Local government leaders from across the country will gather in Baltimore this fall to discuss emerging challenges, strategies, and technologies shaping solid waste management, recycling, and sustainability.

The Municipal Waste Management Association (MWMA) Fall Summit will take place October 26-28, 2026, at the Royal Sonesta Harbor Court in Baltimore. MWMA, an affiliate of the U.S. Conference of Mayors, brings together solid waste, recycling, and sustainability decision-makers from cities, counties, regional authorities, and agencies nationwide.

This year’s agenda will tackle several issues facing local governments, including funding pressures on solid waste and climate programs, emergency waste management, Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR), consumer recycling behavior, and new technologies for waste collection and management. The summit will also examine how communities are preparing for unexpected disruptions. A session on emergency waste management will explore how local governments can adapt policies and operations to address threats ranging from natural disasters to cyberattacks. Maryland Department of Emergency Management Secretary Russ Strickland and National Emergency Management Association Deputy Executive Director Matt Cowles are scheduled to participate.

Other discussions will focus on the circular economy and management of complex waste streams, including textiles and wood; emerging solid waste technologies; smart containerization; and approaches to strengthening recycling programs. The conference will also include an Urban Summit for public-sector participants, giving local officials an opportunity to discuss workforce issues, neighborhood cleanups, and other operational challenges with peers from communities across the country.

For Maryland county officials working in public works, environmental services, sustainability, emergency management, and related fields, the Baltimore summit offers an opportunity to exchange strategies with local government peers and explore approaches to some of the operational and financial challenges facing solid waste systems.

The 2026 MWMA Fall Summit runs October 26-28 in Baltimore. Learn more and register for the conference.