Trade shows and conferences are a great way to meet new people in the industry; test, buy, and check out new machines and technologies; share ideas with peers; gain training and education through educational sessions; and more. Throughout the year there are a lot of events to attend. It can be tough to find out which ones make sense for you or the people at your operation to attend. To help out, we've gathered 12 recycling trade shows and conferences you won't want to miss out on in 2024.
USCC Compost Conference
Feb. 6-9 – Ocean Center, Daytona Beach, Florida
https://compostconference.com/
Hosted by the US Composting Council (USCC), the USCC Compost Conference is a great place to immerse yourself in the composting industry. With over 30 educational sessions, 100 speakers, and seven workshops, the event covers everything from getting your hands dirty to the business and marketing side of the industry. Space for exhibitors at the USCC Compost Conference is currently sold out as manufacturers, technology developers, and safety companies gear up to exhibit and network with the industry.
OARA Convention & Trade Show
Mar. 21-23, Hilton Toronto/Markham Suites Conference Centre, Markham, Ontario
https://oara.com/events/2023-oara-convention-trade-show/
OARA Convention & Trade Show is one of Canada's largest automotive recycling trade shows and conventions. This three-day trade show prides itself on having no concurrent seminars so that visitors won't miss out on anything. Last year, over 400 attendees registered for the event, and the OARA Convention & Trade Show hopes to increase that number in 2024. With speakers like Sean Davidson, founder of the Davis Index, and JC Cahill, the CEO of VINMatchPRO, industry professionals will learn the latest in Canadian automotive recycling.
ISRI Convention & Exposition 2024
Apr 15-18, Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, Las Vegas, Nevada
ISRI2024 returns to Las Vegas for its 2024 edition. After attracting over 6,600 attendees in 2023, ISRI2024 is one of the most anticipated trade shows in the recycling industry. Covering the scrap, glass, paper, metal, electronic, plastic, battery, and textile recycling industries, visitors will have the opportunity to network and interact with professionals across the entire recycling value chain. The trade show will host 30 sessions, 120 speakers, and 325 exhibitors across four days.
SOAR 2024
Apr 15-18, Phoenix Convention Center, Phoenix, Arizona
SOAR is a technical conference that helps deliver practical solutions to difficult problems in the solid waste industry, taking place in an exhibit hall capable of accommodating 1,000 attendees and over 35 exhibitors. Hosted by SWANA, this event brings professionals from all sectors of the resource management industry into one place, while content tracks and symposiums teach visitors actionable solutions that can be implemented immediately upon their return. This conference is best for those who want to keep pace with the transformation currently happening in the solid waste industry.
WasteExpo 2024
May 6-9, Las Vegas Convention Center, Las Vegas, Nevada
https://www.wasteexpo.com/en.html
For over 50 years, WasteExpo has brought together people in the solid waste, organics, and recycling industries. With an estimated 14,500 visitors – over 2,000 of which are international – and over 600 exhibitors, the show floor will be bustling with people looking to buy equipment and meet others in the industry. But making new connections is just one of the many things visitors to WasteExpo can accomplish. With a conference program across more than five different topics including operations and safety; recycling and landfill; business insights and policies; and more, attendees have the opportunity to brush up on their knowledge with the latest educational and training resources.
NPE2024: The Plastics Show
May 6-10, Orange County Convention Center (OCCC), Orlando, Florida
After the cancellation of NPE2021 due to the pandemic, NPE2024 is picking up steam for a blockbuster edition. The show will take place over five days and is anticipated to attract over 55,000 attendees from more than 110 countries. The interest in NPE2024 is so high that the Plastics Industry Association has already announced dates for the next three shows up until 2033. Over 2,000 exhibitors are gearing up to show their latest innovations at the third largest convention centre in the U.S., with six distinct technology zones encompassing advanced manufacturing, bottling, robotics and automation, flexible and rigid packaging, and more.
IFAT 2024
May 13-17, Munich Exhibition Centre, Munich, Germany
https://ifat.de/en/trade-fair/
IFAT has been serving the industry for nearly six decades. Taking place once every two years, this trade show is a great opportunity to see the latest recycling solutions, expand your knowledge, and make more global connections. Back in 2022, IFAT filled 260,000 square metres of exhibition space with almost 3,000 exhibitors and 119,000 attendees. For the waste and recycling industry, IFAT 2024 is prioritizing digitalization, logistics and mobility, material flow management, waste and recycling innovations, air extraction and pollution control, and how hydrogen can benefit the circular economy.
Battery & Critical Metals Recycling Conference
June 17-18, The Westin Buckhead Atlanta, Atlanta, Georgia
https://www.batteryrecyclingconference.com/
The Battery & Critical Metals Recycling Conference is a relatively new tradeshow as 2023 was its debut year. While the event may be new, it is certainly one for you to look out for. The tradeshow is located within the "Battery Belt," a hub for electric vehicle manufacturing and investment, making it a great location to discuss battery recycling and recovery issues. With attendees coming from a wide range of industries, this conference places you close to a wide range of decision-makers.
Scrap Expo
Sept 17-18, Kentucky Exposition Center, Louisville, Kentucky
Designed for scrap metal dealers and processors along with auto dismantlers, Scrap Expo 2024 is a hands-on event that prioritizes live demonstrations and trials. Visitors will have the opportunity to grab the controls and get to know just how each new machine operates. If you want to see scrap cut in real-time; shearing, baling, and logging equipment demonstrated; or want to network with others in the metals industry, Scrap Expo 2024 may be the best show for you.
MRF Operations Forum
Oct 21-22, Marriott Marquis Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
https://opsforum.recyclingtodayevents.com/
Designed for plant operators, the MRF Operations Forum is a great opportunity to learn more about MRF operations. Single-stream, dual-stream, and mixed waste and C&D processing plants are complex and need a lot of planning to properly operate. That's why talking with other industry professionals, attending MRF tours, learning what worked or didn't work for others, and listening to educational sessions can help attendees make their operations more efficient.
Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference
Oct 23-24, Marriott Marquis Chicago, Chicago, Illinois
https://paperplasticsna.recyclingtodayevents.com/
Taking place directly after the MRF Operations Forum, the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference is a great opportunity to network with colleagues and manufacturers in the recycling industry. One of the big draws of the conference is the panel approach to speakers. Instead of one speaker on a stage at a time, the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference brings multiple industry experts on the stage at once. The 2023 show featured over 17 hours of education, more than 35 speakers, and plenty of exhibitors.
Waste & Recycling Expo Canada
Nov 5-7, The International Centre, Toronto, Ontario
Waste & Recycling Expo Canada brings together all sectors of the waste, recycling and public works industries, from transportation, heavy equipment, composting and MRFs to construction, road safety, sustainability solutions and more. Featuring key manufacturers and suppliers from across Canada, Germany, China, the U.S., and more, this show provides a platform for new products and services as Canada's only trade event serving the waste, recycling, and public works markets.
