Megatrends under the microscope at the Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo

The eighth annual Australasian Waste & Recycling Expo (AWRE) is taking place today and tomorrow at the Melbourne Convention and Exhibition Centre, showcasing some of the most innovative products and technology in waste management to around 2000 waste management professionals, business leaders and government representatives.

This year’s event is highlighting several ‘megatrends’, including:

• The circular economy. One person’s waste is another’s treasure. Industry experts are showcasing innovative ways to re-use non-recyclable materials, such as creating fuels from waste destined for landfill.
• Industry regulation. Consumers are agitating for more transparent information about what they’re purchasing. Event experts will be talking about the importance of the federal government ensuring uniform regulation and certification at a national level.
• Automation and intelligence. The waste industry of the future is set to include self-driving trucks and robots that recycle for us. No longer just gimmicks, hear about how robots can address both the cost and risk associated with waste management.
• Globalisation of recycling markets. All commodities trade at a global price and waste supply chains include multiple countries. What happens in China, Malaysia and Vietnam increasingly affects the Australian recycling industry, so we’re increasingly moving towards one global recycling industry.
• Co-digestion and infrastructure convergence. The use of water to treat waste means waste management facilities and water treatment plants are converging. Due to the energy recovery trend, we’re also seeing convergence with electricity leading to multipurpose facilities.

Event registration is still open, so if you’re interested in attending, visit www.awre.com.au.