Torbay goes global this summer

The theme for this year’s CIWM 2007 event is ‘Waste: a global resource’. As an integral component, Europe is becoming more dependent on overseas markets for reclaimed wastes. The clash between multilateral environmental agreements and trade policies is one of the major problems in waste management today.

Over the past 20 years, waste management in the UK has undergone a quiet revolution with increasing amounts of waste being recycled. More recently the pace of change has quickened as waste collection services focus on segregation of dry recyclable waste and the organic fraction. But even more needs to be achieved if the UK is to reach its EU targets under the Landfill Directive.

Time is running out

Waste increasingly needs to be turned into a resource – the challenge the industry faces is to provide enough plant and processing capacity to ensure this can happen in sufficient time.

CIWM 2007 conference and exhibition takes place from 12 – 15 June at Paignton, Torbay. Firmly established as the industry’s meeting place for over 100 years, this year’s event expects to attract over 6,500 attendees, 350 exhibitors and 650 conference delegates from every industry sector. The exhibition offers both internal and external stand space plus slots at two live demonstration areas for exhibitors to display their products.

Industry voices

Running alongside the exhibition, the four-day conference will host an impressive line-up of speakers including: Ben Bradshaw MP, Minister of State for the Local Environment; Sir Ken Collins, chair of SEPA; Barbara Young, chief executive of the Environment Agency; and Caroline Jackson MEP.

Conference sessions will tackle topics such as waste prevention and behaviour change, win-win solutions for energy-from-waste, delivering a material resource economy, improving performance in health and safety, anaerobic digestion, innovative recycling methods, and beacon trail blazers. There will also be a series of social events taking place alongside the show including a welcome drinks reception and the CIWM dinner.

The exhibition itself takes place from 12 – 14 June giving visitors an opportunity to see the latest innovations and solutions on display. Those interested in attending the event can register online at www.ciwm.co.uk.