Reclay North America
1:30 – 4:00 PM
Lunch & Transit
Salonplafond, Museum of Applied Arts · Stubenring 5, 1010 Vienna
4:00 – 5:30 PM
Introduction to European & Austrian Packaging EPR at the Austro-American Society
In an evening led by Reclay, deep-dive with the stakeholders responsible for packaging EPR implementation in Austria, including the association of European PROs, the Ministry of Environment (regulator), and representatives from across the packaging value chain. Explore broader European circular policy frameworks, including the currently evolving EU Packaging and Packaging Waste Regulation (EU PPWR) and Waste Framework Directive.
Austro-American Society Office, Vienna · Stallburggasse 2a, 1010 Vienna
Featured Voices
- Opening & Introductions · Jens Niessmann, Managing Director & North American Board Member, Reclay Holdings
- Brief Presentations, Panel & Q&A
- Moderator: Christian Abl, Managing Director, Reclay/RecycleMe Group
- Dr. Julia Hobohm, CEO & Director, PRO Circularity Alliance
- Sarah Warscher, Directorate for Waste Avoidance, Recovery & Assessment, Ministry of Environment
- Christoph Noppinger, Technical Director, Technopac
- Andreas Anderl, Project Manager, Starlinger
6:00 – 8:30 PM
Networking and Austrian Cultural Tasting
Austro-American Society Office, Vienna
Day 5 · Friday
July 10 · Vienna, Austria
8:00 – 9:15 AM
Check Out, Luggage Storage & Breakfast Available
Jaz Hotel · Ground Floor, Restaurant “Rhythms”
If you’re storing luggage with the hotel, please do so with the front desk. If there is a chance you may need to leave during a site visit, bring your luggage on the bus.
9:15 AM – 1:00 PM
Transit & Site Visits · Tour of Curbside Waste & Recycling Collection System with MA48
Magistratsabteilung 48 (MA48) is the municipal department responsible for waste management, street cleaning, and collection vehicle fleet management in Vienna. In a bus tour guided by MA48 leadership, visit municipal waste management operations to better understand how municipal collection and recycling services function under Austria’s packaging EPR program.
Meeting at the MA48 Municipal Office, then site visits throughout Vienna City Municipality · starting Einsiedlergasse 2 or Siebenbrunnenfeldgasse 3, 1050 Vienna
1:00 – 1:30 PM
Transit to Lunch
1:30 – 3:30 PM
Lunch & Final Group Debrief
Conclude the expedition with informal reflections on key insights and opportunities to translate lessons into participants’ home jurisdictions. Answer outstanding questions and reflect on learning goals. Participants begin to disburse for return flights.
Glacis Beisl · Breite G. 4, 1070 Vienna
Glacis Beisl is less than a 10-minute walk from the Jaz in the City Hotel.
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