German federation to host plastics recycling conference

The plastics recycling division of the German recycling association BVSE will be holding its 17th International Conference on Recycling of Plastics June 3-4 in Bad Neuenahr, Germany. The event programme can be downloaded here.

The BVSE says this year’s conference will begin with workshops that deal with the following topics: plastics recycling in Austria (the partner country for this year’s event); paths towards quality; and the future of packaging takeback programs and recovery as viewed by distributors and the local community. The workshops are expected to bring together exporters from the recycling industry, plant engineers, researchers, elected officials and others to exchange experiences and discuss requirements for successful plastics recycling in the future.

Following the workshops, the conference’s main session will look at changes within Germany’s plastics recycling sector. Speakers at the session include Dr. Dirk Textor, the head of BVSE’s division for plastics recycling. The session also touches on changing quality requirements in Germany and around the world. Additional speakers will include Peng Yu with the China Entry-Exit Inspection and Quarantine Association, who will discuss China’s scrap import policy, and Nicole Seidl with BASF SE, who will take a look at potential innovations for plastic throughout the whole life cycle.

The conference also will look at a number of other issues involving plastics and its uses. A lecture by Dr. Olaf Wirth with the Ökopol Institut für Ökologie und Politik is titled “Plastics – Blessing or Curse?”

Following his presentation, a panel of speakers will discuss plastics and its effect on the environment. Chairing the panel will be journalist Elena Rüth. Participants on the panel include Dr. Thomas Probst with BVSE; Andrea Jünemann with Germany’s Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology; Dr. Olaf Wirth; Reinhard Intemann, INTREC Vernetzte Recycling-Lösungen; Dr. Dirk Textor; Nicole Seidl; and Dr. Ingo Sartorius with Plastics Europe Germany.

In addition to the presentations, the event includes an exhibit hall featuring recycling equipment and products.

Information about registering for the event can be found at BVSE’s Conference website by clicking here.