13:00 – 14:30 | WEDNESDAY, 8 JULY
LOCATION: WORLD BIOGAS EXPO, NEC BIRMINGHAM, UNITED KINGDOM (EXACT MEETING ROOM TO BE ANNOUNCED)
The Local Authorities Lunch is a pivotal meeting uniting local councils, anaerobic digestion plant operators, waste management companies, investors and law firms under one roof.
Local and municipal authorities around the world are on the frontlines of the shift to a circular, low-carbon economy. From enabling separate food waste collections to supporting anaerobic digestion infrastructure, their role is critical in tackling climate change, reducing landfill dependency and generating renewable energy.
At the Local Authorities Lunch, hosted at the World Biogas Expo, we bring together leaders and experts to:
- Exchange insights on food waste policy and AD rollout
- Discuss challenges faced by municipalities—urban and rural alike
- How to achieve successful collection of segregated food waste
- Explore successful models of operation from vertically integrated authority ownership to outsourcing
- Understand how local planning, regulation, and public engagement shape AD success
- See how an integrated perspective can maximise efficiency, revenue and local benefits
With policy momentum building this is the moment to align local actions with international ambition.
Come to the Local Authorities Lunch free-of-charge. Apply for a place today and be part of the dialogue shaping the future of waste recycling!
— PROGRAMME —
13:00 – 13:20
Lunch and networking
13:20 – 13:25
Welcome from ADBA/ WBA
Chris Huhne, Chair, ADBA
13:25 – 13:35
Speaker presentations/ introductions
Dr Kelly Manders, Regional Development Manager, Cadent
Dr Kelly Manders is Cadent’s Regional Development Manager for the Eastern region and North London. In her current role, Kelly is leading on the transition to green gases in our network – increasing the volume of biomethane in our network today and developing the pipeline infrastructure for a hydrogen network in the future. Kelly actively engages with a wide range of key stakeholders, including our major industrial customers, heat networks and data centres, biomethane and hydrogen producers, and a wide variety of public sector partners including Mayoral Authorities and Local Authorities. Working with our partners to help raise awareness of the role both biomethane and hydrogen can play to support decarbonisation, whilst also providing a resilient and secure energy supply, helping to retain jobs and ensure economic growth in the UK.
Donnie Macmillan, Waste Processing and Disposal Manager, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar
Donnie Macmillan has been managing the Integrated Waste Management Facility if Stornoway in the Western Isles since 2006. In that time Donnie has managed & overseen the evolution of the site from a standard A/D Plant to an A/D Plant now incorporating PV panels, a Wind Turbine, a LPHW Thermal Store, a high temperature pasteuriser, an Hydrogen Electrolyser and re fuelling facility, a dual fuel (diesel/hydrogen) Refuse Collection Vehicle and an oxygen recovery unit. Currently Donnie is involved in 2 ongoing projects: (1) the Creed Hydrogen Skills and Innovation Centre & (2) Installation of a new and innovative waste treatment plant in Benbecula.
Timothy Read Lamb, Strategic Waste & Recycling Manager, Enfield Council
Timothy has more than 22 years of experience across the waste management sector, having started his career door knocking and promoting recycling, before progressing through roles as a Recycling Officer into Operations Management. Over the years, he has worked with several Essex authorities, helping to improve recycling performance and increase recycling rates. Timothy now works at the London Borough of Enfield as Strategic Waste & Recycling Manager, where he uses the skills and experience he has built throughout his career to drive service improvement and deliver higher recycling rates.
Dr Jane Midgley, Reader in Urban Social and Economic Practice, Newcastle University
Jane is a social scientist based in Newcastle University’s School of Architecture, Planning and Landscape. Jane’s research focuses on food waste; its management and prevention through redistribution. Jane’s research focuses on the policy process and the socio-technical arrangements and practices that result. Over recent years Jane has been exploring Simpler Recycling’s food waste collection and recycling from local authority perspectives. Jane’s current research examines waste and AD industry perspectives on the food waste collection scheme, their experiences and challenges for food waste recycling infrastructure and future expectations alongside those of local authorities.
13:35 – 13:55
Fireside chat with invited speakers
13:55 – 14:30
Moderated panel discussion and audience Q&A
what past delegates said
about the World Biogas Expo
“
A very useful Expo to raise the profile of the opportunities for municipal organic waste to be collected and processed in anaerobic digesters to used to heat municipal buildings and sell the surplus to the gas grid.”
David Dundas, Energy Consultant and Lichfield City Councillor
“
Really informative and well run. It was a great opportunity to learn about all the developments in the various corners of the biomethane market, both in the UK and on the continent. Really looking forward to coming back next year.”
Richard Caldecourt, Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ)
Sponsored by:
