Opportune timing

Brian Taylor

The Recycling Today Media Group entered into the conference organizing business in 2000 with the introduction of the Paper Recycling Conference that June in Atlanta. The paper recycling sector responded well to the event, so as a media group we have worked hard to improve and broaden this flagship event while also introducing companion events in other parts of the world.

Prompted by Dubai, United Arab Emirates-based publishing company Media Fusion, we partnered with the firm to introduce the Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Middle East in February 2012. The event received a gratifying response from traders and recyclers not only from that region but also from the Indian subcontinent, Europe, North America and East Asia.

In addition to hosting the second annual Paper & Plastics Recycling Conference Middle East in March 2013, we introduced the Middle East Metals Recycling Conference last year.

As with the paper and plastics sector, metals recyclers from the region participated in significant numbers at the conference, as did traders from other parts of the world, again including India, China, Europe and North America.

In just a few weeks, the Recycling Today Media Group and Media Fusion are looking forward to hosting recyclers in Dubai again, as the two events take place consecutively during the week of March 2-5, 2014.

The recycling market in the Middle East remains widely varied from country to country, with a booming construction sector in places such as the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia generating significant amounts of scrap metal. Additionally, nations in the Gulf Cooperation Council region are paying increasing attention to landfill diversion and the recycling of paper and plastic. The opportunities in the Middle East in 2014 are considerable.

Secondary commodity buyers in India have long used the relatively short Arabian Sea water route to buy materials from Dubai, but traders from within the Middle East and from other parts of the world also are finding new opportunities to engage in commerce.

However, the region also has its challenges, including scrap metal export restrictions in some nations. The programming at our March 2014 conferences in Dubai will not shy away from touching on these challenges while also presenting information on the opportunities (along with numerous receptions and meals allowing traders to network and interact).

The Middle East offers global scrap traders and recycling service providers an opportunity to make new connections and open new doors. I invite individuals interested in finding out more to visit www.metalsrecyclingme.com and http://middleeast.paperrecyclingconference.com and consider making plans to join us in Dubai.