June 2022
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This conference focused on the next steps for tackling waste, improving recycling, and development of the circular economy in Wales.
It was an opportunity to assess progress, challenges and next steps for the Government’s Beyond Recycling strategy, and its ambitions for:
- tackling single-use plastic and other avoidable waste
- world-leading recycling rates in Wales
- transforming procurement to sourcing from recycled, remanufactured and refurbished sources
- supporting businesses and communities through change
Sessions in the agenda looked at priorities and next steps for:
- resource efficiency and cutting waste - infrastructure needs - issues for key sectors - waste collection and its environmental impact - building energy generation from waste
- building the green economy - investment - identifying skills gaps - training and reskilling - developing infrastructure - use of smart technology
- businesses - extended producer responsibility - impact of new proposals - finance - logistics - support
- growing the circular economy - best practice - behaviour change - support priorities - circular communities - deposit return schemes - repair and re-use hubs - leasing and lending markets
We also expected discussion on issues and challenges that have been identified by some stakeholders, including:
- defining a circular economy
- measurement, key indicators and reporting
- bureaucratic burden of new data requirements
- options for incentives for retailers and other businesses to reduce plastic usage
We are pleased to have be able to include keynote sessions with Bettina Gilbert, Head of Programme Delivery, WRAP; and Dr Andy Rees, Head of Waste Strategy, Resource Efficiency and Circular Economy Division, Welsh Government; as well as further contributions from Bangor University; Cardiff and Vale College; the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management; Chatham House; the Civil Engineering Contractors Association (CECA) Wales; the Green Alliance; Keep Wales Tidy; Oxera; Repair Café Wales; Resource Efficiency Wales; Riversimple; and Swansea University.
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the Welsh Government; Senedd Cymru; BEIS; DAERA, NI; the DIT; HM Treasury; and The Scottish Government.
