October 2020
Price: £95 PLUS VAT
Format: DOWNLOADABLE PDF
***Full-scale policy conference taking place online***
This conference will discuss waste policy in Wales and the next steps for developing the Circular Economy Strategy.
The seminar will offer stakeholders an opportunity to feed into the final version of the Strategy as it is being developed and finalised by the Welsh Government, following the completion of its consultation.
Delegates will discuss what will be needed for it to succeed in supporting the aim of Wales taking a world-leading in recycling and zero-waste by 2050, and meeting ambitions for:
- phasing out single plastic use - including implementing Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) and a Deposit Return Scheme (DRS)
- prioritising procurement of recycled, re-manufactured and wood content
- cleaner technology for collections
- efficient use of food and eradication of food waste
- enabling communities - including young people - to take collective action, and creating conditions for businesses to create opportunities
- taking full responsibility for waste in Wales, and ensuring that problem waste is not exported
We also expect discussion on trends and behaviours that have occurred as a result of the lockdown for COVID-19 - as well as:
- how the pandemic has impacted waste and recycling provision, and the organisations and their employees working in the sector
- what can be learned for the future from the way operations and procedures have adapted
- ways that the economic recovery in Wales can be green and sustainable
The discussion in detail:
The Circular Economy Strategy
- how the Strategy can help create the shift required to become a re-use society and meet the aim of becoming zero-waste by 2050 - and the changes that will be needed, looking at:
- the approach that the Government intends to use for the strategy, combining the agendas for resource efficiency, economic opportunities and reducing carbon emissions
- research and innovation to develop the materials and resources for re-use and re-purposing
- developing the standards and governance required to establish a fair and sustainable circular economy
- making local and household recycling as efficient and clean as possible, using innovative ways to engage with consumers and improve recycling rates, and putting in place the required infrastructure
Engaging industry and local authorities
- new business models required to create a circular economy with increased focus on ensuring longer product life and its ability to be re-used
- ways of incentivising manufacturers - following the consultation on extended producer responsibility conducted by the UK Government, Welsh Government and the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (Northern Ireland)
- progress, strategies and next steps in driving the contribution of waste management to net-zero ambitions - looking at policy and legislation, programme delivery, supporting local authorities and encouraging behaviour change
- supporting industry to make the required changes to packaging and materials used, working with the packaging sector, and progress in developing deposit return schemes
Communities and collaboration
- encouraging communities to take action and providing opportunities for businesses to get involved - and ways this is already happening in communities across Wales, looking at:
- innovative ways to build upon progress in household recycling rates
- ways that community groups can be supported in delivering waste reduction schemes in local areas, and the work that is already being carried out on this
- supporting and encouraging local businesses and enterprises to engage with waste and recycling
- making more efficient use of food from farm to fork, and opportunities for retailers to further reduce food waste
- engaging with households to reduce their food waste, and community work being done around food redistribution in local areas
The context for discussion:
- The Government currently reviewing responses to the consultation on plans for a circular economy strategy, and beginning work on the development of the strategy
- The Circular Economy Package statement from the Welsh and Scottish governments, the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs NI and Defra, setting out 2020 CEP changes required and planned approaches for transposition
- The Welsh Government’s consultation on banning some single-use plastic items through restrictions on businesses providing items to consumers, aimed for implementation in 2021
- The second round of the Circular Economy Fund, to support the post-Covid response and green recovery
- The Public Accounts Committee inquiry on waste management having been fed into the Government’s consultation - with the Committee noting issues such as required resources, timing and the prominence of particular work-streams within the Government’s work on waste - the chair of the Committee, Nick Ramsay MS, has kindly agreed to chair part of this conference
- Responses to changing the UK producer responsibility system for packaging waste consultation, with plans to introduce an EPR Packaging Scheme in 2023 and DRS schemes for drinks containers
- The Environment Bill in the UK Parliament - including proposals which would prevent the Secretary of State from making provisions which are already covered by Acts from the Senedd
- The Prosperity for All: A Low Carbon Economy for Wales plan for cutting emissions through an approach aimed at wider benefits for Wales, with waste management seen as a key enabler
The agenda:
- Developing the Circular Economy Strategy and its role in a green recovery response to COVID-19
- The impact of COVID-19 on waste and recycling - new trends and behaviours, what it means the strategy, and ways of contributing to sustainable recovery
- Priorities for achieving a circular economy in Wales - innovative research, collaboration, standards and governance
- The strategy and meeting the 2050 zero waste target - efficient recycling, new business models and incentivising manufacturers, extended producer responsibility, and community action
- Phasing out single use plastics - supporting industry, and developing deposit return schemes and environmental protection
- The role of the waste sector in helping achieve 2050 climate targets
- Community engagement, reducing food waste, building on household recycling rates, and creating opportunities for businesses
- Next steps for meeting zero waste and net-zero targets in Wales
Policy officials attending:
Our forums are known for attracting strong interest from policymakers and stakeholders.
It is certainly the case with this conference. Places have been reserved by officials from the Senedd Cymru; the Welsh Government; Natural Resources Wales; Defra; the Department for International Trade; the Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs - Northern Ireland; and The Scottish Government.
This is a full-scale conference taking place online***
- full, four-hour programme including comfort breaks - you’ll also get a full recording to refer back to
- information-rich discussion involving key policymakers and stakeholders
- conference materials provided in advance, including speaker biographies
- speakers presenting via webcam, accompanied by slides if they wish, using the Cisco WebEx professional online conference platform (easy for delegates - we’ll provide full details)
- opportunities for live delegate questions and comments with all speakers
- a recording of the addresses, all slides cleared by speakers, and further materials, is made available to all delegates afterwards as a permanent record of the proceedings
- delegates are able to add their own written comments and articles following the conference, to be distributed to all attendees and more widely
- networking too - there will be opportunities for delegates to e-meet and interact - we’ll tell you how!
Full information and guidance on how to take part will be sent to delegates before the conference
