Double Down

S crap recyclers will have not one, but two reasons to head west to see the sights of Las Vegas this spring, as both the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries
Inc. (ISRI) and the National Association of Demolition Contractors (NADC) will hold their 2004 annual conventions in the land of 24-hour casinos.

Both trade groups are basing their shows at The Mirage, which features its own convention space as well as its location in the heart of the popular "Strip."

Attendees of each show will have opportunities to learn about new developments in their industry, as well as to catch up with friends from throughout the country (and indeed the globe) who gather at the annual events to network and to socialize.

ISRI IMAGINES. The single word "Imagine" has been chosen by ISRI as the theme for its 2004 convention, which takes place April 25-29 at The Mirage.

As it does every year, the ISRI convention will feature "Spotlight" sessions on the scrap commodities most frequently traded by ISRI members. This year’s Spotlight sessions take place April 27-29 and cover ferrous scrap, aluminum, copper, nickel/stainless alloys, lead and zinc, paper, rubber and electronics.

Separate programming tracks will cover other ongoing issues for scrap recyclers, including public and community relations, ISRI’s Scrap3 certification program, environmental compliance, transportation, business management and safety. In total, the convention will feature more than 30 hours of continuing-education workshops. The workshops are grouped in tracks based on job functions: CEO and owner; CFO and financial managers; community and government relations; human resources and supervision; maketing and sales; environmental compliance; and operations and yard management.

For those who wish to hear from familar and noteworthy people from the arts community and the media, ISRI is bringing several media personalities to its convention. Author, actor, comedian and host of his own game show Ben Stein will kick off ISRI’s programming at the Chair’s Breakfast Tuesday morning, April 27.

Stein has been a speechwriter for past Presidents Nixon and Ford; has acted in motion pictures such as Ferris Bueller’s Day Off; has written 17 books on political and financial topics; and was host of Win Ben Stein’s Money on Comedy Central.

CBS news correspondent Jim Axelrod will host a panel of U.S. and European business leaders who will discuss global trade at Wednesday morning’s President’s Breakfast, while Thursday at noon, three members of the Cable News Network’s Capital Gang (Margaret Carlson, Robert Novak and Mark Shields) will discuss current political and economic issues.

This year’s convention marks the formation of the ISRI Women’s Council. Moderated by ISRI President Robin Wiener, the council will provide networking opportunities for the growing number of professional women in the scrap recycling industry Monday, April 26, at 9:30 a.m.

Additionally, the Meet Your Consumers Reception Wednesday evening will provide scrap dealers the opportunity to interact with representatives of companies that purchase scrap materials.

The convention will also offer additional networking opportunities within the exhibit hall, such as the gala reception Monday evening at 6:30 and luncheons Tuesday and Wednesday.

The exhibit hall will feature more than 150 exhibitors offering the latest products, services and equipment for the scrap recycling industry. For the first time, all of the exhibit space will be housed indoors.

Those attendees who are intersted in taking to the links will have the opportunity to do so, while also benefitting a good cause. The Recycling Research Foundation will hold its sixth annual golf tournament fundraiser April 29 at 7:30 a.m. at the Las Vegas Golf Club.

With scrap markets enjoying the higher end of their historical trading range, the 2004 ISRI Convention is likely to draw a healthy crowd of scrap dealers, processors, brokers and consumers to Las Vegas to take part in the year’s most anticipated gathering of the scrap recycling industry.

DEMOLITION TOPICS. Less than one month before ISRI participants gather in Las Vegas, the NADC will hold court at The Mirage with its Annual Convention, which takes place March 28-31.

The NADC is making an effort to reach out to recyclers, as it has seen the role of recycling expand within the demolition field. In a report issued this January entitled "Demolition Contractors Manage and Dispose of Waste Responsibly," the group identifies 14 "major constituents of a structure that could be recycled," though it notes that "there are only three or four that have a current market value."

Certainly, scrap metal is part of the stream with value, so demolition contractors represent an important generating source of scrap for processors looking to increase their incoming scrap volume.

In a recent mailing to its 800 member companies, the NADC board of directors announced that it will be surveying its members regarding slightly changing its name, possibly deleting the word "contractors" to be more inclusive for recyclers and others involved in the demolition process.

The topic is certain to arise at the 2004 NADC Convention, which will once again utilize the Mirage convention hall, which was expanded earlier this decade to enable heavy equipment to be displayed indoors.

While important business will be discussed, NADC members and their suppliers also anticipate the networking and socializing opportunities, epitomized by the annual NADC Golf Tournament Saturday, March 27.

Additional banquets and receptions—including "The NADC Frat Party" on Monday evening—are certain to keep the convention lively and sociable for attendees.

The author is editor of Recycling Today and can be contacted via e-mail at btaylor@RecyclingToday.com.