LAWR

RWM WITH CIWM 2015 PREVIEW This year's RWM event is looking to lead from the front by focusing on the entrepreneurial spirit of the industry and new partnerships for collaboration ast positioning itself as an international showcase of recycling and resource-led innovation, this year's RWM event, taking place at the NEC, Birmingham from 15-17 September, offers plenty of opportunities for professional development and networking. The show, supported strategically by new chairman Barry Dennis (formerly director general of the Environmental Services Association) and 22 RWM 'ambassadors' from leading brands including Nestlé and Unilever, is introducing a dedicated area on the show floor this year – the RWM Launchpad. This platform is aimed at start-ups with emerging innovations to showcase products and services to an industry audience of more than 13,000 professionals. In advance of the show, entrepreneurs have another opportunity to grow their business through RWM's partners, Virgin Media Business. The 'Pitch to Rich' campaign enables organisations to present business ideas to a panel of judges, including Richard Branson. There are also three theatres this year covering key themes around the circular economy, energy-from-waste and municipal waste collection/disposal. As well as the Circular Economy Connect (CEC) Theatre (see page 21), the Energy-from-Waste theatre will address subjects including government policy, gasification technology, RDF and commercial/industrial waste. Meanwhile topical issues to be debated in the Local Authority theatre include waste crime, regulations, collection schemes, resident engagement, plastics recycling and food waste. Within this issue's RWM Preview, LAWR takes a closer look at the RWM Ambassadors Programme, which was launched in 2014, and talks to a few of the leading ambassadors to find out what they've been up to during the past 12 months. We also profile some of the more game- changing innovations in waste and resource management that have recently come onto the market, or are in the planning stage, and examine how the principles of the circular economy are being applied to a specific industry sector – logistics and vehicles. 10 Local Authority Waste & Recycling August 2015 F This year RWM is launching a global search to find the industry's rising stars. The competition aims to celebrate trailblazing initiatives that challenge the way the recycling industry works, identify the top 25 newcomers and inspire a new generation of resource managers. Aimed at young entrepreneurs within the industry, organisers are looking for individuals who have introduced new recycling practices within the past five years that are helping to transform their organisation and the industry as a whole. Individuals based in the UK or internationally who are developing novel ways to reduce waste through circular economy approaches are invited to apply via a short registration form on the RWM show website. Commenting on the initiative, Russell Bacon, portfolio director for environment at show organiser i2i Events Group, said: "We need to inspire and support a new generation of leaders. The rising stars campaign celebrates the dynamic character of this industry. "Small changes can make a big difference, so no matter the scale of the effort, examples will be judged on how effective and transformative the change has been for the entrant's organisation and the industry as a whole." The competition will culminate in three finalists being selected to present to a panel of judges at RWM 2015. The winner will receive a CIWM training package and funding towards their initiative worth over £2,000. The rising stars of resource management

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