The recycling industry’s largest in-person event returns for the first time in two years. The ISRI2022 convention and exposition will run from March 21-24 in Las Vegas. To get a head start on the fun, networking, education, and recycling community that will come together in the next few months, Scrap News sat down with ISRI Convention Chair Stephen Moss to discuss what he’s looking forward to most at ISRI2022.
What does it mean to return in-person for the first time since 2019?
The recycling industry is a business that’s still based on people. The best way to meet customers, suppliers, or your equipment vendors is in-person and that’s what ISRI2022 will provide. It gets back to seeing who you want to see in the recycling industry all in one place over a period of three days.
Do you think the members overall are excited for an in-person meeting?
In the fall of 2021, I attended an ISRI chapter meeting in New York that had a record attendance. Pretty much every event I attended toward the end of 2021 had booming attendance. Our members want excuses to go out and see each other in-person. Picking up the phone, texting, or Zoom calls are all great ways to stay in touch but you don’t build relationships, create memories, or have the same experiences as you do with people face to face.
Our attendees say the most important part of attending an ISRI convention is the networking.
What are you looking forward to at ISRI2022?
Other than seeing everyone and networking again, we’re going to have amazing programming. We brought in Rebecca Turner [ISRI’s vice president, Education & Events] last year who engineered our convention programing for ISRI2021. I think she made great strides in improving the quality of our convention programming. We’re looking forward to delivering that high-quality programing in-person. Whether it’s a commodity spotlight or individual sessions relating to different topics, it’s going to be very high-quality programming and bring a lot of return on investment for our attendees.
What should members get excited for at ISRI2022?
During the scouting trip to Vegas in the fall of 2021, it was clear that the city is ready to host us. There’s also been positive improvement at Mandalay Bay that I think our members will appreciate. It should be a fun time. I think the crowd and energy will be palpable.
We’re looking forward to having our first official after-hours party ever at a Vegas convention. It’ll be for members only at Mandalay Bay’s Foundation Room. There’s also so much content we’re excited to bring to our members this year.
Can you tell us about ISRI’s health and safety protocols for ISRI2022?
The health and safety of all our attendees, exhibitors, and vendors is key to the convention experience. For that reason, we are in the process of contracting with a third-party vendor that will allow us to have rapid testing for COVID available on-site at no cost to attendees. Attendees will be asked to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination or a negative test result for the virus to collect their credentials. We are not requiring vaccinations. For those who don’t want to be tested on-site they can show proof of a negative test taken within 48 hours of entry to the event.
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