Mr Karl Falkenberg, Environment Director General of the European Commission is one of many notable speakers discussing the circular economy at RWM 2015, Europe’s largest event for resource efficiency and waste management.
Taking place at the NEC in Birmingham, 15-17 September, RWM 2015, organised by i2i Events Group in partnership with the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management will provide practical insight into recycling and waste management issues and best practice examples of operational efficiencies. Themes covered relate to the circular economy, energy from waste, food recycling, local authority recycling, and much more with.
With the revised EU Circular Economy Package due to be announced in October, Mr Falkenberg, who has played a pivotal role in drafting both the original and revised proposals, will address RWM delegates with a keynote speech.
Russell Bacon, Portfolio Director - Environment at i2i Events Group said: “RWM 2015 will provide important intelligence for the development of a circular economy as well as practical UK and international examples. We are delighted that Mr Karl Falkenberg will be speaking at this key event at such a crucial time for Europe’s sustainable, and circular, future.”
Mr Falkenberg has an instrumental role in developing the revised Circular Economy package for Europe. The consultation on proposed measures includes production and consumption, markets for secondary raw materials, sector-specific actions and enabling factors for the circular economy, including investment and incentives.
The Circular Economy Connect (CEC) Zone and Theatre, backed by industry partner, SITA, features a packed schedule of workshops and seminars for pioneers, tech-innovators and progressive businesses. This year’s programme, supported by key media partner Guardian Sustainable Business and chaired by environmental journalist, Maxine Perella, features companies that have already adopted circular economy principles, helping to inform and inspire the whole supply chain.
Circular economy key 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 top speakers including Helga Vanthournout of McKinsey & Company; Ed Gillespie of Futerra; eco-designer Oliver Heath; SITA CEO, David Palmer-Jones; Viridor CEO, Ian McAulay; Zero Waste Scotland CEO, Iain Gulland and Gin Tidridge, Sustainability Specialist at B&Q.
The Energy from Waste theatre, supported by lead sponsor, Mitsubishi Electric, will address subjects including UK and European government policy and investment; gasification technology; RDF exporting to mainland Europe; and commercial and industrial waste.
Key speakers who will share their expertise about energy from waste include co-founder and CEO of bio-bean, Arthur Kay; 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, Dutch Waste Management Association; Pandora Rene, Senior Technical Advisor, Environment Agency; and Dominic Noel-Johnson, Vice President, Green Investment Bank.
Topical issues that will be debated in the Local Authority theatre are reducing waste crime, waste regulations, collection schemes, resident engagement, plastics recycling and minimising food waste.
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, Institute of Local Government Studies (INLOGOV), University of Birmingham are among the keynote speakers who will share best practice in this sector.
RWM provides an unrivalled opportunity to share advancements within the resource management arena, with masses of technical solutions, innovative business models, insight and advice. Industry innovators attending RWM 2015 will also benefit from the involvement of key content partner, Zero Waste Scotland; Circular Economy Connect (CEC) and Theatre industry partner, SITA, and the support of other major sponsors including Mitsubishi Electric as lead sponsor of the Energy from Waste Theatre; Novelis; Viridor; Stobart Biomass; TOMRA Sorting and technical partner Stadler.