APSE Recycling, Waste and Circular Economy Seminar 2026

Thursday 18 June, Sheffield Town Hall

“Simpler Recycling and Beyond”

Confirmed speakers:

• Dr Henry Irving, Senior Lecturer, Leeds Beckett University – Reflections on Recycling in the Past and Sheffield’s story as the first Recycling City
• Ruth Hunter and Sally Wilson, WRAP – Workshop on good practice communications to support effective delivery of Simpler Recycling
• Jenny Robinson, Recycling Partner, Zero Waste Scotland – Food Waste Recycling interventions in South Ayrshire
• Neil Dixon, Assistant Director, Cumberland Council – LGR and waste in Cumberland
• Chris Jones, former Chair of WISH – Health and Safety and Simpler Recycling
• Niamh McBride, Environmental Partnerships Lead, Material Focus – Recycle Your Electricals and Stop Battery Fires campaign
• Stacy Townend, Recycling Officer, Kirklees Council – Leading on Community Engagement and Communications
• Defra and PackUK (invited)
• Environment Agency (invited)
• Exchange for Change (UK DRS administrator) - invited
• LGR and Operational matters workshop

As Simpler Recycling brings sweeping changes across the country, join us in Sheffield to hear all about best practice and discuss getting the basics right and a look forward to what’s next in the pipeline for local authority waste management. From recycling of electricals and other hard to recycle items, and moving to a circular economy, alongside key policy from ETS to EPR, to DRS and LGR, we’ll also ensure key issues including operations and health and safety remain front of mind though presentations, discussions and workshops.

A fabulous opportunity for elected members, officers, and other key stakeholders to hear the latest on policy, ask questions, share thoughts and views on how they are meeting the growing environmental agenda, operational and financial challenges to create a better, safer and more sustainable environment - for present and future generations. Join us to hear directly from government, policy and local authority leaders and a chance to network with colleagues and share best practice!

About the venue

We’re delighted to be using a Local Authority venue for this year’s seminar. Sheffield Town Hall is an impressive Grade I listed Victorian building, opened in 1897 by Queen Victoria and remains the headquarters of the City Council, located in the heart of the city.

Within easy reach of the mainline railway station and nearby multi-storey parking, this historic venue is the ideal backdrop for us to be discussing the future of local authority waste and recycling.

Did you know: Sheffield was the first ‘Recycling City’ in the UK to launch recycling collections, in 1989?

What better place could there be to come together and look at the future of recycling and waste management!