Looking Ahead

In this challenging economy, it’s important for recyclers to find new ways to stay ahead of the curve and to plan for the future. "Now, more than ever, people in this industry need to rely on and learn from one another," says Rita Ugianskis-Fishman, WasteExpo show director. "And industry colleagues are always the best source of information and advice about how to stay strong in a tough economic environment."

One way recyclers can stay connected to industry colleagues and be aware of the latest trends, technologies and issues currently affecting the industry is by attending WasteExpo in Las Vegas, June 8-11.

Last year, more than 8,720 people gathered in Chicago for what event planners call North America’s largest solid waste and recycling trade show. More than 12,000 waste management and recycling professionals are expected to show up in Las Vegas for WasteExpo 2009, according to the show’s organizers, Penton Business Media of Stamford, Conn.

With more than 500 exhibitors expected at this year’s show, the exhibit hall offers attendees the opportunity to view a variety of equipment and services for the waste and recycling industries.

WasteExpo also offers attendees networking opportunities, including a golf tournament, welcome reception, the Environmental Industry Association’s (EIA) breakfast, boxed-lunch discussions and the annual equipment auction and raffle.

The networking opportunities start Monday, June 8, with the EIA golf invitational at the Siena Golf Club at 8 a.m. and the welcome reception at the Paris Las Vegas Hotel later that evening.

Tuesday, June 9, begins with the annual EIA Inspirational & Awards Breakfast. Attendees of Waste Expo can gather to listen to David Roche, a humorist who has turned the challenges associated with facial disfigurement into a compelling message that is uplifting, according to the event’s planners.

Also Tuesday is the Mack Driving Skills Safety Challenge sponsored by Mack Trucks Inc. The challenge is a series of seven events, including pre-trip inspection, turning radius and reversing accuracy. Winners will be announced at the Environmental Research and Education Foundation’s (EREF) auction Wednesday, June 10.

WasteExpo also offers boxed-lunch discussions beginning at noon each day of the conference. During Monday’s boxed lunch, Raleigh, N.C.-based Waste Industries USA President and CEO Jim Perry speaks about his company’s recent conversion from a publicly traded to a privately held firm. Phoenix-based Republic Services Chairman and CEO Jim O’Connor also is scheduled to present his views on leadership at this session.

The boxed lunches conclude Wednesday with a session on how companies can effectively manage employees in turbulent times. This panel includes moderator Dan Katt of Rumpke Consolidated Cos., Cincinnati, and speaker Ken Baylor of Advanced Leadership Solutions LLC, Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

Attendees also have the opportunity to attend WasteExpo’s 40 different conference sessions and training workshops, which include presentations given by industry experts on topics such as green management and technology, recycling, energy and landfill operations.

WasteExpo’s recycling program begins Monday, June 8, with sessions on electronic scrap and food waste. The electronics recycling session, titled "E-Waste: New Laws, New Programs," looks at the new laws and trends many states are moving forward with in terms of collecting, processing and disposing of electronics. Guest speakers include Jason Linnell of the National Center for Electronics Recycling, Parkersburg, W.Va. The food waste session analyzes the best methods to manage food waste, including composting, digesting and other options. Panelists for this session include Kendall Christensen, Gaia Strategies, Brooklyn, N.Y.; Matt Cotton, Integrated Waste Management Consulting, Nevada City, Calif.; and Steve Sherman, Cascadia Consulting Group Inc., Seattle.

In the afternoon, recyclers are invited to attend the safety session, titled "Recycling Safety—Collection and Processing," where a panel of safety experts focus on the unique challenges that can affect employees involved in recycling operations, including driver safety and handling materials at processing facilities. This panel includes moderator Damon Tofte of IESI Corp., Fort Worth, Texas, and guest speakers Susan Eppes of EST Solutions Inc., Houston, and Tom Powers, Waste Management Inc., Houston.

The last recycling session of the day focuses on glass and metal recycling. Guest speakers Joe Catteneo of the Glass Packaging Institute, Alexandria, Va., and Bill Heenan of the Steel Recycling Institute, Pittsburgh, discuss fluctuating markets, trends and policies affecting glass and metal recycling during this session, titled "Glass and Metal Recycling: A Market Outlook."

Tuesday’s recycling sessions cover the trends and challenges associated with handling secondary commodities, including paper and plastic. In the session titled "Where is Paper Going?" Victor Storelli, Storelli Recycling Inc., Fort Lauderdale, Fla., and others forecast where paper markets are going.

In the plastics recycling session, titled "Trends in Plastic Recycling," a panel of recycling experts answer questions regarding new plastic secondary markets. Guest speakers include Patty Moore of Moore Recycling Associates, Sonoma, Calif., and Dennis Sabourin of the National Association for PET Container Resources, Sonoma.

The last session of the day takes a look at C&D debris and the markets and obstacles recyclers face when handling these materials. Panelists include moderator Ken Binnix of Days Cove Reclamation Co., White Marsh, Md., and guest speakers Bill Turley of the Construction Materials Recycling Association, Eola, Ill.; and Ben Harvey of E.L. Harvey & Sons Inc., Westborough, Mass.

Even in a faltering economy, WasteExpo 2009 is shaping up to be a show recyclers do not want to miss, the show’s organizers say. "There’s an inherent efficiency with trade shows, and conferences and their metric is tough to beat even in a down economy," Ugianskis-Fishman says. "In the course of a few days, for the money spent, you’d be hard pressed to see and learn so much and network with so many people as you can in one place at one time, particularly at an event as robust as WasteExpo."

More information about WasteExpo is available at www.wasteexpo.com