The waste and recycling industry has seen many changes throughout the past 50 years, and one of the biggest changes is the advancement of technology. Over the years, technology has helped enhance fleets, collection services, various types of equipment, safety, overall operations and more.

The speed at which technology is entering the industry has not slowed down, and as we prepare for WasteExpo 2018, we have put together a list of must-attend technology sessions, where you can learn about the new and improved technologies that are paving the way for the future of the waste and recycling industry.

Rise of the Robots: The Role of Artificial Intelligence in the Waste Industry

Monday, April 23 — 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

Artificial intelligence (AI) and robotics are emerging trends that have the potential to transform the operations and profitability of the waste and recycling industry. Join experts in AI to discover how robotics are addressing industry challenges such as the volatility of staffing sorting lines, raising revenue through higher material purities and increasing throughput while lowering operating expenses, making recycling more effective and accessible.

Keynote Session: Solutions to Food Loss, Waste, and Recovery: Organics Diversion Legislation and Infrastructure Development

Monday, April 23 — 9:00 a.m. – 10:15 a.m.

In this session, attendees will learn effective food waste prevention practices, how to prevent food loss and how to get wholesome food to the millions of Americans who don’t know where their next meal is coming from. Following the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Hierarchy, the first two presentations will address the problem of wasted food in the U.S., and the third presentation will address the food waste stream that cannot be prevented and how it can be used to create renewable energy and compost.

Keep it Simple: Breaking Down Data Collection

Monday, April 23 — 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Big data, small data, standardized data. Everyone is talking about data, and many want to know how it can actually be applied to help make an impact on waste operations. What role does small data play in decision-making, and how is it combined to form big data? What would be the financial impact on the industry if data collection was standardized? Learn about the integral role data plays on operations through real-life examples of successful data collection and implementation. 

Using Data to Fuel Change

Monday, April 23 — 10:30 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.

Hear from The Recycling Partnership on its optimization work in the cities of Atlanta, Chicago and Denver. This session will address the importance of pre- and post-capture rate studies and how data generated from those studies was used to craft education and communication efforts specific to each city's needs. Results from each of the three projects will be provided.

Anaerobic Digestion, Mechanical Biological Treatment & Recycling Technologies for Processing MSW and Producing High Quality Compost and Renewable Energy

Monday, April 23 — 1:00 p.m. – 2:45 p.m.

Learn about a variety of digesters and their functionalities, the challenges of anaerobic digestion of organic residuals from the municipal solid waste (MSW) stream via high solids anaerobic digestion, a flexible approach to organics recycling from MSW with new and existing anaerobic digesters, why organics recycling is increasingly important among stringent regulatory requirements for landfill diversion of organics and beneficial reuse as fertilizer and energy, the challenges that come along with source-separated waste streams and more.

Drones: Not Just For Entertainment 

Monday, April 23 — 1:45 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.

Over the past few years, drones have been finding their place in the waste industry. As this technology develops, so do the opportunities to use it. This session will take a look at the different spaces in which drones are being utilized and how they may become game-changers for some of the waste industry’s biggest challenges.

Forget the Future – What About the Truck of Today?

Monday, April 23 — 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

Driverless vehicles may still be a few years away, but there are other new innovations that we are seeing today on refuse vehicles. How are fleets changing to adapt to the increasing demand for things like separated organics collection, smart waste technologies and lower environmental impacts? Hear from experts on how trucks are quickly adapting to the demands of today.

Anaerobic Digestion and Composting: Factors Affecting Facility Design, Strategies for Technology Selection, New Stimulants for Financial Success

Monday, April 23 — 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

In this session, experts will share the latest and greatest anaerobic digestion and composting technologies, as well as a new hybrid technology that can perform either process. They will also discuss existing and planned organics processing facilities across the globe, common feedstock characteristics and mixes and associated challenges for plant design and operation and the new and improved financial landscape of anaerobic digestion.

Operations Technology: A Hauler Roundtable

Monday, April 23 — 3:15 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.

In this session, haulers will join together to discuss real-world insight into the latest advances in operations technology in the industry today. These experts will discuss things like GPS, radio-frequency identification (RFID), camera systems, Internet of Things-enabled scales and other technologies that might impact the industry in the next few years.

Using Data and Technology to Drive Food Waste Reduction

Tuesday, April 24 — 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

A panel of experts and entrepreneurs will discuss how data and technology is being used to develop successful organics recycling programs, address collection efficiencies and provide solutions to reduce food waste and ensure recovery of food scraps.

Safety Technology: A Hauler Roundtable

Tuesday, April 24 — 2:00 p.m. – 3:15 p.m.

In this session, haulers will provide real-world insight into the latest advances in safety technology in the industry today. The experts will explain the role data plays in taking the industry out of the top five list of riskiest jobs, driver “Big Brother” concerns, how to use data to benchmark the current state of safety programs and which safety technologies might impact the industry in the next few years.  

Spotlight Session: Move From Data Collection to Real-Time Success

Tuesday, April 24 — 3:30 p.m. – 4:45 p.m.

Technology is more and more prevalent in the waste and recycling industry, with software, hardware, smart sensors and various devices collecting and generating data. With the growing volumes of data, you may realize the potential significance of this data but may not understand what it really means to your business. How do you move from data collection to actions based on data? Are you able to leverage all of it to get the right information to make real-time decisions to improve the efficiency of your operation? Find out the answers to those questions and more in this session.

Innovative Waste Conversion Technologies for Processing Bio-Waste and Creating Renewable Fuels and Energy

Wednesday, April 25 — 10:30 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

In this session, experts will discuss how using innovative, clean technologies can help communities meet their local recycling and waste diversion objectives while contributing to meet the renewable fuel standards for the transportation sector, why now is the time for the waste industry to revisit its centuries-old technology in order to implement available solutions for profitably achieving 100 percent recycling, the alternatives to current sanitary landfill anaerobic digestion technologies and much more.

IoT & Smart Cities: The Future Is Now

Wednesday, April 25 — 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

The Internet of Things (IoT) has accelerated the idea of “Smart Cities,” and internet-connected devices now gather information to help these cities achieve their goals of livability, sustainability, community services and improved city management. By embracing this digital revolution, companies are changing the way they engage with their customers. They are gaining valuable insight from real-time data that is allowing them to make strategic decisions across their entire organization. In this session, you’ll learn how companies are evolving to adapt to this new data-centric industry, while significantly improving driver safety, reducing costs and streamlining the way they do business.

Maintenance Technology: A Hauler Roundtable

Wednesday, April 25 — 12:15 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.

In this session, haulers will give real-world insight into the latest advances in maintenance technology in the industry today. These experts will touch on preventative and predictive maintenance, OEM diagnostic platforms, maintenance ERPs and which maintenance technologies might impact the industry in the next few years.

Small Scale & Scalable Food Waste Recycling Technologies for Food Waste Generators

Wednesday, April 25 — 2:45 p.m. – 3:45 p.m.

Learn about aerobic digesters, aerobic and anaerobic biodigestion, biodigestors, food waste sorting and food waste volume and cost measurement in this informative session. Also, hear about the useful experiences of a British manufacturer and its customers in the application and development of aerobic biodigestion technology, the food waste processing and reduction challenges of the commercial foodservice sector and more.