Wild wild west: San Antonio welcomes the CMRA Annual Meeting at the C&D World Exhibition & Conference.

The New Year brings more than resolutions and a new calendar--it brings a chance for construction and demolition recyclers to gather together for the annual meeting of the Construction Materials Recycling Association (CMRA) at the C&D World Exhibition & Conference.

More than 250 attended last year's event in Miami, and the show's organizers anticipate similar numbers in 2007. C&D World is held annually except in years when ConExpo-Con/Agg occurs, when the CMRA meets at that event.

The 2007 event will be Jan. 14-16 in San Antonio, offering leading C&D recycling professionals, recycled aggregates producers, demolition contractors, construction professionals and government officials the opportunity to discuss current industry trends and network with colleagues.

LEARNING CURVE

This year, as in years past, the event's organizers worked to put together educational programming to appeal to the wide variety of attendees, who work in every facet of the C&D industry. "We have developed a great program for the 2007 CRMA Annual Meetings," says William Turley, executive director of the CMRA. "Besides topics such as dust control, mixed C&D issues and answers and an engineer's view on the use of recycled aggregates, we have a great economic forecaster in Ken Simonson, chief economist for the Associated General Contractors of America (AGC), whose knowledge of both the construction industry and of economics means his presentation will be right on for our audience."

Materials and their markets are a hot topic in 2007, and the programming of C&D World features several sessions highlighting the market conditions for specific recyclable commodities. Dan Krivit of Dan Krivit & Associates and Dr. Timothy Townsend of the University of Florida will help attendees understand the current barriers to asphalt shingle recycling and offer tips on how to overcome them.

Mixed C&D debris by its very nature presents a number of challenges to the business people who tackle its recycling. Terry Gillis of Recovery One and Greg Wirsen of Green Seal Environmental will be on hand to discuss the many issues facing this particular market segment.

In addition, the sky-high metals prices of recent months have piqued the interest of many C&D recyclers. A panel of experts will offer tips to attendees on how to maximize the potential of the scrap metal in the material they handle.

Issue-oriented sessions are included as well. Charles Gaskin of the Texas Department of Transportation will address using recycled aggregates in highway environments and an EPA representative will discuss recycling in brownfields applications.

A number of equipment and operations sessions are also on the schedule, including a session on shredding and dust control technology.

No matter what facet of the construction, demolition or C&D recycling industry attendees represent, sessions are available to appeal to their unique interests.

ON DISPLAY

In addition to the educational sessions, C&D World also features an exhibit hall displaying the latest technology and services for the C&D recycling industry.

The event's organizers anticipate some 30 companies will have booths at the show.

Attendees of the C&D World Exhibition & Conference will also have the opportunity to attend a number of networking events that will give them the chance to meet and mix with their colleagues in the industry. Many of these networking opportunities are scheduled within the show itself, including the welcome reception in the exhibit hall on the evening of Jan. 14. A second reception will take place on the evening of Jan. 15, which will be followed by the CMRA Issues & Education Fundraising Dinner. "The CMRA Issues & Education fund has had a full year of results, and we will report them during the dinner," says Turley. "It's a chance to socialize again with C&D industry members, while supporting the arm of the CMRA that advocates the positions of C&D recyclers to regulators and legislators."

Finally, attendees are invited to hit the green at the annual golf outing, which will take place Tuesday, Jan. 16 at the Quarry Golf Club. Designed by Keith Foster, the Quarry is recognized around the country for its unique setting and character. The outing will be a scramble format, and the $165 registration fee includes green fees, cart rental, lunch, prizes and transportation. Advance registration and payment for this event is required.

C&D World offers an opportunity for recyclers of construction materials and demolition debris to gather, learn and discuss the many issues facing their industry. "Our attendees have proven over the years to be the movers and shakers in the C&D industry. It is a great chance for recyclers across the country to learn what is happening in the industry while checking out the latest vendor offerings in the exhibit hall," says Turley.

More information, including how to register and the most up-to-date show schedule, is available online at www.cdworldshow.com.

Remember The Alamo 

As host city for the 2007 C&D World Exhibition Conference, San Antonio has plenty to offer the show's attendees outside of the convention.

For history buffs, the city is home to one of the most famous spots in Texas--the Alamo, where a band of defenders made a stand against Mexican General Santa Anna's advancing army in 1836. The Alamo is located in the heart of the city. Hours are 9 a.m.-5:30 p.m., Monday-Saturday; 10 a.m.-5:30 p.m. Sunday. Admission is free, and donations are accepted.

For shoppers and general sightseers, the city's scenic River Walk, located at the heart of downtown San Antonio, is lined with river-level restaurants and shops.

More information on San Antonio's many attractions is available online by visiting the San Antonio Convention and Visitors Bureau at www.sanantoniocvb.com.

The author is associate editor of Construction & Demolition Recycling and can be contacted at jgubeno@gie. net.