Waste Processing Live
RWM’s outdoor Live Demonstration Area will return with a range of waste processing and recycling equipment operating in live conditions throughout the two-day event.
The demonstrations will give visitors the opportunity to see shredders, balers, material handlers and sorting technology in action, with sessions taking place at 10:30am, 12:30pm and 2:30pm on both days.
Confirmed exhibitors include JCB, Natural Engineering/Hammel, LiuGong Machinery, Global Machinery Solutions and JMC Recycling Systems.
Leading the UK Waste Sector: Strategy, Change and Future Direction
When: 10:40AM – 11:25AM
Where: RWM Commercial, Industrial & Hazardous Waste Theatre sponsored by Steinert
Senior figures from across the UK waste sector join GunnerCooke’s Anna Willetts to discuss the strategic priorities shaping the industry and the challenges facing the sector in the years ahead.
The panel will explore how organisations are responding to regulatory change, market pressures and the transition towards a more circular economy, with discussion covering investment, innovation, operational resilience and collaboration across the waste value chain.
Digital Waste Tracking: What You Need to Know
When: 10:45AM – 11:30AM
Where: RWM Collections & Transport Theatre sponsored by Samsara
With Digital Waste Tracking for permitted receiving sites due to begin in October 2026, this panel will look at what industry needs to know ahead of the first major implementation deadline.
Chaired by Wastrio founder Steve Brown, panellists from Defra, Suez and Mitie Waste and Environmental will explore the practical realities of moving to digital tracking, including what’s working, what’s not, and the compliance risks of being unprepared.
How to Convert the Pope to Introduce a Deposit Return Scheme
When: 12:10PM – 12:50PM
Where: RWM Circular Economy & Sustainability Theatre sponsored by SLR Consulting
Dutch biologist and environmental campaigner Merijn Tinga, better known as the Plastic Soup Surfer, will share the story of his campaign to persuade policymakers to introduce Deposit Return Schemes for bottles and cans.
Combining video footage, humour and personal stories from his solo windsurfing expeditions across Europe, Tinga will take audiences from Oslo, via London, Paris and Nice, to Rome and a private audience with Pope Leo XIV.
A 10-Point Plan for Tackling Waste Crime
When: 12:30PM – 1:00PM
Where: RWM Construction & Demolition Theatre sponsored by McLanahan
Steve Molyneux, Director of Energy and Resources at the Environment Agency, will provide a six-month update on the regulator’s 10-point plan for tackling waste crime.
The session will look at progress on key initiatives including Operation Unite and plans for the Operational Waste Intelligence and Analysis Unit, alongside the Environment Agency’s work with Government to disrupt organised waste crime and protect communities and legitimate businesses. Attendees will also have the opportunity to put their questions to Molyneux at the end of the session.
35 Under 35
When: 2:00PM – 3:00PM
Where: ESS Future Talent Hub sponsored by Grundon
The 35 Under 35 Awards will return to RWM on 16 September, celebrating the rising stars making their mark across the environmental sector. The ceremony will reveal this year’s top 35 professionals under the age of 35, alongside the Top 3 Rising Stars.
The awards recognise individuals demonstrating professional excellence, driving innovation and making a positive contribution to their organisations and communities. The programme shines a spotlight on the next generation of environmental leaders and the work they are doing to shape the future of the sector.
RWM Connect Party
When: 7:00PM – midnight
Where: The VOX, Resorts World Birmingham
The first day of RWM will conclude with RWM Connect, a new flagship networking evening bringing together more than 900 resource-industry professionals at The VOX at Resorts World Birmingham.
Run in collaboration with CIWM, the event brings together the former ESS Connect Party and CIWM Gala Dinner for the first time. Guests can expect food stations, live music, casino tables and a DJ, with free beer, wine and soft drinks until 10pm, providing an opportunity to continue conversations from the show floor into the evening.
Tickets are available here.
Register for free to comment