From Refuse to Resource: SWANA Leads the Industry Forward

SEATTLE (Waste Advantage): SWANA’s WASTECON® event held in October in Grapevine, TX, was full of new ideas, new plans, and a new way of thinking. Energized by more than 1,300 attendees and 137 exhibitors and sponsors, SWANA used the conference as a platform to announce a brand-new event for 2025 called SWANA RCon™.

“We must remain relevant, and one way to do that is by making sure we are impacting the narrative around solid waste and resource management,” said Amy Lestition Burke, SWANA’s CEO and Executive Director. “The ‘R’ in RCon stands for resource — and that is where our vibrant industry is heading by pioneering the technologies, processes, and culture needed to enable waste as a resource.”

RCon™, scheduled for November 12 –15, 2025, in Columbus, OH, is an all-new event that will replace SWANA’s flagship events WASTECON® and SOAR. “SWANA is designing RCon™ to be the space where the industry can come together to think,” said Lestition Burke. “It will focus on the future of waste and resource management and positions itself as the go-to platform for cutting-edge discussions, technologies, and practices.”

SWANA’s final WASTECON® was a perfect springboard into the future. Attendees came from more than 50 states and territories, seven Canadian provinces, and eight different countries. WASTECON® brought together a broad range of experts who shared their expertise on topics ranging from leachate management to state and national regulations to landfill gas monitoring and organization culture change. The sessions demonstrated a blend of technical content and leadership-focused topics. Nearly 80 percent of WASTECON® attendees this year are company decision-makers.

Top-of-Mind Issues for WASTECON® Keynotes: Safety, Climate, and the Workforce
Each keynote session focused on a critical topic for the industry and related to SWANA’s 2023 – 2027 strategic plan. K. Scott Griffith, former Chief Safety Officer for American Airlines, shared insights on how he led exponential change related to safety and risk for the airline industry. A data-driven look at climate change was presented by Dr. John Nielsen-Gammon, Texas state Climatologist. Jeff Bezzo (SC Johnson), Julia Mangin (Recology), Trina Matta (The Recycling Partnership), and Kevin Roche (ecomaine), joined Lestition Burke for a panel discussion on implications for extended producer responsibility (EPR). Stuart Andreason (Burning Glass Institute), Stacy Dolden (SCS Engineers), and Tom Koutroulis (Orange County Waste & Recycling) held an insight-filled discussion on workforce trends and what they mean for our industry.

 Educational Sessions, Exhibit Hall, and Learning Tours
More than 50 educational sessions were offered on timely topics including PFAS, lithium-ion batteries, potential OSHA heat-safety regulations, and disaster response and recovery. WASTECON® even offered several sessions multiple times due to popularity of the topic.

On the show floor, a variety of exhibitors showcased vehicles, new technology, products, and solutions. The catalyst sessions by exhibitors showcased the latest industry trends and resources.

For those who enjoy hands-on learning, attendees had the opportunity to tour sites around Grapevine including the Dallas Cowboys Stadium, a Peterbilt manufacturing plant, a research project site at the University of Texas, Arlington, and the Republic Services Recycling Center. These tours enabled attendees to see the industry in action and take ideas back to their organizations to implement.

Celebrating Excellence — and a Little Fun Too
SWANA, which is known for the industry’s most prestigious awards program, presented 10 awards during WASTECON®. Winners were recognized for their safety initiatives, achievements as a young professional, or professional contributions to the industry.

Amidst the education, exhibit hall, and awards celebrations, there was also ample time to connect with colleagues and peers during technical division meetings and at dedicated networking events. Outside of the traditional networking activities, WASTECON attendees hit the pickleball court in the exhibit hall and at WASTECON®’s social event for a show-stopping pickleball tournament at Chicken ’n Pickle.

“The events of this week were a great way to say goodbye to WASTECON and hello to what’s next for waste and resource management professionals,” said Lestition Burke. “Our goal was to make sure everyone left with new knowledge and new connections to further their professional development—and thanks to the SWANA board, volunteers from the TxSWANA Chapter, and our own SWANA team—the great feedback from the conference indicates that we delivered on that.”

Courtesy: www.wasteadvantagemag.com