January/February 2018
We’ve all heard the key to business success is “location, location, location.” That’s why ReMA returns once again to Las Vegas, the site of its largest and most popular events, April 14–19 for its 2018 convention and exposition. The key to success in a scrap recycling business is “networking, networking, networking,” says Convention Committee Chair Stephen Moss, vice president of Stanton A. Moss Inc. (Bryn Mawr, Pa.), making ISRI2018 a must-attend event.
The many opportunities to meet and mingle productively with “a few thousand of your closest friends” is one of the biggest draws of ReMA conventions, says Chuck Carr, ISRI’s vice president of convention, meetings, and education and training. ISRI2018 offers the ideal venue to make the connections you need to keep your business thriving. Meet the key decisionmakers at companies you want to do business with, experienced professionals processing and trading every type of scrap commodity who can share their insights with you, and knowledgeable analysts who can help you spot critical trends in both the domestic and the global marketplaces.
And it’s not just about the people you’ll meet, but also the people who get to meet you and find out what you have to offer. It’s showtime at the greatest scrap recycling show on Earth.
Critical issues take center stage
China continues to dominate the headlines in the scrap recycling industry, as it has for more than a decade. Recyclers around the world for years provided growing volumes of scrap to feed China’s astonishing economic growth and manufacturing boom, then more recently they have dealt with the ripple effects of its economic slowdown. Now recyclers must grapple with China’s new import restrictions and other policy decisions that affect nearly every scrap commodity that’s traded around the world. ISRI2018 will offer the latest information about China’s policies and how they are affecting the industry, as well as reasoned and responsible strategies for addressing the emerging challenges.
In planning this year’s education sessions, ReMA organizers are stressing quality over quantity. The convention will still feature the always-popular spotlight sessions for the major scrap commodities, but other sessions will be fewer in number and many will be applicable across scrap commodity types, says Jonathan Levy, ISRI’s director of member services. For instance, several sessions will help business owners manage compliance issues and learn best business practices, safe operations, financial strategies, and overall leadership.
With scrap plastics one of the commodity groups most affected by China’s scrap import restrictions, ReMA will again present a comprehensive education and training event for plastics recyclers. ISRI’s Plastics Business & Operations Summit—a conference-within-a-conference—will provide the latest information on both recycled and virgin resin markets, insights on working with materials recovery facilities, and tools for improving bale quality. ReMA has again partnered with the Society of Plastics Engineers to ensure outstanding technical content for the summit.
The convention’s opening general session will address trade and finance issues. Carlos Gutierrez, U.S. secretary of commerce during George W. Bush’s administration, will speak on domestic and global economic trends. As the nation’s top commercial advocate, he helped open global markets for U.S. companies and championed efforts to build new trade partnerships in Latin America. He is currently chairman of the National Foreign Trade Council and co-chair of the Albright Stonebridge Group, a global strategic advisory and commercial diplomacy firm.
The closing general session speaker will be David Pogue, the technology correspondent for CBS News Sunday Morning, founder of Yahoo Tech, and columnist for Yahoo Finance and Scientific American and formerly for the New York Times. Pogue’s topic is “The Next Wave of Consumer Technology and How It Will Affect Your Business.”
The Exhibit Hall experience
ISRI’s annual exposition can seem like a processing equipment petting zoo, but one where you get to purchase the specimens on display. Already, more than 53,000 square feet of exhibit space and 26 large-equipment areas have been booked, or about 80 percent of the space available, Carr says. ReMA is redesigning the floor plan to improve flow through the hall, giving exhibitors more visibility and improving the networking and deal-making experience.
At the opening gala in the exhibit hall Monday evening, April 16, the layout for the food stations will be different than in previous years, with a larger number of smaller stations throughout the hall to create a smooth traffic pattern and give exhibitors more networking access, Carr says. This is your first chance to see the latest scrap processing equipment and services and to get answers to all your key questions directly from company representatives. With ample small meeting areas this year spread throughout the exhibit hall, Moss recommends using that space for meeting with customers or prospects. The opening night reception will take place early in the evening so you’ll have plenty of time for dinner or other meet-ups on your own.
