Patricia-Anne Tom

Washington, D.C. -- On Thursday, industry representatives met to discuss the possible merger of the WasteExpo and Wastecon trade shows. Represented at the meeting were leaders from the Environmental Industry Associations (EIA); Primedia Business Exhibitions, which produces the WasteExpo trade show; the Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA), which produces the Wastecon trade show; Waste Age magazine; and the Waste Equipment Technology Association (WASTEC), a sub-association of the EIA that represents companies that design, build, distribute, service and consult on waste equipment.

"We are currently in a dialog between interested parties to determine the best interest of the industry," says Mike Knaub, senior vice president of Schaefer Systems Inc. and a WASTEC member. Last spring, Knaub sent out an informal survey of trade show exhibitors to gauge their interest in merging the WasteExpo and Wastecon shows.