Here at Wastequip, we were delighted to have the opportunity to attend WasteExpo 2022, held May 9-12 in Las Vegas’ Convention Center West Hall. Not only were we once again able to meet, socialize, and share ideas with thought leaders from throughout the country representing nearly every segment of the waste and recycling industry — but were able to do so in person and face to face after a two-year hiatus.
Presented by Waste360 in collaboration with the National Waste and Recycling Association (NWRA), WasteExpo is North America’s largest waste and recycling industry trade show. It attracts 12,000-plus attendees and over 500 exhibitors most years — but it had to be held online in 2020 and 2021 as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thankfully, 2022 offered a chance for all of us to get back together again!
Our WasteExpo 2022 experience
First and foremost, we’d like to thank WasteExpo and its organizers for presenting this year’s event. It was wonderful to be able to connect with old friends and colleagues in person once again. We were also honored to serve as a “Market Leader” sponsor of the event, in addition to serving as the conference’s Waste & Recycling Bin sponsor with our Toter brand product line, the EVR Green.
Our EVR-Green carts — the industry’s first with a cart body manufactured from 100% recycled content — were on display in our booth and throughout the convention center. The Amrep Rear Loader — the only rear load refuse truck on the market with a body and chassis made entirely with Hardox® AR450 & AR500 steel — was also on display in our booth. It likewise generated considerable interest from conference attendees.
Elsewhere, BYD’s electric trash truck — which uses an Amrep body — was on display in BYD’s booth. Amrep worked directly with BYD, the nation’s leading commercial electric truck manufacturer, and assisted the company in creating the vehicle’s chassis componentry to accommodate our Hardox steel body, hence making it the most durable electric truck on the market.
Sharing our industry expertise
WasteExpo 2022 also provided a great opportunity for leaders from the Wastequip family of brands to share some of their industry knowledge with fellow waste-industry professionals, and further solidify our position as a leader in the category.
As part of one of the event’s Waste360 Sustainability Talks, Kristin Kinder, Wastequip’s Vice President of Research and Waste Stream Sustainability, moderated an insightful session titled “Chasing Transparency — Carbon Labeling.” The discussion centered around carbon labeling, which is much like the “nutritional facts” that appear on a food product’s packaging, but instead lists the amount of carbon produced in creating the product. The audience members in attendance left with increased knowledge about:
- Why we need to communicate consistent environmental information about consumer products
- Where we might see carbon labeling in the future in the waste industry
- How we can all be better consumers and vote with our dollars
In another session, Laura Hubbard, Director of Municipal Sales at Toter, was included in a 60-Minute Snapshot panel discussion entitled “Debunking the Myths of Cart Manufacturing” along with representatives from other cart manufacturers. Much of the conversation revolved around how cart manufacturers are incorporating more sustainable practices within their operation, such as Toter’s Project 25 and the release of their EVR Green product line.
Other expo observations
In other news from WasteExpo 2022:
- Electric vehicles were a focal highlight at the show and provided a glimpse into the future direction of the industry.
- Wastequip donated EVR-Green carts and a Galbreath hoist vehicle to the Environmental Research & Education Foundation’s silent auction at the expo.
- The push for corporate sustainability was also rife at the show, with many products focusing on green-thinking, recycled content initiatives, and more.
About Wastequip
Wastequip is the leading North American manufacturer of waste handling equipment, with an international network of manufacturing facilities and the most extensive dealer network in the industry. Wastequip’s broad range of waste and recycling equipment, trucks and systems is used to collect, process and transport recyclables, solid waste, liquid waste and organics. The company’s brands include Amrep®, Accurate™, ConFab®, ContainerPros®, Galbreath®, Mountain Tarp®, Pioneer™, Toter®, Wastebuilt®, Wastequip®, Wastequip WRX™ and wasteware™. For more information, visit www.wastequip.com.