Welcome to ISWA World Congress/WASTECON 2017! This great conference and trade show kicked off yesterday at the Baltimore Convention Center with the opening ceremonies and an introduction by the ISWA President, Antonis Mavropoulos, who discussed the different programs ISWA was working on and how they were excited to partner with SWANA with regards to their technical expertise and connections on big issues, such as marine litter and closing dumpsites. He also called for more industry action, raising the bar, delivering solutions and being open to new suggestions in waste management. He emphasized it was the beginning of a bright future to working together with SWANA.
Jane Nishida, EPA Acting Assistant Administrator, Office of International and Tribal Affairs, spoke next about marine litter and its alarming statistics (more plastic than fish in the oceans by 2050!) as well as its growing problem. She also touched on the international forums and discussions among different regions and their initiatives and pledges, including the EPA’s Trash Free Waters program and solutions in Baltimore, from the Trash Wheel to doing the largest bay study in microplastics.
Ben Grumbles, Maryland Secretary of the Environment, next took the stage, welcomed attendees and highlighted some of the things to see around Baltimore. He also emphasized next steps the city and state was planning, including embracing global trends, the governor issuing an executive order in June covering waste reduction and resource recovery, mining data to shape priorities and the future, as well as the success of the 2016 Food Waste Recovery Summit, which continues to be a major focus for Baltimore.
After David Biderman, SWANA’s Executive Director and CEO, made closing remarks, pledging to collaborate with those organizations to help meet industry goals and his excitement for the next few days to come, the conference sessions opened and covered topics focusing on behavior change, anaerobic digestion, sustainable waste and biomass to energy, landfill mining, marine litter, extended producer responsibility, dumpsite fires and more. Monday also featured great Mega Session keynotes that focused on Climate Change, CEO Roundtable, Smart Technologies, the Circular Economy and Smart Cities.
The day culminated in the opening of the exhibit hall in the evening where attendees and exhibitors alike were invited to mingle, relax, dine on food from different regions displayed, view technologies and solutions being showcased and have a good time. It was a terrific ending to the first full day of a great show!
