Buy Recycled - WMRR and GISA pave the way in a SA-first
10 August 2020
Building on-shore Australian manufacturing, the impending COAG waste export bans, and a genuine desire to close the loop have intensified discussions around buying and creating goods made from recycled content. However, do manufacturers, governments, and industry alike know what’s currently available and where to look to both buy and sell these materials?
In a SA-first, the Waste Management and Resource Recovery Association of Australia (WMRR), in partnership with Green Industries SA (GISA), will pave the way forward with its 2020 Buy Recycled expo, aimed at connecting all stakeholders in the supply chain as we build towards a resourceful and resilient future.
The expo will be held in conjunction with WMRR’s SA Waste & Resource Recovery Conference, this year aptly themed ‘outside the square, inside the circle’.
“We know that there is an appetite to use Australian recycled materials in domestic manufacturing and construction, and there already exist many waste and resource recovery industry players that have taken the leap and have proven that there are viable and high quality secondary alternatives to virgin materials. WMRR wants to drive Australia forward in walking the talk and this expo will play a key role in connecting these players,” WMRR CEO, Ms Gayle Sloan, said.
“Australia really is at a tipping point; will we keep extracting and using virgin materials once and simply disposing of them when they are no longer required, or will we start to see the real value in resources we extract and design and use them over and over, creating secondary manufacturing opportunities and new real jobs in manufacturing in Australia? The choice really is ours to make.
“Knowledge is power, as is a strong and connected network and this expo will also encourage engagement between stakeholders in the supply chain to close the knowledge gaps, raise awareness of the opportunities that currently exist in buying Australian recycled, debunk the myths around cost, quality, and specifications of recycled inputs, and through all of that, hopefully increase the use of recycled content and grow the end markets that Australia desperately needs.
“The two-day expo is free to all exhibitors and visitors so I’d encourage everyone in the supply chain, whether you’re involved in manufacturing, project management, engineering and construction, government policy, remanufacturing, or reprocessing to exhibit or attend to both build your knowledge and network. Together, we can grow domestic remanufacturing and markets, which as we all know, will lead to job and economic growth and secure a more sustainable future for our country.”
The Buy Recycled expo will be held from 28 to 29 October at the Adelaide Convention Centre and will also include panel discussions led by the waste and resource recovery industry.
WMRR is now calling for expressions of interest from exhibitors interested in showcasing their technologies as well as products made of recycled content. To submit an EOI, please complete the online form here. Further details, including the floor plan and expo objectives, can be found here. Submissions close on Friday, 4 September 2020. EOIs will be reviewed and selected based on merit.