Spring Awakening

While spring is generally thought of as a time for renewal and rebirth, the recycling and solid waste industries start the season by celebrating two anniversaries.

This year WasteExpo returns to Chicago, May 6-8, for its 40^th anniversary, while the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) celebrates 60 years of serving the worldwide recycling industry at its World Recycling Convention & Exhibition in Monte Carlo, Monaco, June 2-4.

For the past four decades, WasteExpo has served the solid waste and recycling industry, and the 2008 show promises more education, products and networking opportunities for industry professionals.

Show planners expect this year’s WasteExpo to be bigger than ever, with

"Typically we attract about 12,000 total participants, and currently our pre-registration reports are tracking ahead of last year, so we are cautiously optimistic about attendance," says Rita Ugianskis-Fishman, group show director for WasteExpo.

Attendees can learn about the latest trends and issues affecting the industry as well as hear from industry experts during WasteExpo’s 40 conference sessions and training workshops.

WasteExpo organizers say the goal for this year’s conference sessions is to help public and private sector employees gain the knowledge necessary to run their businesses or departments more effectively and efficiently.

This year’s conference program includes sessions on topics such as collection and disposal, recycling, professional development, technology, community relations and financial planning, as well as safety and labor and employment laws and regulations.

"We have scheduled two days of recycling sessions covering new things in on-going issues, such as e-waste and market trends," says Alice Jacobsohn, director of education and awards for the National Solid Wastes Management Association (NSWMA). "We also have an old favorite from a different angle on bottle bills and their impact on curbside recycling."

Some new topics this year include zero waste, a workshop on dealing with community opposition, the growing role of private equity investment, converting to alternative fuels, immigration and labor law changes and several sessions on professional leadership/management skills and trends, according to Jacobsohn.

Presentations by industry experts focus on current trends, issues and opportunities facing the private and public sectors in the waste management and recycling industries. Monday, May 5, the conference program includes a session titled "Bringing Glass, Steel and Aluminum to the Best Markets," where Curt Busey, Strategic Materials; Dave Keeling, Steel Recycling Institute; and Brenda Pulley, Novelis, discuss new markets and trends for glass and metal recyclables. A second session, titled "Trends in Plastics Recycling," includes Dave Heglas, Trex Co. Inc., and Karl Hatopp, Clean Tech Inc., who provide an update on plastics collection, processing and recycling markets, along with a forecast on the future of demand.

Tuesday’s recycling track includes a Recycling Roundtable panel discussion about employment issues, markets, equipment and vehicle decisions, collection, community and government relations and competition. Guest speakers include Chris Himes, Recycling Works Inc.; Pat Derueda, Recycle America; and Tom DeVivi, 1590 West Main Street LLC. Tuesday afternoon’s recycling sessions include "Bottle Bills: Pro or Con," with guest speaker Betty McLaughlin of the Container Recycling Institute, and "Paper Recycling Trends," with guest speakers George Brabec of Weyerhaeuser and Bill Moore of Moore & Associates.

Wednesday’s sessions include discussions on topics such as preventing and dealing with labor strikes; immigration, wage and hour law changes; and professional development.

WasteExpo also offers attendees ample networking opportunities, including a welcome reception, inspirational breakfast, boxed lunch discussions and annual equipment auction. These events give attendees the opportunity to make new business contacts, discuss industry trends, share ideas and problem solve all within one setting.

The networking opportunities start right away Monday, May 5, with the welcome reception and 40^th anniversary celebration. That evening attendees get to celebrate—in Chicago style—WasteExpo’s 40 years of service to the solid waste and recycling industry. There is live blues music, food, fun and countless networking opportunities. All attendees are invited to the grand ballroom at the Palmer House Hilton for this event.

Tuesday, May 6, begins with the annual EIA (Environmental Industry Association) Inspirational & Awards Breakfast. Members of the waste industry gather to listen to an inspirational speech from Eric Greitens, founder of the Center for Citizen Leadership, a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development of the next generation of American leadership.

