The LARAC Conference once again proved why it has earned the reputation of being the premier local authority waste event of the year. With over 350 delegates and a wide range of companies and organisations exhibiting the 2015 edition in Nottingham generated debate and provided information and inspiration in equal measures.
The two day event covered a wide range of topics from high level issues such as the latest thinking on EU policy and the waste systems of the future to operational matters such as three weekly collections and resident communications. Delegates were also able to tailor their conference experience through a wide choice of workshop sessions on the second day of the event. This gave them the chance to learn from industry experts as well as a number of other local authority officers, demonstrating the ‘family’ feel the big event manages to achieve.
Day one opened with an inspiring look at how the connect world will impact on waste management and how technology could play its part. This was followed by a look at possible policy directions form Europe and a review of how the PRN system has or hasn’t worked for local authorities. The next session concentrated on collection issues with informative presentations from Falkirk and Bury on what going three weekly really means along with a review of TEEP.
The afternoon kicked off with a big debate on commodity prices and values with an expert panel fielding a whole range of questions from delegates. The day then rounded off with a look at different organisational structures open to local authorities when delivering their waste services.
The second day morning was all about the workshops and each one was full and lively debate quickly followed on from informative presentations. After lunch focus shifted back into the main conference hall and reuse gained the spotlight with event partner FCC Environment showing their work at CA sites and with local charities. WRAP covered their work on both WEEE and collection system consistency before IPSOS Mori closed the event out with a very interesting and sometimes surprising view of people’s attitude to environment and waste issues.
We will have more news from the conference, exhibition and awards next week. But as we collect the reports from our 18 scholars which will form part of the Loop Conference edition - out very soon - we must thank REPIC for supporting our scholars so well and for extending the programme with excellent opportunities for our scholars stretching into 2016. Also, we'd like to thank JCB for an excelllent evening on the Tuesday before conference; thoroughly enjoyed by our scholars who were very grateful for such a convivial event to kick start their conference experience. One interesting comment on the whole event was supplied by one of our scholars who made the point that the event affords so many different ways to network: the exhibition, the workshops,the smaller receptions and the awards provide very different ambiences allowing different personalities to interact according to their strengths. Exhibitors and delegates also commented on the way that the two days allowed them to catch up, make real relations, explore issues over an extended period and generally get to know each other's concerns very welll. We are just glad that excellent content is evidently matched by a creative, communicative atmosphere. Thanks to EMG for excellent organisation! Put it in your diary for next year - we will be at the same location on 12-13 October 2016. Photos and presentations from this year's event will be available on the LARAC conference website just as soon as we can organise it.
