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Sustainability is in WasteExpo’s DNA
Sustainability is a topic that is constantly discussed in the waste, recycling, and organics industry. At WasteExpo, this doesn't go unacknowledged.
4 Min Read
Sustainability is deeply important to our team. Not only do we talk about sustainability daily within our industry of solid waste, recycling, and organics professionals, but we also proudly walked the walk at our recent event in Las Vegas.
Our goal was to lessen our environmental impact and create a more sustainable WasteExpo. We still have much work to do, but each year is an opportunity to do better.
Plus, nothing makes us happier than bringing together the greatest minds to learn how we can all do our part to make a difference – not just within our industry – but to build a more sustainable future for our planet. And we did just that at WasteExpo.
Here are some of WasteExpo’s sustainability Initiatives:
Created Waste360 Sustainability Talks, a co-located event focused solely on sustainability. It also offers year-round content including articles, a Sustainability Talks newsletter, videos, infographics, and other content on Waste360
Bill Caesar, Operating Partner, Generate Capital presented the keynote address on the “Business of Sustainability”
Other sessions included: “The Package Deal: Innovations and the Latest Thinking in Sustainable Packaging,” “Scaling the Use of Ocean-bound Plastics: A Story of Circularity,” “Chasing Transparency – Carbon Labeling”, “The Plastic Treaty is Here – Now What?”; Sustainable Collaboration Across the Public/Private Sector” and “Urban Landfills and the Circular Economy”
Partnered with Wastequip and the Las Vegas Convention Center to implement a three-bin waste stream system for Compost, Recycling, and Landfill
Worked with GES to collect leftover conference and booth materials for donation to local non-profits
Reduced paper consumption by offering a mobile app instead of a large printed program
Eliminated carpet from the aisles of the show floor of the WasteExpo Exhibit Hall
100% use of LED technology for custom booth builds
The event was powered by 100% Renewable Electricity
Repurposed food waste to create a gourmet Zero Waste Lunch for WasteExpo’s Food Recovery Forum while also donating to a local food bank. Fun fact: lunch was in a dumpster (a clean one, we promise!)
Educated the industry on food waste prevention and recovery within the Waste360 Food Recovery Forum
Offered a plant-based menu for the Sustainability Talks event
Used “ugly produce” that would have been wasted to create delicious smoothies while attendees charged their phones with their own pedal power on blender bikes during Sustainability Talks
Diverted 78.9% of waste from landfills during our Welcome Reception at Allegiant Stadium
Reduced the use of single-use plastic during the Sustainability Talks event
Reused signage by gifting it to one of our Waste360 40 Under 40 award winners so he can repurpose it in his own way
WasteExpo’s Pitch Slam Competition fostered entrepreneurs within the industry. It brought teams that have been vetted to pitch their recycling, composting, and end-market ideas. The contest is the ideal platform for new companies to showcase their products and helps them refine their pitches and prepare for future fundraising. Innovakote Inc. won $10,000 to help expand its mission of eliminating waste and reducing the carbon footprint of the power coating supply chain through a proprietary recycling process and Timber Age Systems, Inc. won $2,500.
Showing children that recycling Is cool: One of Waste360’s 40 Under 40 winners, Terrill Haigler, has penned a new children’s book that encourages children to recycle. It was inspired by his own experiences. His daughter was embarrassed that her father was a sanitation worker and told her class that he was a police officer. Instead of being offended, Terrill took matters into his own hands and made recycling the coolest thing in the city of Philadelphia (and beyond!). He wrote this book and Waste360 sponsored it. The team bought 200 books that will be donated to local schools and libraries—to help children do their part and help their families to make the world a more sustainable place. This support allowed Terrill to expand the publication of his book and reach new markets.
And 2023 is looking even brighter and more sustainable. We’ll keep you posted on some new ideas that will not only be sustainable but will surely surprise and delight our community.
Enjoy and thanks for reading our story. Remember as one of our favorite podcast guests said, “It’s about progress, not perfection” when it comes to living a more sustainable lifestyle.
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