WasteExpo also offers boxed-lunch discussions beginning at noon each of the conference’s three days. Monday, May 5, the discussion is titled "Make Some Noise," with Ken Schmidt, former Harley-Davidson executive and a communications expert. May 6, "Slow Down to Get Around: Avoiding Struck-By Accidents," provides tips on how to reduce the likelihood that your drivers will be struck by motorists. Wednesday, May 7, at "Talking Trash—You Are The Most Important Asset," Ken Baylor talks about focusing on the value of safety initiatives, employee retention strategies, leadership development, compliance, change management, team building and conflict resolution. In addition to providing attendees the opportunity to hear from industry leaders, these boxed lunches also give attendees the opportunity to ask questions and mingle with fellow industry professionals.

"We feel honored to have the participation of all our exhibitors, attendees, speakers and association/publication supporters," Ugianskis-Fishman says. "We all know that it appears we are entering a tough economic time, but we’ve always known this industry to be strong and we sincerely appreciate its support of its largest industry event."

Throughout the past 60 years, according to the BIR, the goal of its World Recycling Convention & Exhibition has always been to give the show’s attendees the opportunity to meet the industry’s foremost international experts and to provide business opportunities as well as the latest information on international markets for secondary commodities and legislative matters.

This year, the BIR World Recycling Convention returns to its favorite venue, Monte Carlo, to celebrate its 60^th anniversary, according to Elisabeth Christ, communications director for the BIR, based in Brussels, Belgium. The Fairmont Monte Carlo Hotel is the setting for the conference June 2-4.

"We expect over 1,000 delegates and 500 accompanying persons," Christ says. She adds that, as of early March, 500 delegates and 200 accompanying persons have registered for the event.

"We expect Monte Carlo to be by far the most successful show, considering that we will also be celebrating our 60^th anniversary," Christ says, "and we have pulled together a very interesting program for the commodity sessions and also the social events."

Networking opportunities begin Monday, June 2, with a welcome reception in the Boulingrins Gardens, facing the Casino of Monte Carlo.

Show attendees are also invited to join BIR as it celebrates its 60^th anniversary with a gala dinner the evening of Tuesday, June 3. The dinner is at the famous Monte Carlo Sporting Club in the prestigious gala hall, the Salle des Etoiles (Hall of Stars). Black tie is requested for this event.

BIR’s World Recycling Convention offers a program that includes meetings, high-profile guest speakers and discussions during topical workshops. The plenary sessions (i.e. commodity division/committee meetings) are open to all registered delegates and offer simultaneous interpretation in English, French and German. Some Italian and Spanish translations are provided, as well.

BIR also provides attendees with what it describes as one of the biggest machine and equipment exhibitions in the history of the organization, giving attendees access to the latest developments in recycling technologies.

The conference’s informational sessions begin Monday, June 2, with a plenary session on stainless steel and a special alloys committee meeting, as well as a ferrous and shredder committee session. Each session is followed by a trading session. Attendees are invited to the stainless and ferrous luncheon.

Tuesday’s lineup includes the annual general assembly and international environmental council meeting, as well as nonferrous division, tires committee and media and metal separation committee sessions. The luncheon includes a discussion on nonferrous metals and tires.

On the last day of the convention, attendees are invited to attend the textiles division, plastics committee and paper division sessions, each of which is followed by a trading session. A luncheon discussion Wednesday covers textiles, plastics and paper.

One of the convention’s featured guest speakers is Martin Abbott, chief executive of the London Metal Exchange (LME), who presents at the plenary session of the nonferrous metals division Tuesday, June 3 (see "First Timer," p. 110).

Between the conference sessions, exhibit halls, networking opportunities and anniversary festivities, WasteExpo and BIR’s World Recycling Conference are two highly anticipated spring shows. The latest WasteExpo information is available at www.wasteexpo.com, while the latest BIR World Recycling Conference information is available at www.bir.org.

The author is assistant editor of Recycling Today and can be contacted at kmorris@gie.net.