In December 2015 the European Commission adopted an ambitious Circular Economy Package, a strategy that included revised legislation on waste and is specifically designed to stimulate Europe’s transition towards a circular economy through a range of measures aimed at increasing resource efficiency and minimising waste.

Given that the UK’s policy on waste management comes from the EU, this new legislation was particularly important as it introduced a common EU target for recycling 65% of municipal waste and 75% of packaging waste.

It also set a binding target of a maximum of 10% of all waste to be achieved by 2030.

Local authorities in England have had to double their spending to £3.28 billion since 2000 in pursuit of the EU waste targets, making waste collection and disposal the third largest cost service for English local authorities.

Local authorities are directly involved in working towards the targets set by the EU in two areas: landfill and recycling.

Reduction in landfill has been as high as 78% during the last decade. Despite the commitment of local authorities that has resulted in a 400% increase in recycling levels since 2000, the UK is not yet on track to meet the 50% target by 2020.

With many of the advances in environmental policy in the UK having been driven by the European Union and with the country lacking a formal UK-wide strategy, the future of circular economy framework post-Brexit remains uncertain.

At the same time, the recent creation of the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy in July 2016 is viewed as a good platform to address resource challenges and integrate circular economy principles into a new UK industrial strategy.

Last February (2016) Scotland became the first country in the UK with a clear framework, after publishing its first Circular Economy Strategy.

One year after the publication of the new Circular Economy Package, this timely symposium is an invaluable opportunity for local authorities, environment policy advisors, heads of waste policy and sustainability, businesses, members of the third sector and academics to discuss the next steps that need to be taken on national and local levels to improve resource efficiency and minimise waste.

Delegates will:

• Understand the circular economy and its impact on the waste sector
• Assess the economic, social and environmental benefits for taxpayers, consumers and businesses
• Evaluate the latest policy developments and discuss the future for UK waste management policy post-Brexit
• Identify opportunities for businesses in waste and recycling sectors
• Evaluate ways to encourage the integration of circular economy into schools and embed a sustainability culture
• Share best practice and exchanges ideas on how to the meet the two EU targets on landfills and recycling
• Explore the role of innovation and technology in providing opportunities for circular economy business approaches
• Examine the role of local authorities in promoting a circular economy and consider partnership working across councils

20% early registration discount off the standard delegate rates for all bookings received by the 3rd February 2017.

For further details about the symposium, please refer to the enclosed event brochure.

Do feel free to circulate this information to relevant colleagues within your organisation.
In the meantime, to ensure your organisation is represented, please book online or complete and return the attached registration form at your earliest convenience in order to secure your delegate place(s).

Kind regards,
Conference Team