The exhibit hall is open 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday and 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, with lunch provided from noon to 1:30 p.m. on those days to keep you well-nourished and well-informed as you continue to meet with exhibitors and your fellow attendees.
Numerous networking opportunities
From the opening and closing galas, to commodity-specific consumer receptions, to chance encounters on the expo floor or between education sessions, ISRI2018 offers unsurpassed opportunities to find new prospects, collect intelligence, make deals, and share a story or two.
With the success of last year’s commodity-specific consumer receptions, ReMA has again arranged special events that follow afternoon spotlight sessions. On Tuesday, April 17, the nonferrous consumers reception will follow the aluminum and copper spotlights. On Wednesday, April 18, the ferrous consumers reception will follow the ferrous and nickel/stainless spotlights, and the paper, plastic, tire/rubber, and electronics consumers reception follows the electronics workshops.
Convention organizers also are planning special events for young and not-so-young recyclers, including the Young Executives group and the new Century Club established for recyclers whose age and years of active ReMA membership equal 100 years or more. The goal is to provide mentoring and networking opportunities in multigenerational education sessions and gatherings, Levy says.
Closing night for ISRI2018, a beach-side party, promises to send you back to work on a high note.
Honoring the industry’s finest
ISRI will recognize the work of outstanding individuals and organizations, from creative students to industry leaders, at ISRI2018. Once again ReMA has partnered with JASON Learning to spark an interest in recycling among K-12 students with the annual Youth Video & Poster Contest. Grand prize winners will be invited to attend the convention with a parent or guardian to receive their award—and a well-earned round of applause.
The transportation safety awards honor ReMA member companies with the best fleet safety records and best heavy vehicle maintenance teams, and the individual with the best long-term commercial driving record will receive the Safe Driver of the Year Award.
ISRI will bestow its Design for Recycling© Award on a manufacturer whose consumer product or products meet specific principles, including facilitating safe and economical recycling and reducing environmental risks to the consumer or the recycler. Recent winners include EcoStrate SFS, Samsung Electronics, LG, and Dell.
And with the Lifetime Achievement Award, ReMA will honor one or more individuals who have exhibited a lifelong dedication to the recycling industry and commitment to the association. In 2017, ReMA honored Herschel Cutler, its first executive director, and Crawford Carpenter, a leader in ISRI’s Paper Stock Industries Chapter, Recycling Research Foundation, and other industry-promoting initiatives. Whom will ReMA choose in 2018? Find out during the opening general session at ISRI2018.
Convention logistics made easy
To get started on all your preparations for ISRI2018, download the ReMA Connect app or visit the convention website, isri2018.org.
ISRI membership and early registration earn discounts. Full conference registration includes admission to the opening and closing receptions, the exhibit hall, all education sessions, and all receptions. The regular registration fees (for non–ISRI members) are $1,450 a person through Jan. 31, $1,550 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $1,650 from March 15 to April 13, and $1,675 for on-site registration after April 13.
ISRI members, spouses, and guests receive a discount on full conference registration. The rates are $845 a person through Jan. 31, $945 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $1,045 from March 15 to April 13, and $1,070 on site. For ReMA members under age 40, the rates are $820 a person through Jan. 31, $920 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $1,020 from March 15 to April 13, and $1,045 on site.
Full conference registration for children (ages 2 to 16) includes admission to all of the same events as the accompanying adult. For the children of non–ISRI members, the rates are $495 a child until April 13 and $520 on site. Children of ReMA members receive discounted registration rates of $275 a child until April 13 and $300 on site.
The trade-show-only badge admits you to the exhibit hall on Tuesday, April 17, and Wednesday, April 18. The rates for non–ISRI members are $750 a person through Jan. 31, $800 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $850 from March 15 to April 13, and $875 on site. ReMA members receive a discount for trade-show-only badges: The member rate is $500 a person through Jan. 31, $550 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $600 from March 15 to April 13, and $625 on site. Remember, trade-show-only badges do not provide access to the opening or closing galas, general sessions, education sessions, consumer receptions, or any other convention events.
