OARA and ARC executive director Wally Dingman is representing Canada's auto recycling sector the 2026 United Recyclers Group Training Conference in Denver.
“What’s clear today is that the challenges we’re facing aren’t limited by geography,” says Dingman. “Whether you’re in Ontario or operating somewhere across the U.S., we’re dealing with many of the same pressures.”
The annual URG conference, scheduled for May 7 to 9 at the Sheraton Denver Downtown Hotel, is expected to draw more than 1,000 recyclers, suppliers and industry representatives from across North America. The event includes training sessions covering insurer relations, recycled-parts sales, AI applications, cybersecurity, inventory management, production efficiency and digital workflow systems.
Conference sessions this year include presentations on recycled-parts marketplace platforms, compensation models, sales management, warranty programs, dismantling productivity, accounting systems and data-driven operations. A featured URG board session titled “The Road Ahead” is scheduled to focus on future industry challenges and business strategy.
“There’s also no ignoring the broader backdrop,” said Dingman. “Tariffs, cross-border trade uncertainty, and political noise are creating friction in areas that directly impact how we operate.”
According to conference materials, URG represents more than 800 automotive recyclers across the United States. The annual conference is the organization’s largest training and networking event of the year.
The 2026 program also includes vendor exhibitions, networking events, a Topgolf fundraiser, production and sales training sessions and meetings involving Team PRP recyclers.
“We are at our best when we share ideas, compare approaches, and learn from each other’s successes and mistakes,” stated Dingman. “Too many of us are working through the same issues in isolation when the answers are often already being tested somewhere else.”
Canadian recyclers have increasingly expanded participation in U.S. industry events as operators adapt to growing EV dismantling requirements, recycled-parts demand, insurer scrutiny and changes in inventory and pricing technology.
“There’s real value in aligning where we can — whether that’s around data, standards, or simply how we position ourselves in the marketplace,” he added.
“At the end of the day, this isn’t about competition — it’s about strengthening the industry as a whole...Stronger businesses, better processes, and clearer value to our partners benefit everyone.”
