RWM, Europe’s largest event for recycling and waste management, takes place at the NEC in Birmingham next week (15-17 September). Organised by i2i Events Group in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM), this year’s show is focusing on innovation and practical insight to deliver on circular economy ambitions.

Exhibitors attending the show will demonstrate ongoing growth in the sector with solutions for everything from handling and logistics, recycling and reprocessing, to professional services.

Key speakers and themes

Businesses and organisations that have implemented circular economy business models will be sharing their experiences in the Circular Economy Connect Theatre. Alongside seminars, there will be surgery sessions and workshops with the intention of bringing together professionals working towards a smarter, more resource-efficient future.

Karl Falkenberg, former Environment Director General of the European Commission, will be delivering a keynote speech on the forthcoming Circular Economy Package. Falkenberg has been involved in the drafting of both the original and revised packages, and will be offering insights into what a more ‘circular’ Europe would look like.

Circular economy themes at this year’s RWM will cover government intervention, global impacts, corporate responsibility and behaviour change. These topics and more will be discussed and debated by a range of
speakers including:

• Helga Vanthournout of McKinsey & Company;
• Ed Gillespie, co-founder of Futerra;
• Oliver Heath, eco-designer;
• David Palmer-Jones, CEO of the Recycling and Waste Recovery UK division of SUEZ;
• Ian McAulay, Viridor CEO;
• Iain Gulland, Zero Waste Scotland CEO; and
• Gin Tidridge, Sustainability Specialist at B&Q.

Issues that will be debated in the Local Authority Theatre include: reducing waste crime; waste regulations; collection schemes; resident engagement; plastics recycling; and minimising food waste.

Key speakers who will be sharing best practice form this sector include:

• Mat Crocker, Deputy Director of Illegals and Waste at the Environment Agency;
• Linda Crichton, Head of Resource Management at WRAP; and
• Ian Briggs, Senior Fellow at the Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV) at the University of Birmingham.

The Energy from Waste Zone and Theatre will house organisations working with energy recovery technologies, from anaerobic digestion to gasification and beyond. Subjects addressed will include: UK and European government policy and investment; gasification technology; RDF exporting to Europe; and commercial and industrial waste.

Key speakers who will share their expertise about energy from waste include:

• Arthur Kay, co-founder and CEO of bio-bean;
• Roy Hathaway, European Policy Advisor at the Environmental Services Association;
• Birger Lauersen, Manager of International Affairs at the Danish District Heating Association;
• Dick Hoogendoorn, Managing Director of the Dutch Waste Management Association;
• Pandora Rene, Senior Technical Advisor at the Environment Agency; and
• Dominic Noel-Johnson, Vice President of the Green Investment Bank.

Operators’ Hub

New to this year’s show will be the Operators’ Hub in Hall 5, which will cater to MRF operators, skip hire companies, scrap metal dealers, fleet operators and those involved in the day-to-day handling of waste and materials. The hub will offer practical information on how to improve the bottom line when budgets are being squeezed by working smarter and driving efficiencies.

‘Rising stars’

With so much change happening in the resource management sector, RWM has launched a global search to find the industry’s ‘rising stars’. The competition intends to celebrate trailblazing initiatives that challenge the way the industry works. Aimed at young entrepreneurs in the industry, the RWM organisers are looking for individuals who have introduced new recycling practices within the last five years that are helping to transform their organisation and the industry as a whole.

Find out more about RWM 2015.