WASTECON 2024
The Best of Both Worlds: Integrating Leadership Strategies with Technical Innovations
Welcome to WASTECON® 2024. In today’s rapidly evolving landscape, effective solid waste and resource management requires a holistic approach that integrates leadership vision with cutting-edge technological solutions.
That’s why this year, the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is proud to offer expanded programming at our annual conference. Building upon our foundation of executive leadership at WASTECON 2024, we have augmented our focus to include the dynamic technical components of solid waste and resource management.
WASTECON 2024 is the premier platform for both leaders and engineers to converge, collaborate, and innovate towards a more sustainable future.
Do not miss this unprecedented opportunity to bridge the gap between leadership and technology. WASTECON 2024 is your best bet when it comes to accelerating transformative change in the field of solid waste and resource management.
WASTECON 2024 Priority Topic Areas
This year’s focus includes cutting-edge technologies, sustainable practices, regulatory impacts, and innovative solutions shaping the future of waste management.
Waste Reduction & Recycling
- Contamination mitigation strategies
- Prevention of plastic pollution
- Update on recycling markets
- MRF upgrades and new technologies, including AI
- New models for effective MRF contracting
- Mixed waste processing facilities
- Food waste and organics management
- Funding and financing of solid waste and recycling programs and facilities, including grants, partnerships, EPR
Solid Waste & Recyclables Collection
- Transfer Stations – Fire prevention and suppression, and new technologies, including flooring, recovery of recyclables, solutions for tamping down waste
- Collection Routing and On-Demand Services – Routing and fleet management automated software systems, pay-as-you-throw systems
- Drop-off Centers – Role of drop-off centers in the collection of waste prohibited from landfill disposal and materials requiring separate recycling
- Alternative Collection Vehicle Fuels – Compressed natural gas, renewable natural gas, electricity, hydrogen fuels
- Electric Refuse Trucks – Including demonstration projects, maintenance, infrastructure to support electrical supply
- Contamination of Recyclables – Analysis and reduction methods
Waste Conversion & Energy Recovery
- Community Relations
- Cost and financing options for new/updated facilities and other capital costs
- New air pollution control regulations and standards
- Refurbishing or replacing older waste-to-energy plants
- Recovery of metals and aggregates from waste-to-energy ash
- Improving energy efficiency of waste-to-energy plants
- Rates for electricity sales through negotiation of more favorable contracts
- Comparing waste-to-energy to other treatment options for non-recycled wastes
- Comparing waste-to-energy to environmental impacts and costs of waste disposal
- The waste-to-energy landscape in western European and Asia
Landfill Management
- Innovations and use of technology in landfill gas and biogas projects
- Impact of new US incentive programs for recovery of renewable natural gas
- Renewable energy market updates and technology
- PFAS management and regulations
- Environmental justice in landfill siting
- Post-closure planning and re-use
- Lithium-ion battery disposal and fire threat mitigation
- Increased control of landfill gas emissions due to regulations
- Creative solutions to increase landfill capacity
- Technologies – Drones, satellites, thermal imaging, odor control, flexible concrete, alternative daily and final cover systems