VLE: From Waste to Worth: How EPR Is Reshaping Retail Facilities for a Circular Future
Includes a Live Web Event on 01/30/2026 at 1:00 PM (CST)
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As sustainability mandates tighten and consumer expectations rise, multi-site facility managers are at the forefront of a seismic shift—from a linear take-make-waste model to a circular economy built on reuse, repair, and recycling. This session explores how Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) regulations are accelerating this transformation, especially for national and regional retailers. Attendees will gain actionable insights into the circular economy, understand the regulatory landscape, and discover how facility operations can become strategic drivers of environmental and financial value. Learn how to future-proof your facilities and lead the charge toward circularity.
Jim Owens
President
Marrad
Jim Owens is adept at building high- performance sales organizations and establishing integrity-based relationships. With a history of commercial and industrial business development for companies like EMCOR, Transfield Services and IFCO, Jim excels at creating and implementing successful and strategic value-driven solutions that transcend industry sectors. A member (and former chair) of Penn State University's Center for Supply Chain Research (CSCR) Advisory Board, and a member of the ConnexFM Technology advisory board, Jim is committed to supply chain and facilities excellence, has co-authored research on Last-Yard logistics, and has presented at several educational symposiums.
Josh Witte
Director of Energy, Sustainability, and ESG
Dollar Tree, Inc.
Joshua Witte is a sustainability, facilities, and design/construction professional with over 25 years experience in the retail space. Wide variety of expertise in decarbonization and climate change risk mitigation, energy management, facilities/construction management and consulting, store and fixture design, building operations, customer/vendor relations, real estate asset management and contract negotiation.