OFFICIALS WITH THE Silver Spring, Md.-based Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) are proclaiming the 42nd annual WASTECON, held Sept. 21-23 in Phoenix, a success. “From our vantage points and from the feedback we've received, WASTECON 2004 was truly a success,” says Lori Scozzafava, deputy executive director of SWANA. “The numbers themselves speak volumes — training attendance was up 50 percent [from 2003], and our overall attendance grew by more than 10 percent.”

The total attendance for the 2004 show was approximately 3,500 people, and 314 industry members participated in training courses, according to Todd Von Deak, SWANA's director of marketing and member services. Just less than 200 exhibitors covered 65,500 square feet of space, a decrease from the 67,900 square feet at 2003's show, Von Deak says.

The show offered solid waste professionals from around the country the chance to learn more about their industry through 10 technical session tracks. The focus of the tracks ranged from collection and transfer to marketing.

Among the show highlights was the announcement that Richard J. Mauck, director of streets and automotive services for the city of Santa Clara, Calif., had been elected as SWANA's new president. SWANA also honored the winners of its 2004 Professional Achievement Awards during the show.

In giving WASTECON's Lawrence Lecture, Steve Passage, CEO of New York-based Montenay Power Corp., discussed waste-to-energy issues. Former football star Rocky Bleier was the show's keynote speaker.

WASTECON 2005 will be held Sept. 27-29 in Austin, Texas.