Returning to Melbourne for the first time in three years, Waste Expo Australia delivered an exciting two-day event with insights into the nation’s waste and recycling sector, and showcased an extensive exhibitor list and a conference schedule featuring more than 90 speakers.
Co-located with All-Energy Australia, the event welcomed thousands of waste and resource recovery professionals keen to explore the initiatives and frameworks proposed for tackling organic waste, improving infrastructure, and how to shift into better consumer and business behavioural patterns when it comes to consumption and recycling.
“What a fantastic time at Waste Expo with so many Australian Institute of Packaging (AIP) members and partners coming to visit the stand, many of whom we haven’t seen in real life for close to three years,” Nerida Kelton, executive director for the AIP, told PKN.
“We were really happy that our fabulous member Anhely Millan, who is the author of the World Behind Recycling for Kids book, came and joined us as well. We need to see more educational resources for children like this book.
Kelton was part of a panel discussion on the new SME Australasian Recycling Label program with Barry Cosier from the Australian Food and Grocery Council the National Retail Association’s Bonnie Marshall.
Extended panels and speaker sessions – delving into topics such as the future of energy from waste, community composting in the new FOGO context, and commercial and industrial waste management – outlined a holistic approach for the next decade, pinpointing crucial action points that need to be undertaken from both a government and community perspective.
Bethany Crotty, senior consultant at Ellis Jones, delivered her session on working with local governments to improve community behaviours around waste management.
“While 90 per cent of Victorians try to recycle appropriately, half of them admitted to doing it wrong within the last week. We are all responsible and we all have a role to play to be part of the solution,” said Crotty, using Victorian case studies as an example.
Sally Williams, sustainability advocate and Waste Expo Conference chairperson, echoed Crotty’s sentiments, acknowledging the importance of working together when developing and implementing specific actions, stating that collaboration, alliances and the sharing of information are all key elements in this process.
Adding to a buzzing show floor, exhibitors relished the opportunity to introduce new and emerging products from their growing ranges face-to-face, sparking conversations with new and existing customers through demonstrations and firsthand insights.
“It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with others in the industry and have some great conversations as to how we can continue to drive a circular economy,” said George Azzam, general manager at Bottlecycler.
“It’s been a great experience here at the expo – we achieved everything that we set out to achieve and it’s been incredibly smooth sailing,” added Bruno Karalus, marketing manager for STG Global.
Taking a further step to celebrate the best in the waste and recycling industry, the Waste Innovation and Recycling Awards (WIRA) was held in conjunction with the event, and recognised those with outstanding achievements across 12 different categories.
With winners included Repurpose It for Operational Excellence, Southern Materials Recovery Facility for Outstanding Facility, and Katherine Dodd, general manager and principal consultant at MRA Consulting Group, for Young Professional of the Year.
