Celebrating 35 Years of the North East Recycling Forum

This year, the North East Recycling Forum (NERF) is celebrating our 35th year of activity in the North East’s waste and recycling sector.

The NERF offers a forum for the public, private and community sector to share best practice in waste and recycling issues, by running quarterly meetings across the region and disseminating information to its members. This year, the NERF has been running for 35 years, and has delivered a space for the waste and recycling sector to network with their peers and hear about the latest developments and innovations relevant to the sector, for over three decades.

The NERF is supported by the Friends of NERF scheme, a membership model which has three levels of membership available, offering organisations of all sizes the opportunity to increase their profile and receive membership benefits, whilst ensuring the continuation of the NERF’s quarterly events. The Friends of NERF has enabled the North East Recycling Forum to be self-financing, sustaining their presence in the region as a source of information and forum for discussion for the waste and recycling sector.

To celebrate this big milestone, the NERF is holding a special Annual Conference in the impressive Durham Town Hall, a venue which has been kindly sponsored by long-term Friends of NERF, Durham County Council, with a lively exhibition area and expert speakers. Presentations on the day include the ‘Big Picture for 2025’ from WRAP CEO Harriet Lamb; an update from DEFRA’s Jake Kingsley on Extended Producer Responsibility; Suez’s Stuart Hayward Higham will share expertise on the Emissions Trading Scheme; and a look back at how waste management and recycling has advanced from Leeds Beckett University Senior Lecturer, Henry Irving.

Jo Holmes, Secretariat of the North East Recycling Forum and Managing Director of North East Environmental Consultancy, Genee Consulting Ltd, said:

“We’re thrilled to be celebrating 35 years of the North East Recycling Forum this year. The forum continues to be a valuable resource for the waste and recycling sector across the North East, providing regular opportunities for individuals and businesses from across the sector to meet up, share best practice and the opportunity to discuss the big issues. Our Friends of NERF have been a vital support to the NERF, sustaining the NERF to reach 35 years in the sector.”

The waste and recycling sector is particularly subject to change, as new legislation is introduced, new processes adopted, and innovations enter the sector. The North East Recycling Forum continues to be a valuable resource within the North East, supporting the sector through changes and developments by inviting expert speakers to cover the current and big issues, encouraging thoughtful discussion and topical questions.

Book your space at the upcoming Annual Conference in Durham Town Hall.