Melanie Phelan, sales and marketing manager for the IWM, said that the Institute was aware that a number of events throughout the country have been postponed or cancelled.
She said: “As the organisers of the largest waste management event in the UK, the IWM Business Services division takes its responsibilities to customers and visitors seriously. We have advised exhibitors that at present we are proceeding with the annual conference and exhibition.”
Ms Phelan added that should the situation change, an announcement would be made immediately.
It is thought that Torquay council is keen for the event to go ahead, partly because it is situated on the coast of Devon but also because it is aware of the mood within government and elsewhere to try and sustain the tourism industry wherever possible.
The Torbay event is not the only one to be hitting the recycling industry. While some companies are facing special arrangements to access landfill sites near farms and in composting material, the community group Network Recycling of Bristol says that it is facing a difficult summer.
Spokesman Andy Moore said: “We are facing a difficult season because of cancellations. Glastonbury is not being held this year but other events including the Bristol event and WOMAD are also being cancelled.”
Network Recycling provides on-site recycling activities for many events. However, its activities have been boosted recently by more work at airport sites in the UK where it has developed its services.
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