Keynote Sessions
Tuesday, September 29, 4:15 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.
Safer by Design: How Technology Is Transforming Waste Industry Safety
Safety is evolving across the waste and resource management sector, and technology is playing an increasingly important role in protecting workers, improving operations, and reducing risk. From AI-enabled cameras and driver-assistance systems on collection vehicles to robotics, sensors, and automated monitoring in processing facilities, new tools are helping organizations identify hazards earlier, strengthen decision-making, and build safer workplaces. This keynote will explore how safety-focused innovation is changing the industry, highlight practical examples of technology in action, and examine how leaders can pair these tools with training, culture, and accountability to create lasting improvements in worker safety and operational performance.
Keynote Sponsor
Wednesday, September 30, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
From Design to Recovery: Collaborating Across the Recycling Value Chain
The future of recycling depends on more than what happens at the curb; it requires collaboration across the full materials value chain, from product design and packaging decisions to collection, end markets, and resident education and engagement. This fireside chat will explore how voluntary action, public-private partnerships, and cross-sector collaboration are accelerating progress toward a more circular supply chain.
Featuring perspectives from both the public and private sectors, as well as consumer brands, the conversation will highlight real-world examples of trends in consumer education and recycling markets. Panelists will explore what is working, where persistent challenges remain, and how the resource management industry can shape what comes next.
Keynote Sponsor
Thursday, October 1, 9:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Trash to Treasure: Innovations for Nature-Based Solutions and the New Economics of Circularity
Circularity stops being a sustainability story and becomes economic infrastructure with the right combination of innovation and leadership, backed by the capital structures to scale them.
This session will explore what becomes possible when biology, technology, and capital design work in concert. It will bring together diverse viewpoints to make the case that public-private partnerships, anchored in municipal innovation and backed by catalytic and outcomes-based capital, are how circular economies scale from pilot to infrastructure.
Friday, October 2, 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Built by People: Strengthening the Workforce That Powers the Industry
The industry's future depends on people. RCon's closing general session will focus on evolving workforce development needs. This panel will explore challenges and opportunities for recruitment, career growth, and creating organizations that adapt to rapid change. Thought leaders and practitioners will share strategies for building strong teams and preparing the next generation.
