ROAR B2B, the organisers of RWM, the UK’s leading recycling, resource and waste management event, have announced the launch of their RWM Digital Spotlight series, with the first online session on digital transformation taking place Wednesday 25th November, 11am-1pm (GMT).
The RWM Digital Spotlight series focuses on a range of specific subjects in the industry, bringing bite-sized live seminars of 15-20 minutes from expert speakers. These are packaged together to provide learning and answer key questions or challenges facing the sector, in just a few hours.
As the resource and waste management sector continue to adopt digital technologies, the first Spotlight, Digital Transformation, focuses on how organisations should evaluate a growing range of supporting technologies and services to maximise the efficiency of resource management. The topics included are:
- How can IoT devices help businesses work smarter, not harder
- Where can AI and Machine learning help automate processes to achieve efficiencies
- In the world of ever-increasing data, how can organisations get more from their data
- What cloud-based systems should organisations be implementing to stay ahead
Hear from speakers such as Andrew Kemp, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer of LitterCam, and Stephanie Haines, sustainability expert from Gensuite Europe who will be talking about building EHS value from integrated waste management and reporting technology.
Bradley Maule-ffinch, Group Managing Director, ROAR B2B, said: “As part of our continued commitment to bringing the industry together through shared expertise, quality content and networking, the team are very excited about the RWM Digital Series programme that has been created.
“The aim is to virtually connect the thousands of visitors who were unable to attend RWM this year, due to its postponement. We have made every effort to cater for our broad audience by using a variety of digital platforms from which to broadcast.
“The full series will feature virtual events, one-off seminars on hot topics from thought leaders and experts across the industry, webinars and product showcases – all of which can be enjoyed at your convenience.”
North London to benefit from new Borough Recycling Fund
North London residents will benefit from substantial funding awarded to the boroughs of Camden, Hackney, Haringey and Waltham Forest to enable them to run innovative projects to tackle some of the issues impeding recycling.
The boost in funding comes after Camden, Hackney, Haringey and Waltham Forest successfully applied to the Borough Recycling Fund, a joint initiative of the North London Waste Authority (NLWA) and Biffa Waste Services Ltd (Biffa) who process north London’s mixed dry recycling.
The fund was established to support new and innovative projects to help increase recycling rates across north London as well as tackle the problem of ‘recycling contamination’ when waste such as nappies, food, and textiles are mistakenly put into mixed recycling bins.
Camden will test interventions including new lids on recycling bins, which deter the dumping of large bags of non-recyclable waste; improved signage about what can and cannot be recycled and how to dispose of bulky waste; and digital technology to help Camden provide feedback to residents.
Hackney’s award will support the council’s investment in new recycling bins with reverse lids by reinforcing their correct use via leaflets, adverts and social media about what can and cannot be recycled. Hackney will also promote its food recycling service to reduce food waste as a contaminant in dry mixed recycling.
Haringey will a trial a digital campaign, targeting over 75,000 properties. The focus will be on what can and cannot go into mixed recycling bins, and that those recyclables need to be clean and empty. Haringey will translate messages into the six languages which are most spoken amongst households where English is a second language.
Waltham Forest’s project will focus on training faith and community leaders to become recycling champions, who will then be able to communicate to their congregations and community about the importance of recycling and the best ways to recycle effectively.
WasteAid announces new plastic prevention partnership
WasteAid has announced a new partnership with RED-PLAST (Eco Collect) in Douala, Cameroon, a private sector organisation that has been delivering waste collection, recycling and manufacturing services in Douala for over five years.
Given RED-PLAST’s success in the sector, WasteAid is delighted to have engaged them in the current project. RED-PLAST is well-established in Douala and throughout Cameroon and their contribution to the WasteAid programme will support participants to find employment in the formal waste management sector.
In Cameroon, RED-PLAST is an approved government supplier for products with recycled content and their role in the programme will have an immediate and positive impact on WasteAid’s work.
Rodrigue Ngonde, RED-PLAST General Manager said: “RED-PLAST is happy to work alongside WasteAid to step up the fight against plastic waste pollution in Douala and the creation of green jobs, mainly for underprivileged populations.”
In spring 2019, donations from WasteAid’s supporters were matched by the UK government under the UK AID match funding scheme which aims to reduce poverty and achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.
Close to £200,000 was raised to prevent plastics pollution in the Cameroon estuary and Atlantic Ocean. Since then, WasteAid has been working with its network on the ground to support vulnerable and marginalised people in the coastal city of Douala to become plastic recycling entrepreneurs.
The programme participants will include unemployed youth, vulnerable women and those less physically able.
Alongside waste collection and plastic sorting skills, the participants will gain business skills and build relationships with local companies, markets and local councils. The overall aim is the reduction of ocean bound plastics in Douala through a scalable model, that offers plastic recycling opportunities, as well as livelihoods support and income generation for those who need it most.
