Show preview: Reimagine recycling at WasteExpo 2024

With more than 13,500 participants and over 550 exhibitors, WasteExpo has been one of North America's largest solid waste, recycling, organics, and sustainability trade shows for over 50 years. Returning for its 2024 edition in Las Vegas from May 6 to 9, the show floor is a place to pursue business opportunities, discover innovative products, and connect with knowledgeable professionals, while the sessions and workshops allow you to sharpen your skills and learn current best practices.

Beyond the show floor, WasteExpo also offers special events packed with activities and business opportunities. Opening night will feature a welcome reception at AREA15, followed by awards ceremonies and a public sector reception on Tuesday. Attendees can also look forward to fun events, such as the TRASHION runway show that highlights eco-conscious fashion made from discarded items, as well as the Women's Council's Carts on Display competition that turns bins into artwork.

With technology and innovation as the underlying themes for WasteExpo 2024, the conference program consists of seven education tracks: Operations, Fleet & Safety; Recycling & Landfill; Sustainability Talks; Business Insights & Policy; Technology & Innovation; Food Recovery Forum; and Organics Recycling. Here are eight sessions that you won't want to miss this year.

1. The role of artificial intelligence in fleet management

Monday, May 6, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM 

Technological advancements, intelligent transportation systems, and artificial intelligence (AI) have revealed new opportunities to advance both fleet safety and productivity. In this session, industry experts will come together to discuss how the integration of these technologies can improve fleet management; increase return on investment; improve safety, operations, efficiency, and environmental compliance; expand driver knowledge and perception; and improve the capture of data to be utilized, translated, and executed.

2. Recycling operations in a post-EPR world

Monday, May 6, 8:30 AM - 9:30 AM 

What do recycling operations look like after extended producer responsibility (EPR) is implemented in the states that have passed legislation in the past several years? Now that implementation is underway in California, Colorado, Maine, and Oregon, this session will dive deep into what impacts, challenges and improvements are coming down the pike for U.S. recycling. Learn how EPR differs in each state, how EPR affects recycling operations, and what to expect moving forward as more states consider EPR policies.

3. Federal food loss and waste reduction initiatives

Monday, May 6, 12:45 PM - 1:30 PM

During this joint agency session, representatives from the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Environmental Protection Agency, and Food and Drug Administration will share an update on the tools, resources, and funding opportunities regarding food loss and waste reduction. Agency representatives will highlight new and existing federal efforts, such as the Interagency Collaborative, incentivizing food loss and reduction through public-private partnerships, as well as discuss future initiatives.

Speakers: Jean Buzby, USDA Food Loss and Waste Liaison, U.S. Department of Agriculture (Moderator); Lana Suarez, Associate Chief, Materials Management Branch, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; Priya Kadam, Senior Advisor, Center for Food Safety and Applied Nutrition, U.S. Food and Drug Administration; and Ahmed Kablan Senior Science Advisor: U.S. Agency for International Development.

4. Driver roundtable: Stories from the road

Tuesday, May 7, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Drivers from the public and private sides of the waste and recycling industry come together to provide insights and best practices learned from the road. Covering topics such as training, safety procedures, policies for navigating a route, and driving a large truck on narrow roadways with many stops, these drivers share what it takes to be a driver in this dynamic industry.

5. Pathways to success for plastic waste

Tuesday, May 7, 2:30 PM - 3:30 PM

Listen to and participate in a lively discussion about plastic waste. The conversation will include how both mechanical and advanced recycling help address the world's plastic waste problems. Getting plastic waste materials to recycling outlets requires a diverse mix of efforts, including landfill-diversion programs, improved logistics, and innovative technology to identify/analyze materials, sort them, and create pathways/markets. This requires cooperation with businesses, municipalities, and communities. Hear about real-world examples, including all-plastic collection programs in the City of Houston. The open discussion format encourages all to share their own success stories and get everyone inspired to become active ambassadors for sustainability in their communities.

6. Employee engagement: The path to safety & purpose

Wednesday, May 8, 10 AM - 11 AM

Employee engagement has long been desirable in corporate America, but in the current business environment, it has become a necessity. Companies with high levels of engagement are flourishing, and those with low levels are struggling. Engagement is most crucial when it comes to safety, making it utterly essential for companies in the waste industry. Learn the science behind the employee engagement imperative, best practices for using recognition/rewards programs to generate long-term engagement and behaviour change, and how you can drive improvements throughout your organization.

7. Understanding MRF proposals: A guide to effective analysis

Wednesday, May 8, 11:30 AM - 12:30 PM

Imagine you have a goal of building a new processing facility. After gathering data and outbound specs, you identify a property and solicit proposals from industry leaders. Now what? You're faced with the challenge of analyzing these seemingly similar proposals. In this session, you'll learn how to discern between proposals that align with your facility development and those that fall short, how to sharpen your decision-making skills, how to access diverse technologies from different vendors, and more. 

8. Alternative fuels: Stabilizing budgets & protecting against rising rates

Wednesday, May 8, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM

Learn the basics of fuel hedging, its availability, and how it works; how to stay protected against high fuel prices; how to stabilize and cap fuel budgets; how to mitigate fuel risk to maintain a strong level of profitability; and more.