Joining Forces

Chris Carlson

The solid waste association of North America (SWANA) and the American Public Works Association (APWA) have agreed to co-locate their annual trade shows in 2010. SWANA's WASTECON and APWA's International Public Works Congress and Exposition will share a 150,000-square-foot exhibit floor in Boston, on Aug. 15-17, 2010.

Gabrielle Horowitz, marketing coordinator for SWANA, says this agreement has been in the works for at least a year. This will be the first time that WASTECON will be co-located with another convention. Horowitz also adds that discussions are still ongoing regarding the possibility of attendees receiving joint access to each show's educational sessions.

“APWA's 29,000 members have a keen interest in solid waste management issues, and our collaboration with SWANA enhances membership services in this critical sector,” said Peter King, executive director of APWA, in a press release. Both organizations are projecting a combined attendance of more than 10,000 industry professionals.

“SWANA exhibitors will benefit from the exposure to thousands of public works officials, many of which have responsibilities for solid waste programs,” said John Skinner, executive director and CEO of SWANA, in a press release.

According to preliminary calculations, there were 215 exhibitors at the 2007 WASTECON, which was held last month in Reno, Nev. Roughly 1,300 professionals attended the educational sessions, and more than 3,100 attendees made their way to the 50,000-square-foot show floor. The training center, where professionals can take the SWANA certification exam, hosted a record 400 attendees.