Waste Expo Australia 2023, one of the most anticipated events in the waste management industry, has unveiled the first sessions of its multi-stream conference: The Waste Summit.
Prepare for the premier waste and recycling industry event – Waste Expo Australia 2023.
This year’s exhibition and conference will occur on October 25-26, 2023, at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre and promises to be the epicentre of robust discussion and technological innovation around waste management and resource recovery.
The conference program offers keynote speeches, panel discussions, and interactive sessions that delve into the latest advancements in waste-to-energy technologies, sustainable packaging, and circular economy practices. The Waste Summit conference program will run parallel to an expanded exhibition featuring more than 110 leading suppliers in resource recovery.
Industry giants such as Bucher Municipal, Komatsu, Wastech Engineering, Pacific Materials Handling, Steinert, and Repurpose It are among these exhibitors. Additionally, an increasing number of prominent international suppliers from Denmark, Ireland, France, the USA, and Germany will be in attendance.
Waste Summit presenters
Renowned industry leader Cleanaway will host a session titled Making Circularity A Reality.
As the world witnesses the increasing urgency to tackle global warming, extreme weather events, and biodiversity loss, it becomes clear that the linear approach of extracting natural resources, manufacturing products, and discarding waste is inefficient and harmful. The concept of a circular economy presents a promising solution that minimises waste and pollution.
Cleanaway will delve into the fundamental components necessary to achieve a circular economy. Topics will include recycling and reusing plastic, diverting construction and demolition waste from landfills, and establishing new infrastructure for organics processing.
Make circularity a reality
Richard Pittard, Head of Sustainability at Cleanaway, has expressed his enthusiasm for this session and the opportunity it presents to drive innovative resource recovery solutions.
He says attendees can expect to be inspired and gain valuable insights and strategies for bringing circularity to life in Australia.
Achieving a circular economy requires shifts in government policy, investment in technology and infrastructure, and a fresh look at how products and services are designed and delivered.
“Governments, industry, and communities must work together to overcome common barriers. Global warming, the frequency of extreme weather events and the loss of biodiversity are constant reminders of our impact. The reasons are simple, even if the solutions are complex,” Richard says. “We take natural resources from the earth and make products, only to discard them as waste. That process is linear, inefficient, and destructive.
“There is a better way to make a sustainable future possible. Moving to a circular economy minimises waste and pollution. Natural and manmade resources are critical assets to be used repeatedly in the same or different products.”
Richard says companies need to be better placed, like Cleanaway, to lead the development of a circular economy in Australia. Everyone has a story about dropping off material at the tip when they were young. In those days, it was one big pile for almost everything. The way society views waste is changing rapidly. Cleanaway sees the value and life in all resources and is a critical enabler of the circular economy.
On topic
Richard will talk about how to make circularity a reality. He will focus on the recycling and reuse of plastic and how nearly all construction and demolition waste can be diverted from landfill every year. Organics will also be at the centre of his presentation, as structural changes in the sector create a need for new organics processing infrastructure. This should include in-vessel composting, anaerobic digestion, and other innovative solutions.
The presentation will also examine how well-engineered landfills can remain critical infrastructure while airspace becomes increasingly scarce in urban and suburban areas. Further investment in landfill gas capture and processing facilities should support the reduction of emissions while creating renewable energy, Richard says. This provides visibility on resource recovery and landfill diversion, circular outcomes for customers. Cleanaway will also talk about Partnerships for Circularity. Market dynamics continuously evolve, presenting new opportunities to collaborate with organisations that share a vision to lead resource recovery solutions.
Social license
Sustainability Victoria (SV) is also a key presenter at the Waste Summit. Sandra Mack, Team Leader of Plastics, will host an interactive workshop in partnership with Alistair Nairn, Senior Engagement Advisor at the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Victoria.
SV has developed Social License to Operate (SLO) training for the waste and recycling industry. The training aims to support the industry in building an SLO for essential waste and recycling facilities and gives participants an understanding of the SLO principles. These can be applied to improve their engagement with local communities on an ongoing basis.
The training seeks to assist operators in implementing meaningful community engagement. It also aims to improve organisational decision-making to consider community needs.
The two-hour workshop is a shortened version of the training SV has been running for its grant recipients, says SV Manager Infrastructure Partnerships John Polhill. It’s aimed at operators of waste and recycling facilities, including businesses and local governments, as well as consultants supporting operators in their community engagement activities.
“The workshop will support participants in developing a general understanding of the principles of SLO. It also seeks to show how these can be applied in their engagement with local community and stakeholders,” John says.
SV’S SLO training seeks to solve three problems – the lack of trust between the waste and recycling industry and the community; social acceptance of essential services and environmental protection; and supporting the changing sector that needs to build an SLO.
Register now
Waste Expo Australia provides a platform dedicated to advancing best practices in waste management and making a positive difference to the environment and community.
This free-to-attend event attracts waste management and resource recovery professionals from across Australia.
Registration is now open at www.wasteexpoaustralia.com.au
