Northern Ireland
Waste & Resource Management Conference 2023

Thursday, May 25th
The Titanic Conference Centre, Belfast

Journey to Net Zero

8:55   Welcome on behalf of CIWM NI by Debbie Nesbitt, Chairperson

Session 1

Morning Session Chaired by Chaired by Dan Cooke, Vice President, CIWM

9:05   OPENING KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Northern Ireland’s Ambitious Climate Change Journey

Learn how government plans to deliver on its Net Zero ambitions with a focus on the waste sector.

• Overview of policies and proposals to reduce GHG emissions within the sector.
• Impact of these and opportunities for the sector.
• Timeline and next steps for contributing to Net Zero.

Tracey Teague, EMFG Deputy Secretary, DAERA

9:25 Northern Ireland’s Moments of Transformation

• Set out how WRAP is accelerating action to drive a sea change in the way we consume goods and products;
• Discuss how the things we produce, consume, and dispose of account towards global carbon emissions and
• Identify key opportunities available and behaviours required to progress action to support Northern Ireland’s fair and just journey to net zero

Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, WRAP

9:45    Belfast’s Journey to Net Zero

An overview on the role that local government can play in supporting the transition to an inclusive, resilient net zero economy: Belfast City Council’s approach to tackling the climate emergency

• The scale of the challenge and our approach
• Future proofing the city
• Harnessing innovation and technology

Debbie Caldwell, Belfast Climate Commissioner

10:05    Northern Irish Legal Update in the waste area over past year
An update on key Northern Irish waste legislation and case law, with a particular focus on the following;

• Introduction of the Climate Change Act
• Impact of Brexit
• The Circular Economy

Michaela Diver, Partner, A&L Goodbody

10:25  Q&A Session 1

• Tracey Teague, EMFG Deputy Secretary, DAERA
• Harriet Lamb, Chief Executive Officer, WRAP
• Debbie Caldwell, Belfast Climate Commissioner
• Michaela Diver, Partner, A&L Goodbody

10:40  Morning Coffee Break, Exhibition Viewing and Networking

Session 2

11:10  Harnessing the Power of Waste: The Promising Role of Biomethane in Resource Management

• What is the potential for extracting biomethane from household residual waste
• The important role biomethane plays in decarbonising Northern Ireland’s gas network
• How moving towards biological treatment helps Local Authorities insulate themselves from carbon taxation
• Policy framework changes needed to support decarbonisation via biomethane

Brett Ross, CEO, RiverRidge

11:30 UNBURYING THE STORY 

The investigative journalist behind the hit BBC waste crime show ‘Buried’ talks about his scrapes with the mafia and delving into toxic dumps, in a wild-ride of a talk that will argue that there is a failure of story-telling when it comes to waste. Dan Ashby is an award-winning environmental producer, presenter and director, who specialises in making thrilling environmental series for mass audiences.  In his first major talk since the release of Buried, he will discuss how the industry and media can work better together.

Dan Ashby, Environmental Producer, Presenter & Director

 11:55  The Private Sector Role in Waste Management in Northern Ireland

• Introduction to Recycle NI
• Topical Issues for the private waste sector in Northern Ireland
• Raising standards and fighting criminality in waste management, including case studies

Conor Walsh, Secretary, Recycle NI

12:20  The Management of POP contaminated Municipal Waste and other Advances in Waste Treatment
James Maiden, Commercial Director UK, Processing, Beauparc

12:40   Q&A Session 2

• Brett Ross, CEO, RiverRidge
• Conor Walsh, Secretary, Recycle NI
• Dan Ashby, Environmental Producer, Presenter & Director
• James Maiden, Commercial Director UK, Processing, Beauparc

12:55    Lunch, Exhibition Viewing and Networking Sponsored by RiverRidge

Session 3

Afternoon Session Chaired by Tim Walker, Junior Vice President, CIWM

2:00 Embracing Changes to Deliver More Effective Services.
This presentation will provide an oversight of the policy landscape across the UK, and how Northern Ireland waste policy works within this.

• Potential ways in which Local Authorities within Northern Ireland can develop their services to increase their recycling rate, in line with the proposals from DAERA in their Waste Management Strategy
• Case studies will also be presented

Cathy Cook, LARAC Chair and Toni McNamara, LARAC Policy and Communications Lead

2:30  INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Implementing a DRS in Scotland

Hear from Circularity Scotland on how Scotland’s Deposit Return Scheme is being implemented

• How Circularity Scotland was established
• Addressing the challenges
• Steps to go-live

David Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Circularity Scotland

2:50    The Role of the Waste Wood Sector on the Road to Net Zero

• How waste wood is a great example of the circular economy in action
• An update on the current UK waste wood market – supply and demand, including a focus on what happens to NI waste wood
• How the regulatory landscape impacts on the sector
• An overview on the carbon footprint of the sector and its end markets

Julia Turner, Executive Director, Wood Recyclers Association

3:10   Lithium-ion Fire Safety Solutions for the Waste Management sector

• Where we are now with Lithium-ion Batteries in the waste industry sector, from pouch cells issues with Thermal Runaway and Venting
• Major risks associated in the Waste Industry and early detection
• Lithium fire solutions looking at Extinguishment (AVD) through to The Avenger robotics solution

Kevin Howlette, Managing Director, Emergency Fire & Safety Ltd

3:35    Q&A Session 3

• Cathy Cook, LARAC Chair
• Toni McNamara, LARAC Policy and Communications Lead
• David Harris, Chief Executive Officer, Circularity Scotland
• Julia Turner, Executive Director, Wood Recyclers Association
• Kevin Howlette, Managing Director, Emergency Fire & Safety Ltd

4:00   Conference Ends