Book your place at the TCA annual conference before it’s too late…

The Composting Association, the UK leading's membership organisation for the composting and biodegradable resource management industry, is reminding people that its annual conference and exhibition is approaching fast.

This year's conference will look at the issue of biowaste and the carbon economy. As Sir Nicholas Stern wrote in his recent report on the economics of climate change 'There is still time to avoid the worst impacts of climate change, if we take strong action now'. This strong action will create new markets in low-carbon energy technologies and other low-carbon goods and services. Composting already plays a vital role in carbon management, returning nutrients and organic matter to the soil which might otherwise have been lost if sent for disposal. The composting and biodegradable resource management industry has the experience and the expertise to play a leading role in the development of a renewable energy economy.

The Composting Association's annual conference and exhibition have been created to help the composting and biodegradable resource industry meet this challenge and to enable it to take its place at the forefront of the new economy.

The first day of the conference will feature:

 inspirational plenary sessions on topics such as the closed loop economy – necessity or impossible dream and unleashing our potential in the new carbon economy

 speakers from organisations as diverse as the Green Alliance and the European Composting Network as well as a host of industry leaders such as Biffa, Viridor Waste Management and Solum

 opportunities to network, share learning and to visit the country's leading exhibition for the composting and biodegradable resource management industry

The second day of the conference will split into interactive strands which delegates can mix and match according to their interests. Led by acknowledged experts in their fields, these practical sessions will cover subjects including:

 variable charging for household biowaste collection

 odour management

 developing a compost marketing strategy.

This year's conference will feature its most comprehensive exhibition. As delegates to previous conferences will know, the exhibition is an integral part of what has become one of the key events of the year for composters. The exhibition is open to both delegates and non-delegates and represents an invaluable opportunity for visitors to network and share information with relevant organisations and colleagues, forging relationships to drive the industry forward.

Dr Jane Gilbert, Chief Executive of the Composting Association, said “We are extremely pleased to have attracted such an impressive and influential line-up of speakers to our annual conference. It just shows that the Association and its annual conference are at the heart of the composting and biodegradable resource management industries. This event will help composters to meet their challenges and to take their place at the forefront of the carbon economy. ”

For more information on the Composting Association's annual conference and exhibition, visit www.compost.org.uk

1. The Composting Association is the UK's leading membership organisation for the composting and biological waste treatment industries. It is committed to the sustainable management of biodegradable resources. It promotes the benefits of composting and other biological treatment techniques and the use of biologically treated materials for the enhancement of the environment, business and society.

2. For more information, please contact: Peter White, Communications Manager, tel: 0870 160 3270, e-mail peter@compost.org.uk or visit www.compost.org.uk