Innovation, technology and policy will take the stage at WASTECON 2018, the Solid Waste Association of North America’s (SWANA) largest event, from August 20-23 in Nashville, TN.

Join thought-leaders, environmental experts, and solid waste and recycling professionals from across North America for an overall unique conference experience where attendees will investigate “Sound Ideas” in waste management and the most pressing issues facing the industry today.

“The programs in WASTECON® 2018 Nashville will be a little different than we’ve had historically; we’re engaging speakers and presenters on the Internet of Things and how technology is changing the industry, from the landfill operations perspective, collection and communications,” said Jeff Murray, SWANA’s International President and Solid Waste Section Manager for HDR. “We’ll also be looking at rural issues, seeing how our more rural communities are dealing with solid waste management and planning for the future, in addition to communication strategies amongst different groups and our elected officials.”

WASTECON®’s programming is all about inspiration, exploring what excites, motivates and challenges solid waste and recycling professionals. Sessions and speakers will help attendees escape their daily hum and join the energy and buzz that’s resonating throughout the industry.

Key Conference Topics  

The Internet of Things and Innovation

For years, solid waste and recycling has focused on integrating new technologies into the workflow and using big data to automate and streamline processes. In Nashville, attendees will explore innovative technology adoption and investment to see what it could mean for the future of the industry.

Global and International Waste

Issues all over the world are making waves in waste management, from China’s waste import restrictions affecting global recycling, to the growing marine litter emergency, to wide-scale discussions on circular economy implementation. The industry is seeing now, more than ever, that we are all connected.

Rural Issues

Food waste has been at the forefront of industry discussion, prompting research into how we can eliminate waste from the farm-level all the way to the consumer, recognizing that solutions such as organics collection, public and private partnerships, and new legislation could vary by community.

The Value of Communication

Public education efforts for recycling and solid waste programs are not new to the industry, but with contamination as a renewed focus, educating communities will be essential. Attendees will explore best practices in using public relations and integrated communication efforts to increase public participation, with a focus on measuring success by the numbers.

Visionary Keynote Presentations

These conference topics guide a new keynote lineup where renowned industry leaders and new voices will share how they’re creating their own “Sound Ideas”. These powerful presentations by diverse visionaries are the center of WASTECON® 2018 and will cover a wide range of compelling topics.

A Conversation with Ron Mittelstaedt, Waste Connections CEO

Hear Mittelstaedt’s thoughts on the waste industry and its relationship with the public sector, how Waste Connections is responding to current challenges, the company’s successful safety initiatives and where we are going as an industry.

The Changing Market for Recyclable Materials

The China waste ban’s restriction of the flow of materials has created new challenges throughout the supply chain of scrap—residents, solid waste departments, material recovery facilities, processors, end users and beyond. Hear SWANA’s David Biderman and the Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries’ Robin Wiener discuss the current issues surrounding the ban and investigate next steps for the industry.

New Ways to Solve Your Toughest Problems

Parker Gates and Anna Love-Mickelson, Founders of Stoked, a Nashville-area design firm, will offer several activities in a high-energy, highly-interactive session that will help attendees gain confidence to solve the most complex problems in an organization and grow deeper connections with colleagues and customers.

Wait, Is There a Plan for This?

Having been involved in the flow control case at the U.S. Supreme Court as well as representing a municipality in the famous garbage barge fiasco, Michael Cahill, Partner at Germano & Cahill PC, will provide unique and humorous insight into the shaping of modern history involving the solid waste and recycling industry.

A Workforce Trend You Can’t Ignore

Over the last five years, disruption has transformed many industries, putting companies at risk. Tom Morrison, CEO of the Florida Automotive Industry Association, will provide the keys in researching and determining what future disruption the solid waste industry can expect and what we can do about it now.

How to Use Systems  Thinking to Create Order from Chaos

The concepts behind systems thinking are present in designing and operation solid waste programs and through these approaches, attendees will learn how to use intuition, pattern recognition, and improvisation for insights to help create order from the daily chaos.

“If there’s something you don’t know, you get to learn it at WASTECON® with the top professionals in the solid waste field,” said Stuart Birdseye, City of Denton, TX.

Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) Summit 

WASTECON® will feature the inaugural MRF Summit, a joint event by SWANA and ISRI, that will offer a first-of-its-kind forum for stakeholders from all areas of the supply chain to come together to discuss the changing recycling landscape in the wake of China’s waste import restrictions. From August 22 – 23, waste industry leaders, state and local government officials, manufacturers and others will discuss best practices, policy alternatives, standardizing recycling metrics and ISRI’s scrap specifications.

“SWANA is excited to host this important and timely event at WASTECON® as MRFs struggle to address the challenges posed by more stringent contamination standards and a changing waste stream,” said David Biderman, SWANA’s executive director and CEO. “We have collaborated with ISRI in several areas over the past few years, and this joint MRF Summit marks another significant milestone in our strong relationship.”

The MRF Summit will offer a special “track” for WASTECON attendees, featuring unique sessions, keynote addresses from environmental leaders and networking events for industry professionals.

Head to Music City 

Serving as a backdrop for the event, Nashville or “Music City,” as it is often called, will offer exciting attractions from live entertainment at the Grand Ole Opry, to visiting Centennial Park, to eating top-notch Southern cuisine. See the area through Nashville facility tours that will offer hands-on learning at unique recycling, food recovery, and alternative energy venues. Join the Spring Back Recycling Tour to see a creative business model through mattress recycling or head to the Honkey Tonk Glass Tour to see glass recycling in the iconic lower Broadway of downtown Nashville. Learn about food waste diversion first-hand through the Second Harvest Food Bank Tour featuring one of the largest and most comprehensive food banks and distribution centers nationwide. See innovative technology through optical sorting at the Bulk Handling Systems and advanced waste-to-energy solutions at WasteAway. Come explore with us and discover “Sound Ideas” in Music City this August!

For more information, visit WASTECON.org.

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