Reasons to Go to San Diego for WASTECON 2022

The best reason to go to San Diego this December is to attend WASTECON^® 2022. This can’t-miss meeting will address waste management’s hottest topics and solutions to our industry’s most pressing challenges.

Why not get all of this—and enjoy a world-class destination?

WASTECON^® puts you in the center of it all

San Diego’s mild climate is a welcome escape in December and the city offers so much in terms of beauty, attractions, culture, and cuisine. It’s all within walking distance of the Convention Center.

Whatever your interests or tastes, you’ll find something unique for your time outside the packed program. Here are our top six recommendations:

Gaslamp Quarter

Step out of the front of the Convention Center into the restored historic heart of San Diego. Nearly 100 Victorian-era buildings host an array of shops and restaurants in a charming setting. The Chuck Jones Gallery, featuring the works of the creator of Bugs Bunny and other Looney Toons icons is a stand out. Then, enjoy a cocktail at the Altitude Sky Lounge rooftop bar. You’ll be wowed by panoramic views of the city. Some say it is the best place to watch the sun set over the San Diego Bay.

Embarcadero Walk to Seaport Village, the USS Midway Museum, and the Maritime Museum

The Embarcadero passes right in front of the Convention Center. Stroll past the marina north to Seaport Village to explore its galleries, unique shops, and restaurants. Five minutes further along you will come to the USS Midway, the former US Navy aircraft carrier that went in to service just after WWII and saw its last battle during Desert Storm in 1991. And a further five-minute walk will bring you to the Maritime Museum and its collection of antique ships, including a replica of a 1542 Spanish galleon.

Mission Brewery

Sip award-winning craft beers after a fascinating brewery tour. This San Diego treasure has been serving cold ones to the city since 1913. The brewery moved into the building, once the local Wonder Bread bakery, in 2007.

Balboa Park and the San Diego Zoo

Balboa Park is a 15–20-minute walk from the Convention Center and is well worth the effort. Sprawling over more than 1,000 acres, this urban park is home to 15 museums, lush gardens, and the famous San Diego Zoo. From art treasures to model railroads, to sports memorabilia and rare aircraft, you will find endless fascination here.

Museum of Contemporary Art San Diego

Catch up on culture with this gem of a museum that focuses on multiple media works of art from 1950 to today. It is housed in the former Santa Fe Depot baggage building. Artist Richard Serra has created a dedicated exhibition for the space.

Take a Tour

The city offers a variety of tours. Old Town Trolly Tours are a hop-on/hop-off option for seeing what Downtown has to offer. The amphibious bus-boats of SEAL Tours zip you up and down the city streets before plunging into San Diego Bay. To see ever more of the water, take a San Diego Harbor Cruise that includes the Coronado Bridge, ships at the the US Naval Base, North Island Naval Air Station, and the Naval Sub Base.

It’s been sixty years since our first industry convention was held in the area. Now we come full circle to return to San Diego.

Come to WASTECON^® for the opportunities to serve your stakeholders, improve your organization and operations, and enrich your own career and those of team members. But don’t neglect to enjoy some of the best our host city has to offer.