Could RWM 2020 be even better? We think that'll be a hard act to follow, after 2019 had it all. Recycling, Waste Management and Biogas exhibits were all there in abundance, under one roof and with an unbeatable seminar coverage.
We challenge anyone to have attended and not found more than enough inspiration from it. Especially interesting was the many seminars. Something for all professionals, no matter what your interests within the industry!
In fact, it was very hard to move between seminars quickly enough without missing out on must-attend gems! That's not a criticism, but was simply a fact due to the unique abundance of high quality presentations!
That's our opinion of the RWM Exhibition last month and we wish our Media Partner PRYSM every bit as much success with RWM 2020.
RWM Press Release:
2019: Record Breaking Year
RWM 2019 came and went in a flash, but what a couple of days they truly were. On the 11th and 12th September, tens of thousands of business decision makers travelled to the NEC for what many believed was going to be a typical RWM Exhibition; not knowing how much work had gone in behind the scenes to make this edition of RWM the best yet.
The queues to enter at 10:00am were huge. From the offset, organisers, exhibitors, and visitors could tell it was going to be a busy couple of days. As the large numbers of quality delegates flowed into Hall 5 at the NEC, there was a clear and unmissable buzz in the air, with thousands of people anticipating a busy day ahead of them. With over 500 exhibitors to see, 13 seminar theatres to visit, and various zones to discover, there was never a dull moment at RWM 2019.
Exhibitor Portfolio
At every RWM show you will see the leading exhibitors from throughout the recycling and waste management industry. There were over 500 in total, from every reach of the industry. There were hundreds of highlights throughout the floorplan, but a few really caught the eye. Johnston Sweepers, WasteCare, Romaquip, and Astute Technical Recruitment all showcased some of the best products from new street sweepers to recycling vehicles, a double decker bus, to an elephant made out of used batteries.
First-Class Seminar Programme
RWM’s seminar lineup this year was unlike what has been seen before. When you consider the businesses involved, it really shows that the recycling and waste management industry is starting to be taken seriously.
There were speakers from internationally renowned organisations such as: NASA, Procter & Gamble, SUEZ, and Costa Coffee represented at RWM 2019; covering topics affecting the recycling and waste management industry every day. Jeremy Paxman, Patron of Clean up Britain, Dr Anne Meier, Chemical Engineer and Principal Investigator at NASA, and Tom Szaky, CEO and Founder of TerraCycle delivered three of the most captivating keynote seminars at the event, attracting huge crowds in the process.
Above all else, the role of RWM in the industry is to educate a wide range of businesses about new sustainable practices and technologies that will help save their business money whilst also becoming increasingly environmentally friendly.
New Products Launched at RWM
Sworn to secrecy from the businesses involved, RWM played host to an impressive array of product launches, from some of the best-known businesses in the industry. Ranging from municipal sweepers to waste pressers, there was a wide range of new products revealed to the UK’s largest recycling and waste management exhibition.
One of the most eagerly awaited launches at the event was at Kärcher UK’s stand, where they were due to release their brand new MC 250 municipal sweeper. After releasing teasers on their website, Kärcher proudly unveiled their latest edition to the bustling RWM crowd. The MC 250 offered something rarely seen on the market; an environmentally friendly sweeper that doesn’t let up on performance.
Another exhibitor, LSM Waste Equipment, also released a new product – the new P6 REL Packer. The P6 Packer is designed to deal with waste in space conscious sites such as apartment blocks and hospitals. It’s capable of pressing 15-20 1100 litre bins into a 1×4 cubic metre bin, and allows for 50% less labour, and reduces bin storage space by 50% – allowing for more efficient waste monitoring.
Testimonies from Visitors and Exhibitors
It’s not just us here at RWM that are calling the exhibition a massive success this year. Visitors and Exhibitors alike commented on how good RWM was this year, with everyone from Students to Managers, and Managing Directors to CEO’s, there has been overwhelmingly positive comments coming from the industry:
One commenter, Craig Dick, Director at Progressive Waste Solutions Ltd said: “Extremely beneficial trip to the RWM Exhibition for PWS this week. Lots of good contacts made, looking forward to building some long-term working relationships!”
Jon Holttum, CEO at Fissara added: “What an absolute belter of a show we had at RWM this year, fantastic teamwork and masses of interest in Aderro… Wow!”
CIWM: “With packed aisles and inspiring speaker sessions, RWM demonstrated once again why it is the must-attend resources and waste event. The CIWM stand was a hive of activity, presenting the perfect opportunity to catch up with our members and introduce ourselves to new friends”
Dr Anne Meier, NASA: “RWM is a one-stop shop for everything from items you can procure “now” to networking with blue sky innovators for the “future”. RWM was a wonderful collaboration of innovation, analysis, manufacturing, startups, and anything you can think of involving waste conversion and waste processing. I was so pleased with all of the options of vendors and experts to talk to.”
Martin Robinson, Environmental Adviser at GKN Aerospace Services: “I have been coming to the RWM show for many years now and this year was by far the best. The crowds were huge and the exhibitors were great, the seminars were very educational and also make the show a great reason to attend. Finally, the organisation of the whole event was great from start to finish and look forward to being part of it again next year.”
Paul Kershaw, Enforcement Team Leader at Office for Product Safety and Standards: “This was my first year at RWM but based on my experience there, certainly not my last. The positivity demonstrated by the sector, and some of the amazing work on show is a prime example of the efforts being made to put waste to good use, and to provide us with a greener, cleaner environment for the future.”
Looking Forward to RWM 2020
As an annual event, there is no need to wait too long for the next show.
If RWM 2019 is anything to go off, 2020 promises to be the UK’s best recycling and waste management event yet. The dates have been confirmed as Wednesday 16th and Thursday 17th of September 2020, again at the NEC Birmingham, make sure you order your free tickets and book the time off!
RWM has extended their thanks to all Partners, Exhibitors, Sponsors, Speakers, Visitors, and NEC Organisers for helping to put on the best possible show. It allowed the UK’s largest recycling and waste management exhibition to not only live up to expectations but to exceed them — cementing RWM’s title as the most important recycling exhibition in the UK.
RWM also saw its highest exhibitor re-book rate, so if you want to enquire about exhibiting or sponsorship opportunities for 2020, don’t delay – now is the optimum time to secure your preferred RWM 2020 package. Please get in touch with Managing Director Nick Woore at nick.woore@prysmgroup.co.uk or +44 (0)117 929 6083.
RWM Press Release ends:
RWM 2019: An Antidote to Professionals Jaded by Endless Brexit Unknowns
To organize an event which grew in popularity this year of Brexit indecision was in our opinion a remarkable achievement. RWM 2019 brought together 14,784 visitors from over 110 countries! That's significantly more than in the previous year when just 12,000 professionals attended.
Other exhibitions have been down on attendance since last year, presumably due to low business confidence while the outcome of Brexit negotiations remains unknown.
In our opinion, it does once again show that the recycling and waste management industry, which includes AD and Biogas/ Biomethane businesses, is starting to be take up its true role in any sustainable economy. And, that's right in the centre, as a core materials and energy supply source.
