Global recycling leaders return to Las Vegas for industry’s largest gathering

The Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries (ISRI), the Voice of the Recycling Industry™, will host its 2014 Convention and Exposition April 6-10 at the Mandalay Bay Convention Center in Las Vegas. This annual event has become the largest convention of its kind, bringing together nearly 6,000 scrap recycling professionals, industry experts and manufacturers from all 50 states and more than 40 countries to discuss the latest in the global scrap recycling business.

Attendees at the 2014 ISRI Convention & Exposition will take part in workshops, sessions and interactive panels that will examine today’s recycling opportunities and challenges. Programming will focus on helping companies operate smarter, safer and more profitable businesses. In addition the schedule includes commodity-specific “spotlights” that feature expert analysis and opinions on the markets.

“The ISRI Convention is the one place, every year, that brings together the industry experts, top equipment manufacturers, world-class speakers and more, all with the goal of bettering the industry,” said ISRI President Robin K. Wiener. “Each year, the Convention provides more and more value and opportunity for recyclers, which is one of the reasons this year’s exhibit hall has grown to four times the size it was just 10 years ago.”

Highlights this year include Apple Co-founder Steve Wozniak as part of the Distinguished Speaker Series. Mr. Wozniak is a Silicon Valley icon and philanthropist, best-selling author, and reality television star. Also, new this year will be the award presentation for the ISRI-JASON Learning National Student Poster and Video Contest winners. The contest, part of the partnership between ISRI and JASON Learning to promote recycling as part of the K-12 STEM curriculum, called on students to design a poster or video encouraging the responsible recycling of cell phones.

With several dedicated sessions, a key topic of discussion throughout the Convention will be how the industry can better work with law enforcement to prevent metals theft. ISRI’s Law Enforcement Advisory Council will meet for the second time since it was formed late last year with the goal of advising ISRI in the development of a comprehensive program to address metals theft, including a multi-layered training program to assist law enforcement. There are also workshops on the issue designed to better train recyclers on the steps it takes to apprehend and prosecute thieves, including: Enforcement Solutions to Materials Theft and Prosecuting Materials Theft: What It Takes to Build a Case on April 9. Addressing another hot topic within the industry will be Superfund Liability Protection Essentials on April 9. The session will discuss the serious risks superfund lawsuits and what companies can do to protect themselves.

Responsible recycling and certification will once again be a major focus at this year’s convention with Recycling Industry Operating Standard (RIOS)™ certification training and workshops.