WasteExpo 2012: Day One in Vegas

A more sustainable EPA

Ron Vance, acting chief of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's Material Conservation and Recycling Branch, makes a point about the EPA's changing attitude toward sustainability during a Waste Expo conference session.

Spreading the green

Richard Abramowitz, director of public affairs for Waste Management Inc.'s Recycling Services, makes his presenatation during the "Sustainable Materials Managment" session.

A rapt WasteExpo audience

Attendees listen intently during a session on WasteExpo's first full day.

Protesters speak out at session

The sustainable materials session is interupted by people protesting low wages at Waste Management Inc. operations.

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Stepping up to register

Registration is brisk as well as the first full day of WasteExpo began.

Keeping Austin's events clean and green

Handling event waste management in Austin, Texas, is the topic of a presentation by Eric Hise of Texas Disposal Systems.

A super waste recycling effort

Carey Hamilton, executive director of the Indiana Recycling Coalition, talks about recycling and waste reduction accomplishments surrounding the most recent Super Bowl in Indianapolis.

A packed house

Attendance is strong at the confrence sessions during WasteExpo's first full day.

Eyes on the road, hands upon the wheel

Chaz Miller, director of state programs for the National Solid Wastes Managment Association, talks about trends in transporation regulations that affect the waste and recycling business.

Keeping waste drivers on the right regulatory road

William Bensmiller, Nevada Division administrator for the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, tells attendees what they need to be aware of to keep in compliance with the government.

Expo attendees get a regulatory update

Will Bensmiller of the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration makes a point during his presentation at WasteExpo.

Working to get Expo-ready

The WasteExpo exhibt setup begins days before the show opens as workers get each individual booth ready for the show.

Rolling with the setup process

ERl Henry of Roll Rite LLC pauses for a moment while he works to prepare for the opening of WasteExpo's exhibition.

Miles to go before showtime

Before WasteExpo's exhbit opens the floor is often a sea of crates and packaging.

A fork in the road

A forklift operator moves some equipment to help prepare for the opening of the WasteExpo exhbit.

Roll the WasteExpo tape

Michael Asuncion of CompliantSolutions USA LLC lays down adhesive and tape in preparation for a finished booth at the opening of the WasteExpo exhbition.

All in the multifamily

Bob Coyle, vice president of public affairs & government relations for Republic Services Inc., talks about his perspective on collection with multifamily dwellings during a first-day session on the topic.

Unboxing

Crates on the floor of the WasteExpo exhibit hall will soon divulge their contents.

Under the hood

Workers check high and low to make sure everything is ready for attendees when they pour into the exhibit hall Tuesday morning.

MRF man

Steve Miller, CEO of Bulk Handling Systems, gets into the nitty gritty of materials recovery facilities.

The stewardship sessions

Heidi Sanborn of the California Product Stewardship Council addresses extended producer responsibility.

Green Flowers

Will Flower, senior vice president of corporate communications for Republic Services, lays out the pitfalls of greenwashing when it comes to corporate sustainability reports.