? Should ISWA World Congress 2014 be in your plans? 10 thoughts to consider:
1. If you desire a more global perspective of solid waste management, then this is the place to be.
2. The conference is heavily populated w/ academics and those who work for government. There are not so many consultants.
3. Attendees from developed countries are much better represented than those from developing countries.
4. The vendor hall is small and primarily focused on showing a presence to the host country.
5. Ideas are presented that I haven't heard presented in North America (e.g. Nanowaste and using Social Milius) and these ideas may become pertinent in North America.
6. If you are looking for solid waste experts interested in international collaboration, then this is a most excellent space for meeting.
7. I feel the collective attendees are more passionate about solid waste management than their counterparts at North American conferences.
8. I feel there is more respect given to differing perspectives than is afforded by certain groups in North America.
9. I have met top level American 'waste' professionals at the Congress that would have been more difficult to meet with in America. (e.g. Mike Biddle www.mbapolymers.com)
10. The Congress is a mind expanding opportunity to challenge how waste can be managed using different world perspectives (e.g. Do overt biases toward any aspect of solid waste management have the potential of making a program less sustainable? Can the pursuit of high recycling rates have the potential of being less sustainable...and what is the definition of recycling?)
What are your thoughts?
Why or why not do you wish the attend the ISWA World Congress - 2014 in Brazil? AND of course I look forward to seeing you next year at WASTECON - 2014 in Dallas.