Guests of full-conference registrants may opt for a social badge, which provides access to the opening and closing galas and the Just for Fun programs. The social badge rates for both ReMA members and nonmembers are $495 a person through Jan. 31, $525 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $550 from March 15 to April 13, and $575 on site. Social badges do not include access to the exhibit hall (other than during the opening gala) or to the education sessions.
Full-convention registrants can purchase additional closing-night party badges for guests joining them only for ISRI’s popular closing night beach party on Thursday, April 19. The registration rates for non–ISRI member adults (age 17 and older) are $200 a person through Jan. 31, $225 from Feb. 1 to April 13, or $250 on site. ReMA members can purchase the additional closing-night party badges for their adult guests for $175 a person through Jan. 31, $200 from Feb. 1 to April 13, and $225 on site. The closing-night party registration rates for children (ages 2 to 16) of non–ISRI members are $125 a child through Jan. 31, $150 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $175 from March 15 to April 13, and $200 on site. For children of ReMA members, the registration rates are $100 a child through Jan. 31, $125 from Feb. 1 to March 14, $150 from March 15 to April 13, and $175 on site.
The fastest and easiest way to register is online at isriconvention.org. You can also download and print out a registration form to complete with full payment by check or credit card and return it to Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries, P.O. Box 75245, Baltimore, MD 21275-5245.
Three premier hotel options. ReMA has secured outstanding room rates for the three hotels closest to the convention’s meeting rooms and exhibit hall. The Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino offers rooms for $175 to $243 a night, single or double occupancy (not including tax). The Mandalay Bay will be “visibly secure,” Carr says, and attendees will likely see more security both at the hotel and around the exhibit hall this year than at previous conventions. The hotel “has been proactive” with security measures since the Oct. 1 tragedy, he says. One change is that attendees will need to show their room keys to use the guest room elevators.
Rooms at the Delano Las Vegas are $185 to $265 a night, and rooms at the Luxor are $75 to $145 a night. Conference organizers recommend making your hotel reservation through the isri2018.org website to avoid potential scams. And register early, as the most desirable rooms (and rates) are likely to go quickly.
Getting there and getting around. Shuttles from McCarran International Airport to the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino are affordable and convenient. Uber also serves the facility and offers a free ride (up to $20) for new Uber users who download the app and enter the promo code MANDALAYBAY2.
The elevated electric Mandalay Bay Tram, located in the northeast corner of the casino, runs among the Mandalay Bay, Luxor, and Excalibur properties.
For exploring the rest of the city, try the monorail, with stops at the Las Vegas Convention Center and several of the strip’s most popular hotels, casinos, and night clubs. Visit www.lvmonorail.com. A double-decker bus, The Deuce on the Strip, is yet another option for sightseeing, running from the Mandalay Bay to the Fremont Street Experience with buses every 15 minutes. Visit www.rtcsnv.com/touristms/index.html.
Browse and bid on silent auction’s gallery of goods
One highlight in the exhibit hall will be the gallery of items up for bid in the silent auction benefiting the Recycling Research Foundation. This year the auction will accept online bidding for the first time. You can preregister before the convention starts and receive notifications via text during the convention if someone outbids you, so you’ll have time to respond before the auction closes.
Previous auctions have featured valuable recycling equipment, advertising space in industry trade publications, exciting vacation packages, scrap-related art and jewelry, and sporting goods. Proceeds go toward scholarships and research, which are among RRF’s initiatives to strengthen the recycling industry. To date, RRF has awarded more than $1.2 million in scholarships to nearly 950 students and funded industry studies on such issues as electronic-scrap exports. To learn more about RRF or make a donation for the silent auction, contact Natasha Grant, 202/662-8524 or ngrant@isri.org.
Get Involved with Recycling’s Future
2018 is an election year at ISRI. On Thursday, April 19, the board of directors will meet to elect new officers for the next two-year term. While only board members can vote, the meeting is open to all members interested in the process and the future of the organization.
ISRI’s spring board and governance meetings will take place in conjunction with ISRI2018, so check the schedule on page 76 for the details. “Key issues like specifications, trade, government relations, and more are discussed in those meetings,” says ReMA Convention Committee Chair Stephen Moss. He encourages members to “come early and participate in ReMA governance” by attending the meetings of the board of directors, commodity divisions, committees, and task forces. Also consider joining these groups, which guide the association and drive its important work to ensure a healthy future for the industry. “ISRI is always looking for new leaders to participate,” he says. Learn more at isri.org/about-isri/leadership-governance/committees-task-forces.
