Well, it's over. The LARAC UK Conference 2026 has come to an end.
In my last blog, I mentioned that nerves would probably play a part in my first conference as Chair. Standing on stage in front of hundreds of people is never easy, and having now experienced it from the Chair's perspective, I have even greater appreciation for everyone who puts themselves forward to present, facilitate workshops, or sit on a panel.
If I'm honest, I started the event hoping the end would arrive quickly because that would hopefully mean everything had gone well. By the time we reached the end of the night, I found myself wishing it could go on a little longer.
For me, the conference actually starts on the Monday, when I travel to Birmingham ahead of our Executive meeting on the Tuesday. One of only two face-to-face Executive meetings each year, it is always a valuable opportunity to spend time together, discuss the challenges and opportunities facing local authorities, and catch up with colleagues and friends from across the country.
One of the highlights of conference week is welcoming our LARAC Scholars, sponsored by Ecogenesys. This year's session felt a little different for me. Normally, I present alongside Victoria Burrell and Cindy Gardener, sharing our own journeys into the waste and recycling sector. This year, however, our Scotland Representative, Solomon Ede, took over and spoke about his journey from Ghana to Scotland. His story was both inspiring and a reminder of the diverse experiences that people bring into our profession.
The Meet the Exec event on the eve of the conference remains one of my favourite parts of the week. It is a chance to reconnect with old friends, meet new faces, and enjoy a more informal start to proceedings. The quiz was, as always, great fun, and I would like to thank Contenur for its continued support of this event.
A huge thank you must also go to everyone who entered this year's LARAC Celebration Awards. We received 95 entries, showcasing the incredible work taking place across local authorities and the wider sector. Having had the opportunity to read every submission alongside my fellow judges. Selecting winners was far more difficult than I ever imagined, and the quality of the entries demonstrated the innovation, commitment and passion that exists throughout our industry.
The conference programme itself was packed with informative presentations, thought-provoking discussions and practical workshops. My thanks go to every speaker who shared their knowledge and experiences across both days. I would also like to recognise Issy, Maria and the entire team at LetsRecycle for their hard work in helping to deliver another successful event.
One of my traditions after every conference is to spend some time looking back through the photographs. They always seem to capture not just the sessions and awards, but also the friendships, conversations and sense of community that make LARAC events so special. If you haven't seen this year's photographs yet, you can view them here.
A special mention must go to Karla Gowlett, who has been photographing our events for many years and consistently captures the atmosphere perfectly. I have included a few of my favourite images below.
LARAC
Perhaps the biggest takeaway from every LARAC Conference is the reminder that, while we all face significant challenges in local authority waste and recycling services, we are not facing them alone. Bringing together officers, partners, suppliers and stakeholders from across the UK creates an opportunity to share experiences, learn from one another and return home with fresh ideas and renewed enthusiasm.
As Chair, one of the things I was most pleased to see throughout the two days was the willingness of people to engage, ask questions and share their experiences openly. Whether during the conference sessions, workshops, exhibition breaks or the social events, there was a real sense of collaboration and support. That willingness to learn from each other is one of the things that makes LARAC such a valuable community.
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended, presented, sponsored, exhibited, volunteered and helped make this year's event such a success. The planning for conference begins around ten months before delegates arrive, so no sooner has one event finished than work starts on the next.
The 2027 LARAC Conference will take place on 13 and 14 October, so please save the dates in your diary. I look forward to seeing you there.
