7 November 2010 – Penton Media’s 2010 Global Waste Management Symposium (GWMS) announced today the results of its most recent symposium. An international forum for the presentation of peer-reviewed applied and fundamental research and case studies on waste management, held October 3-6 at the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort and Spa, GWMS was deemed a success despite the current economic environment.
“The GWMS presented a unique venue for industry personnel, academia, regulators, and consultants to share ideas,” stated Bryan Staley, vice president, Environmental Research of the Environmental Education and Research Foundation and co-Chair of the 2010 GWMS Technical Committee. “There is no other venue in the U.S. that provides a platform to this audience that showcases technical advances within the solid waste industry. The fact that this event was well attended speaks to the need for such a platform and I’d like to thank all those that participated in this year’s technical program for making the event a success!”
Over 400 participants from the United States and 37 other countries attended the second annual GWMS and represented a broad coalition of government agencies, waste services companies, consultants, vendors/suppliers, researchers and leading trade organizations and scientific foundations.
Throughout the two and one half days of technical sessions and poster presentations, participants had the opportunity to share ideas and problem solve with colleagues and GWMS sponsors on topics critical to the global waste community. Topics included Environmental Characteristics of Waste, Recycling and Waste Diversion Policy, Waste Minimization, Waste-Based Energy, Climate Change and Carbon Sequestration, Solar Energy for Landfills, Methane Emissions Monitoring, Gas Management, Waste Properties, Greenhouse Gas Management, Bioreactor Case Studies, Mixed Waste Processing, Final Closure of Landfills, Landfill Cover Performance, Gas Treatment, Landfill Liners and Covers, Water Balance Covers, Leachate Management, Biocovers, Design for Challenging Site Conditions, and Landfill Siting Issues.
Additionally, the special session “Applicability of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Greenhouse Gas Rules to Landfills” was well attended and provided a forum on the recently promulgated rules by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) on greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions as applied to municipal solid waste (MSW) landfills, and allowed participants to share information on compliance and permitting.
Special events at the GWMS were well attended and provided additional educational opportunities. Keynoter Thomas Christensen, Ph.D. provided an eye-opening overview on European Waste Management in a Global Warming Perspective. The Tessman Road Solar Cap Landfill tour proved to be one of the most popular offerings. Hosted by Republic Services, who manages the landfill, it highlighted the use of an innovative solar cover. This landfill is the first of its kind and generates clean, renewable energy, reducing dependence on nonrenewable sources. The solar energy cover system has been designed to complement landfill gas technology to increase overall energy output, or it can be used as a standalone system. The golf outing, sponsored by Agru America and Environmental Specialties International, Inc., was a friendly and well received tournament.
The GWMS enjoyed industry support from leading vendors, including gold sponsor Republic Services; silver sponsors Golder Associates, Waste Connections, and Weaver Boos Consultants; and featured additional support from American Environmental Group Ltd., Brown and Caldwell, Civil & Environmental Consultants Inc., Geosyntec Consultants, and SCS Engineers. Participants had the opportunity to visit with 48 table top sponsors and get personal consultations during their time at the GWMS.
The second GWMS would not have been possible without the guidance from the Business Committee led by Chair Steven D. Menoff, PE of Brown and Caldwell and the Technical Committee led by Co-Chairs Bryan Staley of the Environmental Research and Education Foundation, Morton Barlaz of the North Carolina State University, and Craig Benson of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
“Given the current economy and the resulting cutbacks by many companies in the waste management industry, we were very pleased with both the attendance in general, the level of sponsorship, the large number of international participants and the high quality of the technical program,” said Steve Menoff, Chairman of the Business Committee for the event. “As we look forward to 2012, the GWMS will build on its first two symposiums to provide a high quality program for the technical community in the solid waste industry,” he added.
“We’re humbled by the waste community’s overwhelming response. It’s invigorating to witness such a positive turnout when the industry is still grappling with the difficult economy,” said Rita Ugianskis, Managing Director, Penton Media’s Waste Industry Group and Show Director of the GWMS. “We can’t wait for 2012’s event.”
The third Global Waste Management Symposium will be held in 2012 and will begin accepting abstract submissions in 2011.
To find out more about the Global Waste Management Symposium visit www.wastesymposium.com.
About Penton Media
As a leading, independent, business-to-business media company, Penton knows business and how to create and disseminate the vital content that moves markets. Penton is where professionals turn to gain the critical insight, expert analysis, and relevant connections needed to compete and succeed. Headquartered in New York City, the privately held company is owned by MidOcean Partners and U.S. Equity Partners II, an investment fund sponsored by Wasserstein & Co., LP, and its co-investors. For additional information on the company and its businesses, visit www.penton.com.
Kimberly Stolfi
Marketing Manager
Penton Media, Inc.
+1 203 358 4252
Fax: +1 913 514 6811
Kimberly.Stolfi@penton.com
www.wastesymposium.com
