Get Your Free Shirt! 

Join us Wednesday, November 12 at 2:45 p.m. EDT for the RCon Insider’s Orientation Session in room C170-171 and get your free RCon t-shirt to kick off the week! Can’t wait until then to get the inside scoop on RCon? Watch the video of SWANA CEO Amy Lestition Burke telling attendees all about what to expect at the inaugural RCon.  

Registration Check-In  

Registration opens 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, November 11 in room C160ab near the RCon Exhibit Hall for both RCon and USPP Activator Action Summit. Wednesday is typically the busiest registration check-in day; consider picking up your badge on Tuesday.

RCon and/or Activator Action Summit registrants will receive a registration confirmation email later this week from no-reply@pheedloop.com, which will include details needed to check-in onsite; please have that email handy at the RCon registration desk.  

There’s still time to encourage your colleagues to register online or onsite to join more than 1,300 industry leaders. 

Accessibility questions/requests? Learn more or reach out to RCON@swana.org 

SWANA is proud to host our industry partners co-locating with RCon: U.S. Plastics Pact (USPP) Activator Action Summit, National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) Safety and Standards Meetings, and the joint Board Retreat for the National Stewardship Action Council (NSAC) and the Stewardship Action Foundation (SAF). 

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginter welcomes RCon attendees and USPP Activation Action Summit attendees to the city!

Professional Development Hours (PDHs) 

Earn up to 15 professional development hours (PDHs) for attending the full conference. Individuals who attend one day will receive 4.5 PDHs. Tour participants will receive one or two PDHs depending on which tour they attend. PDHs will not require attendee sign-in.

Participants of the PFAS course will receive 6 PDHs, and participants of the Manager of Landfill Operations and Landfill Gas Systems Operations and Maintenance courses will receive 30 PDHs, in addition to credit earned for participation in RCon sessions. All PDHs will be processed by staff without requiring sign-in sheets onsite. You can expect to see your SWANA record updated with your PDHs within four weeks of the event.

Details on Tours, Trainings & Special Events 

If you registered for any trainings, experiential learning tours, or special events, SWANA may send emails with details closer to some of those events as needed. Closed-toe shoes are required for the following tours: Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center, and Revive Environmental Technology. 

 Transportation will be provided to all offsite RCon events, departing from the bridge between the Hyatt and the GCCC.

Pickleball Tournament Sign Up 

All levels of players are welcome to sign up for the RCon Pickleball Tournament held on the Exhibit Hall floor! Sign up with a team of two or put your name down for us to pair you with a team member. Whether you’re spectating or playing, don’t miss the championship on Friday, November 14. Sign up for the RCon Pickleball Tournament!

RCon Food & Drink 

The following meals will be provided: 

• Wednesday, November 12:
  

• Opening Reception - drinks and appetizers in the Exhibit Hall
• (Invited Attendees) Volunteer Appreciation Bash - drinks and heavy appetizers at the Center of Science and Industry 

• Thursday, November 13:
• Morning coffee with light snacks
• Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
• Afternoon beverages
• (RSVP required; Sold Out) SWANA Awards Celebration - drinks and heavy appetizers at the Highline Car House 

• Friday, November 14:
• Morning coffee with light snacks
• Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
• Afternoon beverages
• Dinner and drinks at Night at the Market – meal vouchers to be provided 

• Saturday, November 15: Morning coffee with light snacks 

RCon FAQs

Explore the Exhibit Hall 

The sold-out Exhibit Hall is open November 12-14 featuring: 

 
• 209 Exhibitors providing industry solutions
• The New Way Theatre with Rapid Insight Sessions  
• Poster Presentation Speakers will present and field audience questions from 11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m. Thursday, November 13 and Friday, November 14 
• Ohio EPA America Recycles Day Art Show featuring local artwork made of repurposed material 
• Pickleball Tournament ongoing during Exhibit Hall hours with championship on Friday, November 14 
• Community Service Thanksgiving food package project on Thursday, November 13
• SWANA Central to talk about all things SWANA and visit with our partners at U.S. Plastics Pact.

Exhibit Hall Hours: 

• Wednesday, November 12 5:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.​ 
• Thursday, November 13 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.​ 
• Friday, November 14 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. 

EXHIBIT HALL MAP & DIRECTORY

Build Your Experience 

Curate your event experience with the RCon mobile app, coming soon to Apple and Google Play stores! There will be no paper program as SWANA and our event partners strive to practice sustainable resource management. 

The RCon app empowers attendees to:  

• View the most up-to-date agenda with descriptions, speakers, poster presentations, roundtables, Rapid Insight sessions in the New Way Theatre, and more. 
• Build your own schedule by selecting the sessions that are most relevant to your work. (concurrent sessions will reach capacity, so be sure to get to the sessions early!) 
• Explore the sold-out Exhibit Hall floor map and directory of 209 product and service providers to make your plan. 
• Connect with attendees, send messages and set up meetings to expand your network 
• Find FAQs, venue maps, safety guidelines and more. 

Getting Ready for RCon 

Wear layers with chilly weather expected. Business casual attire will work well for most of the week but bring closed toe shoes for tours and sneakers for the Fun Run and Pickleball! For those attending the Awards Celebration, dress it up or keep it casual – however makes you comfortable in the spotlight. 

Join SWANA’s commitment to sustainability by bringing a reusable water bottle – water refill stations will be spread across the venue. Don’t forget your business cards and leave room in your suitcase for Exhibit Hall giveaways! 

John Glenn Columbus International Airport (CMH) is the closest airport to the RCon venue, the Greater Columbus Convention Center (GCCC), located at 400 N High St, Columbus, OH 43215. SWANA is encouraging attendees to allow extra time to get through airport security.

Depending on traffic, Airport Transportation Options take about 10-20 minutes get to the RCon. Ride shares apps like Uber and Lyft are also available for around $30 one-way.  

The RCon hotels are just minutes away from the action: Sonesta Columbus Downtown, AC Hotel Columbus Downtown, Hyatt Regency Columbus, and Hilton Columbus Downtown. Note: Consider the nearby Drury Plaza Hotel Columbus if the RCon hotels are booked up, or check back with RCon hotel availability and rates due to any cancellations. 

Join the RCon Conversation 

Download the RCon marketing toolkit to show off your RCon spirit with customizable signs and spread the word about the event! Tag SWANA on Facebook, X ,  LinkedIn, and Instagram and use #SWANARCon when you post on social media with photos, graphics, and takeaways. 

SWANA’s Responsible Resource Management 

SWANA is intentional about sustainability. You will see this displayed throughout the event with the following: 

• Fill it Forward reusable water bottles at water stations and in SWANA Central
• China and glassware used at meal functions
• Badges are recyclable and lanyards may be reused
• Night at the Market dining utensils and plates will be compostable with SWACO receptacles outside to facilitate composting 

Exploring Columbus 

Columbus is walkable and transit-friendly. If you have time to explore the area, check out suggestions from the Columbus Convention and Visitors Bureau, including special offers through Columbus's "Show Your Badge" program! 

Visit the Columbus CVB website to view special offers from local businesses by showing your RCon badge. Experience Columbus recommends these restaurants near the convention center: 

• El Vaguero 
• Lincoln Social 
• Marcella's 
• The Pearl 
• SoCal 
• Martini Modern Italian 
• The Guild House 

🏈 Come for RCon, stay for football on Saturday, November 15, when The Ohio State takes on UCLA at Ohio Stadium at 7:30 p.m. — just an 8-minute drive from RCon. Be aware that the city will be very busy on Saturday, so make plans for lunch, trips to the airport, or other activities.  

RCon FAQs