APSE Recycling, Waste and Circular Economy Seminar 2026

Thursday 18 June, Sheffield Town Hall

“Simpler Recycling and Beyond”

Presentations: 

Keynote presentation:Understanding Recycling’s History: Learning from Sheffield’s Story as the First ‘Recycling City’
Dr Henry Irving, Senior Lecturer in Public History, Leeds Beckett University

Defra – Simpler Recycling Policy Update and LA Engagement
Chris Mills, Local Authority Business Change Lead (Simpler Recycling), Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

PackUK – Local Authority EPR update
Jane Martin, Head of Communications and Engagement, PackUK

Update on the Health and Safety challenges facing LA’s in waste and recycling activities in the ‘simpler recycling’ era
Chris Jones OBE, Director of Risk Management and Compliance, Cory Group and Former Chair of WISH

Recycle Your Electricals - ‘Stop Battery Fires’ campaign
Niamh McBride, Environmental Partnerships Lead, Material Focus

Food Waste Recycling Interventions – boosting yields and participation in Scotland
Jenny Robinson, Material Circularity & Supply Chain Development, Zero Waste Scotland

Fly Tipping & AI technology. How Vizzia is helping 200 local authorities in Europe & the UK
Alain-Charles Lauriano do Rego, UK Country Lead Vizzia, APSE Approved Partner

Main Hall
WRAP Behaviour Change and Communications Workshop: Good practice communications to support effective delivery of Simpler Recycling
A workshop delivered by Ruth Hunter and Sally Wilson, Local Authority Technical Consultants, WRAP

Committee Room 1
Operational clinic and discussion forum with APSE Associates: rolling out new services, food collections, ironing out fleet, contract & operational issues, and ‘LGR 101’
Craig Denmark and Paddy Knowles, APSE Associates

The Restart Project: How Local Authorities can lead on the Circular Economy and Repair

Fiona Dear, Co-Director, The Restart Project

123+ to the top – How Stratford-on-Avon is the leading recycling authority in England
Julie Lewis, Head of Environmental and Neighbourhood Services, Stratford-on-Avon District Council

Waste Service Transformation: LGR and the next Chapter for Cumberland Council
Neil Dixon, Assistant Director, Waste Management and Public Space, Cumberland Council

‘Do we need another Hero?’ An overview of Kirklees’ Community & Outreach work
Stacy Townend and Philippa Hather, Recycling Officers, Kirklees Council

‘Smarter Tech, Simpler Recycling: Newcastle’s Digital Approach’
Mark Mohun, Lead Business Analyst, City Operations, Transport and Neighbourhoods - Newcastle City Council