ISRI2018 Preliminary Schedule of Events
Saturday, April 14
2:30–6 p.m. Registration
3–5 p.m. ReMA Governance Meetings
5–6 p.m. ReMA Board of Directors Meeting (open to all ReMA members)
Sunday, April 15
7 a.m.–6 p.m. Registration, Hospitality
7:30 a.m.–6:30 p.m. ReMA Board and Governance Meetings
Monday, April 16
7 a.m.–8 p.m. Registration, Hospitality
7:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. ReMA Board and
Governance Meetings
1:30–2:30 p.m. ReMA Board of Directors Meeting (open to all ReMA members)
4–5 p.m. First-Time Attendees Welcome and Orientation
5–7:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Opening Gala
Tuesday, April 17
7 a.m.–6 p.m. Registration, Hospitality
8:30–10 a.m. Opening General Session, Carlos Gutierrez
9 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
10–11 a.m.
• ReMA Membership Sales Presentation
11 a.m.–12:15 p.m.
• Tire Spotlight
• Advice for the Novice Nonferrous Trader
• Understanding Sorting Technology and Metals Identification
• RIOS®
• REMADE
12:15-1:30 p.m. Lunch in the Exhibit Hall
1:30–2:45 p.m.
• Paper Spotlight
• Tire workshop
• Improving Quality Through Plastic Resin Identification
• Using Technology to Improve Driver Safety
1:30-3 p.m.
• Aluminum Spotlight
3-4:15 p.m.
• Sorting Through the Issues of MRF Collection and Quality
• Tire workshop
3–4:30 p.m.
• Copper Spotlight
4:45–6 p.m. Nonferrous Consumers Reception
Wednesday, April 18
7 a.m.–6 p.m. Registration, Hospitality
9 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Exhibit Hall Open
9:15–10:30 a.m.
• International Outlook on China Regulation
• Natural Disasters and the Scrap Market
• Implementing a Forward-Looking Safety Program to Reduce Costs
10:45 a.m.–noon
• Plastics Spotlight: Looking at Domestic Capacity, International Opportunities, and Major Trends
• Electronics Spotlight
• The State of the Ferrous Industry: A View From the Mills
• Don’t Get Eaten Alive: Controlling Your Insurance, Risk, and Human Capital Costs
1:30-2:45 p.m.
• Plastics Summit: Society of Plastics Engineers workshop
• Electronics workshop
• Supporting New Ideas and Innovation Through Engaged Leadership
1:30–3 p.m.
• Ferrous Spotlight
3:15–4:30 p.m.
• Easily Recycled: Increasing the Amount of Recycled Resins in Packaging and Other Products
• Electronics workshop
• Protecting Yourself From Liability Costs: Workforce Compliance Issues
3:15-4:45 p.m.
• Nickel/Stainless Spotlight
5–6:15 p.m.
• Ferrous Consumers Reception
• Paper, Plastic, Tire/Rubber, Electronics Consumers Reception
Thursday, April 19
7 a.m.–noon Registration
8–9:45 a.m. Closing General Session, David Pogue
10–11:15 a.m.
• Keep It in the Family: Selling Your Business to the Next Generation
• Looking at the Southern Hemisphere for Trade Opportunities
11:30 a.m.–12:45 p.m.
• The Benefits and Challenges of Using
Electronic Payment Systems
1:30–2:45 p.m.
• Workshops (TBA)
3–4:30 p.m. ReMA Board of Directors Elections
7–10 p.m. Closing Night Gala, Beachside
Note: Meetings and times are subject to change. For up-to-date schedule information, visit isri2018.org or download the ReMA Connect app from iTunes or Google Play.
ISRI’s annual convention and exhibition is the No. 1 gathering place each year for the scrap recycling industry. Meet thousands of your colleagues in Las Vegas to explore the latest equipment, capture the latest market intelligence, and make deals, connections, and discoveries.