Waste and Recycling Leaders Gather in Columbus Ahead of America Recycles Day for Inaugural RCon™ Event

Earlier this week, thousands of waste and recycling professionals from across North America arrived in central Ohio for RCon™, SWANA’s brand-new event focused on redefining waste as a resource. The four-day event runs November 12–15 at the Greater Columbus Convention Center.

“RCon is all about what’s next,” said Amy Lestition Burke, CEO of SWANA. “It’s a fresh, forward-looking experience bringing together the latest ideas, technologies, and practices to help us move the industry toward a more sustainable future.”

Central Ohio exemplifies the spirit of RCon, with one of the nation’s top diversion rates and home to both a new state-of-the-art recycling facility and the largest plastics recycler in North America. The region is the ideal setting to spotlight innovation in action.

Joe Lombardi, Executive Director of SWACO, shared, “SWACO is proud to sponsor RCon and showcase the companies and initiatives driving sustainability right here in the heart of Ohio.”

Throughout the week, attendees will explore Columbus’ sustainability success stories with experiential learning tours of: the Franklin County Sanitary Landfill, operated by SWACO, the Rumpke Recycling & Resource Center, and waste diversion efforts at well-known destinations – the Columbus Zoo and Aquarium and The Ohio State University's Ohio Stadium.

RCon is taking place at the Greater Columbus Convention Center, known for its sustainable practices, and offers attendees tours of behind-the-scenes food scrap collection and recycling operations at the LEED® Silver certified North Building.

“We’re thrilled to host the first-ever RCon,” said Ken Paul, Executive Director of the Franklin County Convention Center Facilities Authority. “Our team is committed to reducing our environmental footprint and supporting the growing demand for greener venues.”

RCon will also show attendees some well-known venues in Columbus, hosting evening events at the North Market, Center of Science and Industry (COSI), and the High Line Car House.

Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther welcomed attendees to RCon during the opening session on November 12.

“SWANA is excited to bring the first RCon to Columbus. We have been impressed with the forward-thinking approach to resource management in Central Ohio and are so pleased to finally share those initiatives with RCon attendees. We appreciate the support of all of our local members, sponsors, tour hosts, and partners who have helped shape the RCon experience,” continued Lestition Burke.

About SWANA

The Solid Waste Association of North America (SWANA) is a member-based association of professionals from across the waste and resource management industry. Committed to advancing from waste management to resource management, we are empowering our members to deliver essential services to communities today and anticipate their needs for tomorrow. SWANA serves industry professionals through technical education, publications and research, and a large offering of technical training courses and credentialing to create a highly skilled workforce. For more information about SWANA, please visit https://swana.org/.

About RCon™

As the go-to event for the industry, RCon is where minds come together to tackle the global challenges of waste and resource management. From strategic insights to ready to implement solutions, RCon positions SWANA as the driving force behind the next era of waste and resource management, turning challenges into solutions. Learn more at https://swana.org/events/rcon2025. 

Contact:

Hanna Greer-Brown, SWACO, media@swaco.org
Kristyn Oldendorf, SWANA, marketing@swana.org
Michele Mooney, Franklin County Convention Facilities Authority, mmooney@fccfa.org