SWANA’s new event focuses on rethinking waste as a resource

Next year, Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) will inaugurate a new event, RCon, to take place November 12-15, 2025, in Columbus, Ohio. RCon events will celebrate and advance SWANA's principles of activating resource management and championing climate action.

"This is a totally new conference that will replace SWANA's legacy events, SOAR and WASTECON," says Tammy Hayes, board president of SWANA. "RCon will focus on advancing the understanding of waste as a resource, and it will be the go-to platform for cutting-edge discussions, technologies, and practices. It's really the evolution of what's next, and it will provide a more effective and productive way to accomplish our mission and goals."

The objective of RCon is to serve as the gathering place for leaders in waste and resource management. The full SWANA experience will be on display at RCon, offering a platform for considering the best pathways forward for the future. SWANA announced the highly anticipated name and brand of the new conference at WASTECON during its general session on climate change.

Hayes says SWANA's membership — particularly a young professionals focus group — was instrumental in selecting the new name. "The ‘R' in RCon stands for resource, because we are focused on being the catalyst for a shift in how the world thinks about solid waste," she says. "And it also encompasses so many of the other ‘R' words that our industry embraces including reuse, repair, recycle, renew, rethink, reconnect, refresh, and reimagine."

"Another ‘R' word that is important to this new event is relevant," adds Amy Lestition Burke, executive director and CEO of SWANA. "As the emphasis and necessity of protecting public health and the environment continues to grow, SWANA is positioned to lead the narrative around sustainable resource management. We play such a vital role and will bring new thought leadership on these critical topics with RCon."