NWRA, Informa partner to launch Waste Leadership Summit

The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) has announced it is partnering with Informa on the inaugural Waste Leadership Summit, which will take place June 8-10, 2026, at the Washington Hilton in Washington.

The Arlington, Virginia-based NWRA says the new event will bring together industry decision-makers in a collegial setting to address the pressing challenges and opportunities facing the waste and recycling sector.

“The waste and recycling market is facing numerous challenges across local, state and federal jurisdictions,” NWRA President and CEO Michael E. Hoffman says. “The Waste Leadership Summit is the ideal forum to gain insight on the state of our industry, honor the best our industry has to offer and coalesce our voice to help ensure regulation and policy initiatives are practical and economically viable.”

As a complement to WasteExpo’s expansive product showcase and the Global Waste Management Symposium’s technical focus, NWRA says the Waste Leadership Summit will provide an opportunity for senior leaders to share perspectives, hear from policymakers and engage with peers on key industry issues. The summit will feature opportunities for face-to-face meetings between buyers and sellers, product discovery and innovation, relevant educational sessions and networking.

“The Waste Leadership Summit fills a critical gap in our industry’s event landscape,” says Rita Ugianskis, vice president, Waste Group at Informa. “We’ve created an intimate, high-caliber networking experience tailored for the decision-makers shaping the future of waste and recycling.”

NWRA says the program will highlight leadership strategies, regulatory developments, workforce challenges and innovations such as electrification of fleets and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools. In addition, attendees will participate in hallmark industry events, including the Waste360/Stifel Investor Summit, the NWRA Awards Gala and the EREF Charitable Auction.

NWRA says the Waste Leadership Summit is designed for executives from waste and recycling companies, municipal authorities, private sector leaders and investors seeking insight on the future direction of the industry.