The Irish Waste Management Association's (IWMA) annual conference is set to discuss ways of breaking down the barriers to the circular economy.

The conference will take place this Thursday, March 6, at the Aviva Stadium Conference Centre.

The event is run in partnership with the IWMA and the Chartered Institution of Wastes Management (CIWM).

More than 300 delegates from the private and public sector, as well as policymakers, decision makers, and stakeholders will be in attendance both for the live and online event.

There will be a number of international keynote speakers at the event including the European Commission's director general for the environment, Aurel Ciobanu-Dordea, the CEO of Sensortia, Norway, Ulrikke Lien, and the president of CIWM UK, Tim Walker.

The full line-up of speakers at this year's conference includes:

Minister of State at the Department of Environment, Climate and Communications, Alan Dillon;
Assistant secretary, leading the natural resources and waste policy function at the Department of Communications, Climate Action and Environment, Philip Nugent;
Co-head of environmental and planning at A&L Goodbody, Alison Flanagan;
CEO of Repak, Zoe Kavanagh;
CEO of Re-Turn, Ciaran Foley;
Secretary of IWMA, Conor Walsh;
Group president of Shabra Plastics & Packaging, Rita Shah;
CEO at the National Centre for the Circular Economy, Claire Downey.

According to the IWMA, this year's conference will discuss progressing Ireland's waste policy in an evolving circular economy, as well as the European prospective on economic policy developments 2024-2029.

The conference will also provide legal updates on all that has happened in the waste industry in the past year, and what challenges can be expected from AI.

The circular packaging waste challenge, supports for circular economy initiatives, and updates on IWMA progress in key areas including recycling rates are also on the agenda.

Finally, the conference will discuss how better design can influence the supply chain and contribute to a circular economy, how to drive Ireland's circular economy forward, and building capacity and opportunities for the circular transition.