Accelerating Film & Flexibles Recycling: From Collection to
End Markets
Thursday, May 28th | 2:30 - 3:00 PM ET
Film and flexible packaging remain one of the most complex - and critical - frontiers in building a circular economy. While meaningful progress is underway, scaling solutions requires coordination across collection systems, processing infrastructure, end markets, and policy.
The Film & Flexibles Acceleration Forum convenes leaders from across the value chain, featuring perspectives from Film & Flex Recycling Alliance, USFFI, Delterra, The Recycling Partnership, and Circular Action Alliance. Together, these organizations are driving real-world solutions to advance recovery and recycling for film and flexibles.
This webinar will highlight:
- How collection systems and store drop-off programs are expanding access and participation
- Innovations in MRFs and reclaiming that improve material capture and quality
- The development of strong, scalable end markets for post-consumer resin (PCR)
- The role of funding initiatives like CalFlex in accelerating infrastructure and innovation
- Strategic program planning needed to connect and sustain these efforts
Each speaker brings expertise from a key segment of the ecosystem - collection, processing, end markets, funding, and system design - offering a comprehensive, solutions-oriented view of what it will take to scale film and flexible recycling.
Join us for a dynamic discussion on how cross-sector collaboration is unlocking progress and where the greatest opportunities lie to accelerate impact.
Meet our Speakers:
Neil Menezes, Circular Action Alliance
Maite Quinn, Executive Director, US Flexible Film Initiative
Maite Quinn's career in the circular economy began in the early 2000s when a story she was covering as a television producer pulled her in permanently. She spent nearly 20 years in the recycling industry — first running NYC's largest privately held hauling and recycling company, then leading business development and commodity sales for Sims Municipal Recycling. Throughout that time, she served on the boards of ISRI, APR, ANJR, and NRC, chairing committees and working closely with brands and industry peers to advance the circular economy.
In 2018, she joined Closed Loop Partners to launch their private equity fund with the goal of acquiring best-in-class recyclers to build the largest privately held recycling company in the US — a goal realized in 2023 when the fund's assets were combined to create Circular Services.
Today, Maite serves as Executive Director of the US Flexible Film Initiative, a brand-led nonprofit demonstrating that MRF film is recyclable by subsidizing operating costs for MRFs and reclaimers. She is also President of Resource Recycling, the recycling industry's leading media publication.
Shannon Bouton, CEO, Delterra
As CEO, Shannon Bouton oversees Delterra’s work with cities, communities and the private sector to transform recycling and waste management systems in the Global South. Working across Brazil, Argentina and Indonesia, Delterra is effectively improving environmental outcomes and boosting circularity while benefiting health, livelihoods and the economy. Previously, Shannon worked for 15 years at McKinsey & Company, where she served a range of public- and private-sector clients on buildings energy efficiency, transportation strategy, and greenhouse gas emissions reduction. She was instrumental in founding McKinsey’s Sustainability practice and the Cities Special Initiative, creating tools that empower cities in achieving economic development, climate action planning, and sustainable transportation. A field biologist by training, Shannon spent her early career working with grassroots communities on conservation in Brazil. She holds a PhD in Natural Resources and the Environment from the University of Michigan and is a dual citizen of the United States and Brazil.
Kyla Fisher, Film & Flex Recycling Alliance
Kate Davenport, The Recycling Partnership
