THE IRISH WASTE MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE 2022
The Role of the Circular Economy in tackling Climate Change
Thursday, March 10th,
Croke Park Conference Centre, Dublin
Conference Agenda
8:50 Morning Session Chaired by Anthony Mulleady, Chairperson, Irish Waste Management Association
8:55 OPENING KEYNOTE ADDRESS
Ministerial Address
9:10 Developing Ireland’s Waste Policy in a Circular Economy
Philip Nugent, Assistant Secretary, leading the Natural Resources and Waste Policy function at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
9:35 National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy and the Role of Local Authority Waste Programme Coordinator
- Collaboration and Ownership
- Overview of the collaborative approach to the preparation of the National Waste Management Plan for a Circular Economy
Seán Scott, Local Authority Waste Programme Coordinator & Kevin Swift, Regional Co-Ordinator, Connacht Ulster Regional Waste Office
10:00 Legal updates on all that has happened in the waste area, both Irish and European, over the last 2 years
- New legislation
- Irish and European cases
- Legal implications of the waste focused aspects of the EU Green Deal
- Climate Action legislation and waste policy
Alison Fanagan, Joint Head of Environmental & Planning Group, A&L Goodbody
10:25 Panel Discussion 1 – Will Ireland’s Policy & Plans meet our Circular Economy Package?
- Philip Nugent, Assistant Secretary, Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment
- Alison Fanagan, Joint Head of Environmental & Planning Group, A&L Goodbody
- Kevin Swift, Regional Co-Ordinator, Connacht Ulster Regional Waste Office
- Seán Scott, Local Authority Waste Programme Coordinator
10:40 Morning Coffee Break, Exhibition Viewing and Networking
11:10 INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Waste to Energy and the Circular Economy
Waste-to-Energy (WTE) facilities have an important role to play in the transition to a more circular economy. In particular, WTE plays an important role in managing residual waste, as well as throughout material lifecycles, including those residues generated through recycling processes, by recovering energy, recycling metals and materials, exporting electricity to the grid and, at combined heat and power plants, providing heat and steam. Looking toward the future, WTE facilities may;
- Incorporate new technologies and advancements that can further reduce the impact of waste management whilst continuing to provide the essential public health provision of sustainably treating unrecyclable waste.
- The most effective path forward will require an integrated approach across the waste management system as well as product and material value chains.
Michael E. Van Brunt, P.E., Vice President, Environmental and Sustainability, Covanta, USA
11:40 Deposit and Refund Schemes – The Future is Digital
- The Carbon Impact of Digital DRS versus Conventional DRS
- How to hit the Circular Economy MSW recycling targets
- Results and observations from a Digital DRS Trial in Dublin in Summer 2021
Conor Walsh, Technical Director with SLR Consulting and also IWMA Secretary & Liam Dunne, Plant Manager, Irish Packaging Recycling
12:05 The Plastic Dichotomy
- Valuing Plastic as a Resource
- The challenges of CEP & SUP for all stakeholders
- Consumer demands V’s Producer Responsibility in using plastic in packaging
Seamus Clancy, CEO, Repak
12:30 Between a Rock and a Hard Place: – The Circular Economy in Ireland from a Waste Management perspective
Ireland has moved on from a near total reliance on landfill for waste management, but the next part of the journey, moving to a circular economy, will be even more challenging. David will identify the challenges and the solutions needed, if we are to move from a consume-disposal model to a circular, resource recovery, and remanufacturing model. Amongst other things, David will speak about the following;
- Eco-design
- Producer responsibility
- External environmental costs
- Consumer responsibility
- Unsuitability of the current regulatory regime
- Role for fiscal incentives and penalties
David Tobin, Sustainability and Circular Economy Director, Beauparc
12:55 PANEL DISCUSSION 2: Industry views on meeting our Circular Economy Targets
- Conor Walsh, Technical Director with SLR Consulting and also IWMA Secretary
- Seamus Clancy, CEO, Repak
- David Tobin, Sustainability and Circular Economy Director, Beauparc
-
Mark Brill, VP Sales & Marketing, TOMRA Collection Solutions UK & Ireland
1:10 Lunch, Exhibition Viewing and Networking (Sponsored by A&L Goodbody)
2:00 Afternoon Session Chaired by Enda Kieran, Chairperson, CIWM Ireland
2:05 INTERNATIONAL KEYNOTE SPEAKER
The Transition to Net Zero and the need for new skills and competences in the Resources & Waste Sector – from dinosaurs to a phoenix from the flames and plenty in between!
- What will the sector look like in 2025 and 2035, what is our role and how will we work?
- What are the core skills and competences we will need and when will we need them by?
- The role of CIWM in driving the new skills and securing the training for the sector?
- Making our sector more attractive to new recruits……
- What should you be doing to maximise the opportunities for your career in 2025 and beyond?
Dr Adam Read, President of the CIWM
2:35 The Rediscovery Center Presentation TBC
3:00 Emerging Trends in Waste Crime
- Current data available on waste crime
- Current trends in relation to the nature of waste crime
- Actors and drivers involved in current waste crime
- Measures used to combat waste crime
Caoimhín Nolan, Inspector, Office of Environmental Enforcement, EPA
3:25 Developments towards a Circular Economy
- The impact eco-modulation fees will have for consumers purchasing electrical appliances in 2023
- Examining Ireland as a successful case study for implementation of the mandatory e-waste recycling treatment standards now proposed for all of Europe
- How WEEE Ireland plans to encourage consumers to not only recycle more, but also repair and reuse more appliances and devices
- WEEE Irelands strategy for environmental management and EPR solutions for new long-life technologies including lithium batteries and the PV Sector
Leo Donovan, CEO, WEEE Ireland
3:45 Circular Economy in the Built Environment
The built environment requires vast amounts of resources. The sector has been identified by the European Union as a key value chain for circularity, requiring urgent, comprehensive and coordinated action. Janet will set out how all stakeholders in the built environment in Ireland can contribute to the transition from a linear to a circular economy. She will set out how circular strategies can drive down carbon associated with built assets, keep assets in use at their highest value and promote regenerative design. Topics will include:
- The Transport Infrastructure Ireland Circular Economy Plan
- The Arup & Ellen MacArthur Foundation Circular Building Design Toolkit
- The EU Sustainability Taxonomy
- A range of exemplar Circular Economy in the Built Environment Projects
Janet Lynch, Circular Economy & Sustainability Consultant, Arup
4:00 PANEL DISCUSSION 3: How do we engage the public in meeting our Circular Economy challenges?
- Caoimhín Nolan, Inspector, Office of Environmental Enforcement, EPA
- Dr Adam Read, President of the CIWM
- Leo Donovan, CEO, WEEE Ireland
- Janet Lynch, Circular Economy & Sustainability Consultant, Arup
4:15 Conference Ends
