Natural Progression

Since 2012, Renewable Energy from Waste (REW) magazine has brought its readers the latest developments in the waste conversion industry in print and online. This November, the publisher of REW, the Recycling Today Media Group, is taking its coverage of this developing industry one step further by launching a conference dedicated to waste conversion technologies.

The Renewable Energy from Waste Conference will take place Nov. 18-20 at the West Palm Beach Marriott in West Palm Beach, Fla.

Other conferences have covered this industry before, but the REW Conference differentiates itself in many ways.

Recycling Today Media Group Publisher James R. Keefe says, “Capturing the resource potential of waste streams is the fastest growing sector of the waste and recycling industry. This is the reason we introduced Renewable Energy from Waste magazine in 2012. It’s also the reason we’re taking the follow-up action in 2013 of introducing this event.”

Industry Experience
The Recycling Today Media Group has joined forces with solid waste consulting firm, Gershman, Brickner & Bratton (GBB), Fairfax, Va. Together the two organizations have worked to deliver a program based on their decades of experience concerning what is driving the waste-to-energy and waste-to-fuels industry.

Keefe says, “This partnership ensures a depth and breadth of coverage and insight you won’t find anywhere else.”

Harvey Gershman, GBB president, adds that the decision to partner on the conference came naturally. “We thought it would be a good idea to have a conference to bring the magazine to life.”

Smithers-Apex, Portland, Maine, a global conference organizer, rounds out the partnership of companies producing the conference.

“The industry needs one place where economic, municipal and corporate experts come together to share their successes and struggles with candor and impartiality,” says Andrew Smaha, conference director for Smithers Apex.

Complete Coverage
The REW Conference program includes several sessions that provide an in-depth look at waste conversion technologies, including refuse-derived fuel (RDF), anaerobic digestion (AD), plastics to oil and gasification. The conference also will have panel discussions on project financing, regulations and end user applications.

During the opening keynote session Nov. 18, Keefe and Gershman will discuss “The Status of Renewable Waste in North America.” Attendees will hear firsthand what companies, projects and technologies are converting waste into energy in North America and how they are progressing.

Rather than discussing only project successes, the keynote session Nov. 19, “Pitfalls and Lessons Learned,” will take a closer look at why some projects are successful while others are not. For a complete schedule of sessions, see page 40.

Attendees will have several opportunities throughout the three-day event to network and to talk to dozens of exhibitors about the products and services they have to offer.

Tour Opportunities
The REW Conference has set up exclusive tours Nov. 20 of two facilities in Florida that are employing waste conversion technologies.

The Solid Waste Authority of Palm Beach County Integrated Waste Management Complex contains an RDF and waste-to-energy facility which processes 850,000 tons of that solid waste per year. It is also undergoing an expansion.

The Ineos Indian River County BioEnergy Center in Vero Beach, Fla., uses a combination of gasification and fermentation technology to turn different types of waste materials, including municipal solid waste, into advanced biofuels and renewable power. The Ineos tour is open to public-sector attendees only.

Affordability
Another key differentiator of the REW Conference is the cost of attending. A super-early-bird rate of $399 is available until Sept. 6 and an early-bird rate of $549 can be locked in until Oct. 18. After that, the regular rate is $699. A special academic and government rate is offered at $349. The facility tours are an additional $99 each.

“Our upcoming event provides a dynamic collection of sessions that will explore technologies, look at the economics of the sector, analyze what’s really working and what’s not,” Keefe says. “It will provide exceptional networking and informal meeting opportunities to allow delegates to gain further insights into this rapidly developing field,” he adds.

Visit www.REWconference.com to learn more.

The author is managing editor of Renewable Energy from Waste and can be reached at ksmith@gie.net.