Press Release
13th May 2010

Efficiency savings v. quality service provision: find out how to deliver the impossible at Futuresource 2010

The waste and resource industry, like many others, is facing some tough challenges and news that the new Coalition Government remains committed to £6bn of cuts this year heralds significant spending cuts in the public sector. Alongside unprecedented efficiency savings, local authority targets and performance expectations are going up and access to finance for new infrastructure is harder to come by. That is why Futuresource 2010 returns this year with a strong focus on efficiency improvements, value for money and partnerships.

“Local authorities are already grappling with the immediate challenges and implications of significant budget cuts and frontline services such as waste will be on the hit list,” says CIWM Chief Executive Steve Lee. “Difficult decisions will need to be made without compromising our ability to continue to work towards the equally important imperative of delivering a more sustainable approach to waste and resources in the long term. These are the questions that will be explored and debated at Futuresource this year.”

One of the main objectives of the Futuresource event, organised jointly by the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Environmental Services Association (ESA), is to stimulate dialogue and partnerships that will help the sector to tackle some of the challenges that lie ahead. With over 300 exhibitors, a full conference programme, facilitated networking and over 50 free seminars, it is designed to provide the right platform for public, private and third sector professionals to come together and debate the issues, share knowledge and good practice, and explore smarter ways of working together.

“Futuresource is instrumental in helping local authorities understand the dynamics of the waste resources sector and gives officers and members the opportunities to engage with the senior figures in the industry,” says David Greenfield, Assistant Director of Waste Resources Improvement Efficiency South East, which delivers the Waste Improvement Network and is teaming up with the LGA to provide a series of free seminars for local authority visitors.

The three-day conference has ‘More from Less’ as its core theme, and the opening session will provide insight into the new political landscape and future environmental policy. At the time of writing, the ministerial line-up has yet to be confirmed, but prior to the election, all three main parties indicated their willingness to provide a senior spokesperson. Joining them and offering a European perspective will be Peter Kurth, Vice-President of FEAD (European Federation of Waste Management and Environmental Services) and President and CEO of BDE (Federation of German Waste, Water and Raw Materials Management Industry). In the afternoon, ministers and senior policy officials from across the British Isles will share their views about what ‘zero waste’ really means and how it can be delivered.

The critical role of local authorities is acknowledged on day two with sessions that explore how innovative partnerships can help to deliver more efficient environmental services across the UK, with speakers looking at good practice support, finance, and forging better relationships with the retail sector. The afternoon session brings together a series of case studies that will give delegates practical insight into some of the UK’s most innovative partnership approaches.

Day three of the conference will see wider resource efficiency issues on the agenda, including the impact of the EU’s Waste Framework Directive, as well as the challenges of choosing, funding and delivering the right treatment infrastructure.

Smart solutions, free seminars, interactive debates and low carbon vehicle demonstrations

In the Futuresource trade fair, meanwhile, over 300 exhibitors will showcase the latest practical solutions, services and products designed to enhance productivity and keep costs down.

The free-to-attend exhibition covers six key areas: waste and water management; recycling and composting; professional services; air, energy and climate change; street scene and facilities management; and vehicles and plant. It boasts some of the industry’s leading names, from the major waste contractors – including Waste Recycling Group, Veolia Environmental Services, SITA UK, Cory Environmental Ltd, and Viridor Waste Ltd – to technology and equipment suppliers, financial institutions, consultants and vehicle and plant manufacturers. In addition, Government departments and agencies, including the Environment Agency, Defra, the Welsh Assembly Government and WRAP will have a presence.

Also on the exhibition floor, visitors can access over 50 free seminar sessions on highly topical issues – from food waste to finance options, and from exports to energy from waste – at two Information Theatres. As well as speakers from the Environment Agency, WRAP, Valpak and London Thames Gateway, the programme includes a series of seminars by the LGA and RIEPs focused on ‘Helping councils do more with less’, covering:

• Capacity Building – Tools to support improvement and efficiency challenges
The world of waste has changed – knowing how to respond can be a challenge. This seminar will provide an insight into the wide range of free tools available to authorities.

• Procurement Support – How to make the most of the support available
Procurement processes and standards have evolved due to new guidelines from the EU and more pressure to deliver good quality and value for money contracts. The new skills required to procure a modern waste contract are very different from the traditional approach. This seminar looks at some of the resources and support available and share some lessons learned from successful waste contracts.

