BIR convention speakers will discuss the circular economy, contamination in the recycling stream

The Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) reports that its International Environment Council, under the chairmanship of Olivier François of Galloo, based in Belgium, will feature guest presentations focusing on the contamination of recycling streams and on the circular economy, at the upcoming BIR World Recycling Convention, set for 25-27 Oct. 2015 in Prague.

The BIR’s International Environment Council meeting is scheduled for 27 October 2015.

Dr Jindrich Petrlik, executive director and co-chair of the Dioxin, PCBs (polychlorinated biphenyls) and Waste Working Group of the Toxics and Waste Programme, Arnika Association, Czech Republic, will deliver a presentation titled “Toxic Recycling – How to Avoid Poisoning the Recycling Chain.”

The Arnika Association was established as a nongovernmental organization (NGO) in 2001 in the Czech Republic to focus on environment protection, toxic chemicals releases and bad waste management practices. Petrlik holds a master’s degree from Masaryk University in Brno and was active in the environmental movement before the velvet revolution in the Czech Republic. He co-authored the book Jak zit dobre, zdrave a ekologicky setrne (How to live well, healthy and environmentally friendly) and also “The Egg Report,” which monitored dioxins and other POPs in free range chicken eggs from 17 countries across four continents.

Also part of the IEC meeting will be two presentations focusing on the Circular Economy. Jaromír Manhart, director of the Waste Management Department for the Czech Ministry of Environment, will talk on “The Issue of a Circular Economy from the Perspective of the Czech Republic.”

Manhart studied water and waste water management at the Technical University in Prague, where he also obtained a teacher´s Degree in Chemistry. He is a member of the POPs (persistent organic pollutants) waste working group of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) Basel Convention and also of the PCBs Elimination Network of the UNEP Stockholm Convention. Moreover, Manhart is an expert with the European Commission’s Technical Assistance and Information Exchange instrument.

Subsequently, Emmanuel Katrakis, secretary general of the European Recycling Industries’ Confederation EuRIC aisbl, will give a presentation titled “Towards a Market Driven Circular Economy.” EuRIC is the umbrella organisation of the European Recycling Industries based in Brussels, which spearheads the industry’s advocacy on the "Circular Economy" towards the European institutions in Brussels. In 2014, Katrakis took up the post of EuRIC secretary general when the organisation was created. Prior to joining EuRIC, he worked in an international law firm and two industry associations where he gained an in-depth experience in association management. Katrakis is a graduate in European law from the College of Europe in Bruges.

Conference delegates will also hear BIR Trade and Environment Director Ross Bartley, who present his biannual report on BIR activities in international fora. Together with Eric Harris, associate counsel/director of government and international affairs of the U.S.-based Institute of Scrap Recycling Industries Inc., they will encourage members to support the Environmental Goods Agreement at the World Trade Organization that is moving toward a final agreement.

The BIR World Recycling Convention is set for 25-27 Oct. 2015 in Prague.