Secretary of State announces full review of waste policy at Futuresource 2010

The Futuresource 2010 conference and exhibition gave the waste and resource management sector unique access to key ministers last week, with the new secretary of state for the environment Caroline Spelman choosing the event to give her first keynote address to the industry.

Speaking on the opening day of the event, Ms Spelman used the opportunity to outline the new Government’s approach to waste in the future, announcing a review of all existing waste policy. Pinpointing some of the challenges ahead, she highlighted the pace of change, the importance of exploiting the embedded value in waste, and the need for a new type of public consciousness about waste issues as some of the key areas that need to be addressed.

The event organisers, the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Environmental Services Association (ESA), welcomed her decision to attend and deliver a major policy announcement at the show.

“The Secretary of State has laid out important plans for the future and we lookforward to being part of the review process moving forwards,” says CIWM chief executive Steve Lee. “She has rightly identified that this industry is changing and faces a new set of challenges, including future infrastructure
needs, better communication with consumers, and a wider focus that embraces commercial and industrial waste. We also welcome the intention by Defra to work more closely with key stakeholders and relevant Government departments, something CIWM has been calling for, and the recognition of the role our sector will play in helping to create a ‘leaner, greener economy’.”

Ms Spelman was joined at ExCeL by Lord Henley, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State with responsibility for waste and recycling, who toured the exhibition seeing the breadth of treatment technologies that the industry has to offer and finding out from exhibitors what their views are about the future of waste.

Northern Ireland’s environment minister, Edwin Poots MLA rounded off the ministerial line-up on Tuesday, taking part in the Zero Waste conference session and touring the exhibition, and on the final day of the event, Jane Davidson AM, the Welsh Minister for the Environment, Sustainability and Housing, gave a keynote address to around 100 visitors on the positive steps Wales has taken to build a more sustainable future and the launch of the new waste strategy for Wales, entitled ‘Towards Zero Waste’, which came out the following week.

“This is a critical time for our sector and we are delighted that key ministers from across the UK took the time to attend Futuresource and engage with visitors and exhibitors. Our industry has a vital role to play in creating a more sustainable future, and developing a good, open relationship with those who shape future waste policy is an extremely encouraging sign,” says ESA chairman Ian Goodfellow.

With over 50 free seminars on hot topics including packaging, finance and Zero Waste, the two Information theatres on the exhibition floor drew in bigger crowds than ever before.

The Futuresource 2010 Communications Hub, run by Sauce Consultancy in partnership with Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group (APSRG), was also a resounding success again this year, with a series of hard hitting debates around key communications challenges facing the industry.

With a strong line-up including Peter Ainsworth, former MP and Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Ashley Ames of Ipsos Mori, Richard Swannell, Director of Design & Waste Minimisation for WRAP, and Financial Times environment correspondent Fiona Harvey, the debate sessions tackled challenging topics including public engagement in waste issues and infrastructure, good and bad science, building constructive relationships with protest groups, and the role of new media in the waste sector.

There has been a very positive response from many of the Futuresource exhibitors, with the quality of the visitors and the event organisation being singled out for particular praise. Plenty of business was done, with Finning/Caterpillar reporting over £2 million of potential business from the show.

“We had an excellent meeting with one of the major recycling companies at the show.

We have had trouble in getting together because of clash of diaries, but Futuresource provided us with the perfect surroundings,” said the company’s business manager for recycling and waste Eddie Donald. “The meeting with the company’s procurement team was extremely successful, with the opportunity for us to secure in the region of £2 million pounds worth of business.”

Johnston Sweepers also had a strong show, and say that the leads generated have paid for their stand many times over. In addition, a substantial order was placed on the stand by Quatro Plant for no less than 12 of the firm’s VT650 truck mounted sweepers, and there was plenty of interest in the company’s brand new CN101 sweeper.

Meanwhile Shaun Hamilton, UK sales director for Vehicle Weighing Solutions Ltd, said:

“We have had some excellent quality visitors on the stand and took orders to the value of around £98K – we are incredibly pleased and can confirm that we will definitely be back next year.”

Over a quarter of this year’s exhibitors have already signed up for the 2011 event, which will take place on 14th-16th June 2011 at ExCeL London. Further information can be found at www.futuresourceuk.com