AWRE reunites the waste and recycling sector in person this August

There will be a continued focus on reducing food waste at the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) being held at the ICC Sydney from 25–26 August. The AORA Organics Zone will return with exhibitors showcasing organics recycling solutions.

“Last year really showed how important the waste and recycling industry has become to the lives of Australians in this increasingly circular economy,” said Melissa Clendinen, AWRE Product Manager.

“More than ever it’s vital for the industry to get together and digest new reforms, discuss exciting opportunities and generate creative solutions, and this year’s AWRE has been designed to maximise our time together.”

The free-to-attend seminar program will include food waste topics covered by speakers from the Australia Organics Recycling Association (AORA), Food Innovation Australia Limited (FIAL), Stop Food Waste Australia and the Australian Food & Grocery Council (AFGC).

FIAL and Stop Food Waste Australia’s session will be a facilitated conversation about the National Food Waste Strategy Feasibility Study assessing whether we can meet our international commitment to halve Australia’s food waste by 2030. The conversation will examine the updated baseline, review likely scenarios and highlight new programs designed to work across industry to avoid and manage food waste.

AFGC will present on the National Plastics Recycling Scheme (NPRS). The recent National Waste Report highlights that only 14% of total plastics are recycled. While recycling rates for plastic packaging are higher at 18%, this is still unacceptably low. The scheme is launched to further develop the plastic recycling value chain in order to increase soft plastic collection, recycling and access to food-grade recycled content that is currently in short supply globally.

The two-day seminar program will also cover an array of topics across key industry actions and insights from policy and regulation, trends and insights to practical and tangible solutions from innovators shaping the future direction for Australia.

New to AWRE is the Resource Recovery Summit ‘Getting to 80%’. This half-day event on Day 1 of the expo features opening keynotes by Federal Assistant Minister Trevor Evans and NSW EPA CEO Tracy MacKey.

Facilitated sessions with panellists will explore the specific challenges in the key waste streams of Municipal Solid Waste, Commercial & Industrial and Construction & Demolition. Representatives from Cleanaway, Bing, Remondis and Veolia as well as Councillor Linda Scott from City of Sydney are confirmed.

Another new feature for the event is AWRE’s first networking dinner being held at the end of Day 1 at The Loft, Jones Bay Wharf, Pyrmont.

The Summit and Networking Dinner is hosted by National Waste & Recycling Contractors Association (NWRIC) and the Waste Contractors and Recyclers Association of NSW (WCRA), with Major Partner NSW EPA.