For starters, there was the mighty storm covering much of the area east of the Mississippi. My flight from Salt Lake City to Atlanta was diverted several hundred miles to the south of its planned route, skirting a line of thunderstorms that towered nearly to the tropopause…quite an impressive sight. But because of an inordinately swift jet stream—150 knots at its core—we landed a mere 20 minutes behind schedule in sunny but breezy weather. Unbeknownst to me and my fellow passengers, what we witnessed from the air was the nastiness that lashed Nashville and surrounds with torrential and death-dealing rains. That was Sunday.
Monday was set-up day at the show venue, and while the activity on the floor was subdued—partially because of storm-delayed flights in the area—it was easily apparent that from the exhibitor participation standpoint, the show was bound for success. That left attendee response as the remaining unknown.
On Tuesday, when the doors opened and the aisle filled, it was apparent that Waste Expo 2010 was more successful than many expected…a tribute to the event’s organizers and to waste management professionals who see the need to keep up with the changes that are taking place throughout the field. What struck me the most was the impact of technology on nearly every aspect of the business, from collection to disposal in response to the struggling economy and the need for productivity improvement at every level.