Branching Out

After many years of carrying out successful conferences in the United States and Europe, The Recycling Today Media Group, publisher of Recycling Today, is extending its programming to the Middle East with the launch of Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference – Middle East.

The event will be held Feb. 27-28, 2012, at the JW Marriott hotel in Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The conference is a joint venture with Dubai-based Media Fusion, the publisher of Waste & Recycling Middle East magazine.

The event is designed to bring together recyclers, traders and others involved in the plastics and paper recycling industries from around the globe for two days of educational sessions, networking, and exchanging ideas.

The Middle East is a fast growing market for secondary paper and plastics, making the timing of the show critical for recyclers in this region, according to the conference organizers. The Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference – Middle East will cover regional and global market trends, and challenges and opportunities affecting secondary plastics and paper. Attendees will hear presentations from industry experts and economic forecasters.

"We're thrilled to be cooperating with the team at Waste & Recycling Middle East to introduce this new event," comments Jim Keefe, group publisher of the Recycling Today Media Group. "By offering a high-quality business conference for the rapidly developing Middle Eastern market, we hope to provide both valuable insight into the local and global market and also develop commercial opportunities for the industry."

The event will combine sessions examining commodity markets for recovered paper and plastics in a global context; offer insights from local policy makers on regional waste and recycling management development; and provide case studies from local recyclers.

"As we explored the possibility to develop such an event for our local market, we wanted to partner with a global market leader who offered a proven track record. Partnering with Recycling Today has allowed us to do that," says Dr. Kayyum Ali, CEO of Fusion Media. "Building upon the success of Paper Recycling Conference – USA and Paper Recycling Conference – Europe, we are confident we can offer recyclers in the Middle East a world-class event right in their back yard," says Ali.

Sessions will delve into regional and global trends in recycling. Topics will include development plans for recycling and waste management from the perspective of leading public officials; in-depth insight into the commodity markets for recovered paper and plastics and the demand trends that will affect those markets; and quality challenges inherent in collecting more fiber from commingled methods.

In addition to a comprehensive conference program, an exhibit hall will give attendees the opportunity to network with industry suppliers and to learn about some of the latest products and service available.

Updated information on the sessions and speakers who will appear at Paper and Plastics Recycling Conference – Middle East, as well as registration information, is available online at www.PaperRecyclingConference.com.

The author is associate editor of Recycling Today and can be reached at ksmith@gie.net.