• What makes a perfect partnership? – Most councils are now working in partnership on waste. This seminar will give examples of ways to maximize the benefits of partnership working, including significant financial savings and performance improvements.

A full seminar programme can be found at www.futuresourceuk.com/seminarprogramme/).

Sauce Consultancy and CIWM are also teaming up again, this year with the Associate Parliamentary Sustainable Resource Group, to host the Communications Hub, where visitors can hear an exciting array of speakers debate some of the communications challenges that face our industry. The line-up includes Peter Ainsworth, former Conservative Shadow Secretary of State for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, FT Environment Correspondent Fiona Harvey, Bobby Duffy, Managing Director of Ipsos MORI Social Research Institute, Michael Warhurst of Friends of the Earth, and Rhion Jones, Programme Director at the Consultation Institute. The Hub is also designed to help industry professionals to feel more confident about engaging with the media, and former BBC news reporter Steve Bustin will be giving tips on ‘Making the most out of media’ every morning and providing free media training sessions (sessions can be booked by emailing press@ciwm.co.uk).

Another innovation taking centre stage this year is the ZEV Zone, an interactive demonstration arena dedicated to low and ‘zero emission’ vehicles and plant for the waste and recycling sector. Visitors will be able to inspect the new equipment, see it in action and test their operating skills on a number of the vehicles.

“Concern about emissions and growing traffic congestion, particularly in urban areas, means that more compact and ‘environmentally friendly’ collection vehicles, materials handlers and sweepers are the way forward. What better place to see these machines in action than at Europe’s leading sustainability event,” says CIWM chief executive Steve Lee.

London local authorities will also be interested in a seminar hosted by UK Trade & Industry entitled ‘Low Carbon London 2012’. As well as a speaker from the Olympic Delivery Authority, Mike Mulvey of London Business Network will outline the 2012 CompeteFor contracting process and Philip Johnson of Populous will present a case study on the aspects of Reuse, Reduce and Recycle used in the 2012 Games main stadium.

This year, senior public sector professionals can also explore the opportunities for smarter, greener procurement, thanks to a new co-location agreement with Guardian News & Media’s (GNM) sector-leading Public Procurement Show 2010 (www.publicprocurementshow.com). The event partners include Buying Solutions and Action Sustainability and a full seminar programme features high profile speakers looking at issues including procuring services from the third sector, delivering cost savings through sustainable procurement, and procuring shared services.

Full details of the event and online booking for the conference can be found at www.futuresourceuk.com

ENDS

Notes to Editors:
1. Futuresource (pronounced Future Resource) is a joint venture between the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) and the Environmental Services Association (ESA). A major exhibition and conference for the sustainable waste, recycling and resource management sector and its client base, Futuresource is located at ExCeL London and is managed by IWM Business Services Ltd, a wholly owned commercial subsidiary of CIWM.

The dynamic Futuresource 2010 conference programme will explore all of the challenges and opportunities facing the sector today. Running concurrently, the Futuresource 2010 exhibition features six themed sector areas: Waste & Water Management, Professional Services, Air & Energy, Street Scene & Facilities Management, Recycling & Composting and Vehicles & Plant.

The event is expected to bring together over 350 exhibitors and 9,000 visitors and delegates, providing unrivalled access to the latest solutions and technologies, as well as learning and networking opportunities. Full details about Futuresource 2010 and a list of 2010 exhibitors can be found at www.futuresourceuk.com. The ABC audited attendance figure for Futuresource 2009 was 7437.

2. The Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM) is the leading professional body for the waste management sector representing over 7000 individuals in the UK and overseas. Established in 1898, CIWM is a non profit-making organisation, dedicated to the promotion of professional competence amongst waste managers. CIWM seeks to raise standards for those working in and with the sector by producing best practice guidance, developing educational and training initiatives, and providing information on key waste-related issues. Comprehensive information about CIWM can be found at www.ciwm.co.uk

3. The Environmental Services Association (ESA) is the UK's trade association for the waste and secondary resource management sector, an industry accounting for 0.8% of GDP. Its members are organisations providing essential services to the private and public sector, and they lead the way in modernising the UK's waste management sector. ESA aims to promote the development of an economically and environmentally sustainable waste and secondary resource management industry for the UK and EU. It works with government in the UK and the European Union to achieve its aims. More detail is available at www.esauk.org

Futuresource Press Office:
Pat Jennings
CIWM Communications Manager
Tel: 01604 620426
Mob: 07912 228260
E-mail: pat.jennings@ciwm.co.uk