Informa Markets has announced the launch of the Waste Leadership Summit, a new high-level event designed to complement its flagship WasteExpo and the biennial Global Waste Management Symposium. The exclusive, invite-only summit will focus on executive engagement, strategic dialogue, and policy advocacy, marking a significant addition to the company’s portfolio of waste management events.
According to Informa Markets, the summit has been created to address a growing demand for platforms dedicated to senior-level discussions within the waste and recycling sector. While WasteExpo remains the industry’s largest operational and product-focused showcase, and the Global Waste Management Symposium provides a technical platform every two years, the Waste Leadership Summit will offer a premium setting for C-suite executives to explore leadership strategies, policy issues, and industry-wide collaboration.
The event is being developed in partnership with the National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA), which also serves as the exclusive education provider at WasteExpo. Through this collaboration, the summit will draw on NWRA’s network of nearly 700 member organizations to ensure continuity of industry engagement and representation.
The introduction of the Waste Leadership Summit follows a new eight-year agreement signed earlier this year between Informa Markets and NWRA. As part of the arrangement, WasteExpo will shift to a biennial schedule beginning in 2027, allowing for larger showcases and broader industry participation. In alternate years, starting in 2026, the Waste Leadership Summit will be staged to maintain consistent opportunities for executives to connect and exchange ideas. The first edition of the summit is scheduled to take place in May 2026 in Washington, D.C.
Industry leaders have highlighted that this new event rhythm will provide greater balance, ensuring the sector has an annual forum—whether through the expansive product exhibitions at WasteExpo or through the strategic and policy-driven discussions at the summit. The initiative is expected to strengthen advocacy efforts, deepen collaboration between public and private players, and provide executives with a focused environment to influence the future of waste and recycling.
By launching the Waste Leadership Summit, Informa Markets is positioning itself to better serve the evolving needs of the waste management sector. With its combination of operational, technical, and executive-focused events, the company aims to create a comprehensive ecosystem that supports growth, innovation, and policy advancement across the industry.
