With the dust of the economic downturn starting to settle, a challenging new future for sustainable waste and resource management is emerging. It is a landscape of fewer resources and higher targets, of ambitious zero waste aspirations and equally ambitious efficiency savings, and it will demand creative and collaborative ways of working if the sector is to deliver the necessary results.
These big issues will be tackled head-on by a range of influential keynote speakers planned for this year's Futuresource 2010 conference programme, announced today. Political and business heavyweights from across the UK and Europe will debate the best way forward for the industry and society in general by developing a narrative on the theme of More from Less, and debating what success might look like at international, national and local level.
Day one will see key speakers from Europe sharing the stage with UK government ministers to provide the big picture on the role of the sustainable waste and resource management sector in tackling climate change and what direction European and UK environmental policy will take in the future.
Hilary Benn, Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs and his Conservative and Liberal Democrat counterparts Nick Herbert and Tim Farron have again confirmed their attendance in principle and Peter Kurth, Vice-President of FEAD (European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services) and President & CEO of BDE (Federation of German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Management Industry) will be among the speakers offering a European perspective. Zero Waste: aspiration or reality is the afternoon topic on the opening day, with speakers from the devolved administrations and the Republic of Ireland discussing what this much vaunted concept really means in practice.
Building on this during day two, and tackling the issue of creating partnerships to deliver more efficient environmental services across the UK, will be WRAP Chairman, Peter Stone, and Paul Bettison, Chairman of the Local Authorities Coordinators of Regulatory Services (LACORS), as well as speakers from HM Treasury and UK plc. Case studies exploring the benefits and challenges of partnership working will give delegates practical insight in the afternoon session.
Day three will see wider resource efficiency on the agenda, with Roy Hathaway, Defra's Head of Waste Regulation & Business Waste looking at meeting new waste prevention and minimisation requirements in the EU Waste Framework Directive, Claire Brook, Senior Counsel at Dickinson Dees LLP, outlining the practical implications for the UK, and regional and private sector perspectives from IESE and Biffa. The challenges of choosing, funding and delivering the right treatment infrastructure will complete the conference programme.
Organised jointly by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and Environmental Services Association (ESA), the conference runs alongside the 3-day Futuresource trade fair, which will bring over 350 exhibitors from across the industry together under one roof.
"These are challenging times and this event is about our future, not just as an industry but as a society. The high profile and influential line-up of conference speakers underlines the importance of the issues that will be discussed and leading companies and innovators will be on hand to showcase the latest services and solutions," says CIWM Chief Executive Steve Lee. "In addition, delegates can benefit from more structured networking opportunities this year, ensuring that they get the most out of this unique opportunity to share knowledge and best practice."
"The opportunities for innovation and sustained business growth in this sector are unprecedented and Futuresource 2010 provides the ideal forum to do business and catch up on the latest trends and developments across Europe," adds Dirk Hazell, Chief Executive of the Environmental Services Association and Chairman of FEAD, the European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services.
This year, the event will also attract more senior public sector procurement professionals than ever before, thanks to a new co-location agreement with Guardian News & Media's (GNM) sector-leading Public Procurement Show 2010 (www.publicprocurementshow.com). The two exhibitions will be located in adjoining halls and registered visitors will be free to move between events.
Online booking for the Futuresource 2010 conference is now open at www.futuresourceuk.com and an early bird discount offer will run until 2nd April 2010.
