Lord Henley tops the bill at AfOR conference 2011

Lord Henley will be joined by representatives from key players in the organics recycling sector to discuss the big issues facing the industry, while the evening awards ceremony and gala dinner provide an opportunity to recognise excellence in organics recycling.

The AfOR event, which is organised by letsrecycle.com, comes at a time when the coalition's plans to be the ‘greenest government ever' are under particular scrutiny, and Lord Henley will use his speech to address the significance of composting and anaerobic digestion in the sustainability and recycling agenda.

Among the day's other high-profile speakers, Martin Bigg, of the Environment Agency, will outline how regulation can help to promote sector growth and Dr Nina Sweet of the Waste and Resources Action Programme (WRAP), will address the issue of providing ‘sound science for sound markets'.

The event will also hear from waste consultant Peter Jones OBE, and representatives of waste management company Donarbon Ltd, Cambridgeshire county council, organics recyclers Agrivert and consultancy Eunomia.

And, composting consultant Craig Benton will examine the ‘red hot' opportunities for the sector in renewable energy.

Looking forward to the day's proceedings, AfOR's managing director, Jeremy Jacobs, said: “There has never been a more opportune time for growth in the collection, processing and marketing of organics than today.

“With the new coalition Government at the helm we have high expectations that they will be striving to produce the greenest credentials ever seen.”

Awards

The evening's annual AfOR awards 2011 give recognition for achievements in the organics recycling industry, as well as providing a perfect opportunity for networking with other industry professionals.

The deadline for submitting entries for the awards has been extended until January 14 2011, with submissions invited for the following categories:

• Jim Ballance Compost Marketing Award – sponsored by: SITA UK
• Local Authority Partnership Award – sponsored by: Shanks Waste Solutions
• Innovation in Technology and Machinery Award – sponsored by: The Open University
• Bio-waste Site Manager Award – sponsored by: Viridor
• Food Waste Recycling Award – sponsored by: Greede
• Sustainable production award – sponsored by: TEG Environmental

For more information about the AfOR Annual Conference and Awards, please contact Sabreena Kaur on 020 7633 4500 or email sabreena.k@environmentmedia.co.uk. Alternatively visit http://www.organics-recycling.org.uk/