The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) announced it will no longer exhibit each year at WasteExpo, following the 2025 show scheduled for May 5-8 at the Las Vegas Convention Center. Considered North America’s largest waste and recycling trade show, the 57-year-old WasteExpo drew nearly 600 exhibitors––including companies like Mack Trucks, WM, Republic Services, Chevron, Volvo and Wastequip––and more than 14,000 attendees in 2024, according to a post-show release. 

In alternating years beginning in 2026, the Arlington, Va.-based non-profit is intending to host an association-led event for its members and industry professionals. The new event will feature a multi-day program focused on networking, industry discussions, and an annual awards gala, according to an NWRA release. 

In an exclusive interview with TSNN, Informa Markets Senior VP Infrastructure & Construction Kevin Thornton said current agreements and discounts for 2025 remain intact, with continuing prioritization of NWRA members. This year’s WasteExpo is currently pacing ahead of last year in terms of attendance and square footage, he said. 

“We met with NRWA this week and will again in early March to discuss future participation and managing costs associated with producing a large equipment show like WasteExpo,” Thornton said. “We also plan to meet with large buying groups and exhibitors to align formats with their needs.” 

Need to know: Unanimously approved by the NWRA Board of Trustees at a recent industry conference in San Antonio, the decision marks a strategic shift in its approach to industry trade show participation. In a press release, NWRA said it will transition to an every-other-year format for exhibiting at major industry trade shows, replacing its annual presence at WasteExpo. This decision reflects industry trends, multi-year innovation cycles, and rising participation costs, according to the release. TSNN reached out to NRWA for comment and further details, but they did not respond by press time. 

Back story: In 1968, the National Solid Wastes Management Association, the forerunner of today’s NRWA, launched the first WasteExpo (under a different name) in Chicago. WasteExpo is now owned by Informa, which acquired previous show owner Penton in 2016.  

Related: Informa to Buy Penton for $1.56 Billion 

By the numbers: Waste and recycling facilities number nearly 18,000 scattered throughout the U.S. The solid waste industry directly employs about 450,000 people as of mid-2019 with a total payroll of more than $28 billion, according to NWRA’s website. It’s estimated that the private sector waste and recycling industry accounts for more than 1 million jobs and generates nearly a quarter of a trillion dollars in U.S. GDP.  

Context: The annual WasteExpo is produced by Waste360 in collaboration with the NWRA. “This is a great opportunity for professional growth and business development,” according to the NRWA website. “WasteExpo offers access to the newest technologies, creates smart business connections and has a robust education program that we at NWRA have created.” 

Presence in 2025: Marc Acampora, Market Leader for Waste360, told us that NWRA’s sponsorship and participation for this year’s show includes: 

• NWRA will host its Awards Gala at WasteExpo. The awards presented at this event include Driver of the Year, Operator of the Year, and the newest inductees to the NWRA Hall of Fame.  
• NWRA helps to organize 48 WasteExpo conference sessions. 
• NWRA participates in the Waste360/Stifel Investor Summit by helping to organize the panel discussion during the Summit. 
• NWRA Women’s Council Carts on Display, a sponsored art competition, takes place at WasteExpo. 
• NWRA Women's Council Boutique, with proceeds going to support the council’s programs, including the academic scholarship programs that provide a career path in the waste and recycling industry. 
• NWRA holds various board meetings at the WasteExpo. 

Deeper dive: NWRA members currently receive a discount on their booth space at WasteExpo, saving its member businesses thousands of dollars each year. According to the NRWA website, members save: 

• 12% on booths 100-400 square feet 
• 12.5%-13.3% on booths 500-5,000 square feet 
• 16% on booths 5,000+ square feet 
• 10% of member spend on exhibits, sponsorships, and advertising on Waste360 also goes toward NWRA membership dues 

Big picture: “Rising costs associated with trade show participation, including travel, freight, and exhibit expenses, have also played a role in the decision, as many members evaluate the financial returns of having trade shows annually,” according to NWRA. “This shift allows for a more strategic allocation of resources while still maintaining a strong industry presence. The change comes in response to the longer innovation cycles within the waste and recycling industry, where new product development often follows a multi-year timeline. By adopting an every-other-year format, NWRA ensures that trade show exhibitions highlight significant advancements rather than incremental updates.” 

What they’re saying: “This new approach allows us to deliver greater value to our members by aligning with industry trends and financial realities,” said NWRA President and CEO Michael Hoffman, who has served in this role for less than one year. “By optimizing our event schedule, we can provide more impactful experiences that better support our members’ business goals while continuing to offer valuable opportunities for networking and education.” 

Looking back: In 2024, NWRA honored its 2024 Drivers of the Year, Operators of the Year, and Hall of Fame inductees at its annual awards breakfast at WasteExpo in Las Vegas, according to NWRA. The 2024-25 recipients of the NWRA Women’s Council scholarships and the 2024 recipients of the NWRA Future Industry Leaders Alliance (FILA) Leadership Certificate Program also were recognized. 

Context: NWRA’s nearly 700 members are a mix of publicly and privately owned local, regional, and Fortune 500 national and international companies. Association members conduct business in all 50 states and include companies that manage solid, industrial/hazardous, medical, and construction/demolition debris waste, and represent equipment manufacturers and distributors, and a variety of other professional service providers. NWRA represents approximately 70% of the private sector waste and recycling market. 

Looking ahead: Further details on NWRA’s future trade show participation and the new association event will be shared as plans progress. In 2026, when the triennial CONEXPO-CON/AGG moves into Las Vegas, WasteExpo will be held in New Orleans and then return to Las Vegas in 2027 and 2028. 

Disclosure: Informa, which owns TSNN, is also the owner of WasteExpo. Informa has no influence over TSNN’s coverage. 

Main image: WasteExpo 2024, Photo: Informa Markets