Conference round-up 2001

There are 3 reasons to go to a conference: to improve your professional development by attending the wide range of stimulating and thought-provoking papers and workshops; to network with other members of the industry who can share their different experiences and perspectives with you; and to do unspeakably embarrassing things during the social events to keep everyone talking until next year.

Chairman Allan opened the conference on the Wednesday evening, and Blair Milnes, Auckland Manager for major sponsors Carter Holt Harvey Fibre Recycling, launched the company’s new name, CHH Fullcircle pre-empting just a little bit what was to become a circular conference theme. We netted and worked among the superb trade exhibits to the tinkle of champagne glasses, before filing in a dignified and orderly manner onto the buses which would take us out to two wineries on the outskirts of Christchurch. Shy at first, we soon got into the swing of things over a nice little drop of sauvignonblanc chardonnayreislingpinotnoir, and cries of “leachate collection system”, “closed loop” and “comingled inorganic collection” soon rang out around the rooms. Conference organisers, mindful of the overwhelming numbers attending this year’s conference, had arranged private dining rooms - two simple little parties of 100. Returning to Christchurch, we were once more to be seen, filing onto the buses in a dignified and orderly manner.

Earlier in the day many eager beavers had followed the coloured flags and leapt onto buses to investigate the Recovered Materials Foundation site or visited Christchurch’s wastewater and biosolids plant, or tripped to Ashburton to admire the wastebusting. Tour leaders were warned to get these daytrippers back on time and tight but interesting schedules were kept to!

Next day, and the first chance to get into the thick of the conference. Minister Marian got to go first this year and was received warmly by the crowd. Then, primed and ready for contaminated gasworks sites and advanced generation geomembranes, the audience was treated to a whole new taste of waste - or rather what New Zealand will be without the waste. Jim Bradley and Brian Richards presented their take on the new direction for the industry - lifeafterwaste. The audience oohed and aahed, and frankly got quite wasted over the glorious photography of Martin Hill. Conference-goers are still remarking over the tears of joy in the eyes of some hard-bitten wasties enjoying a whole new lease of life. Now, who hasn’t got a couple of circular Martin Hill images tacked above the computer at work.....?

Thursday evenings festivities were held at the Wigram Airforce Base. MC Jim Hopkins arrived courtesy of the land forces (due to the air forces having been recently sold), driven admirably by a senior member of Dad’s Army. He was joined by his lovely assistant Sarah, (aka the lovely Clare Feeney), while he debriefed the forces. “Sarah” won’t be speaking out of turn again in a hurry!

Terry Beckett, at great personal sacrifice, was responsible for oiling the wheels (or should we say removing the shocks) of the conference dinner with a fine array of local wines. 27 cheeky little numbers were served, along with a number of quite nice wines. Yes, given the tough jobs every year, Terry has manfully risen to the occasion yet again. Nice one Terry.

After at least 5 minutes of silence from Jim, he was back, licking anything he could describe, and generally rhapsodising about being entered by nature. He restrained himself long enough to present the winners of this year’s best papers with their awards.

Joint runners up for the best written paper were the Brodnax Family - Robert Brodnax and Susan Brennan, and Stuart Gain and Patricia Facenfield from Manukau. Graeme King and Councillor Dennis O’Rourke maintained local pride, taking the Oscar for best written paper (see shortened version in this issue).

A fair amount of eating was done, and a wee bit of drinking, lots of netting, but very little working. General hilarity was had by all, along with a little culture, provided by Banks Peninsula’s failed mayoral candidate and poet laureate, Jim Hopkins. Remember folks, if you weren’t embarrassed by Jim this year, come back next year and he’ll have another go.

When it came time to hit the Strip, wasties aquitted themselves with aplomb, showing all the dignity and discipline of the airforce, filing once more onto the buses in military fashion - OK, guerilla warfare might be nearer the mark, but there was certainly a touch of martial fervour about it all. Why is it that one always arrives at the Conference Dinner looking poised and elegant, only to lose it by getting completely legless? Hardcore conference attendees did a little research on the waste habits of the average Canterbury nightowl, and only the utmost discretion keeps me from repeating any colourful stories (though strong rumours circulated all day Friday of the wastie found asleep on the hotel doorstep first thing in the morning).

Despite the late night had by many, wasties turned out in force for the workshops on Friday morning, though the odd person was observed having trouble getting through their triple-wrapped Panadol (safe for who, one must ask). As with past years, conference organisers listened to a few gripes about the conflicting workshops and papers - it seems that a number of people are spoiled for choice when it comes to selecting the waste stream they will attend. Its a good sign for the industry when landfillers skip their stream to hear about recycling, and the contaminated sites enthusiasts flit between hydrocarbons and cleaner production.

This conference will definitely be remembered for its circles (and Jim’s Lifeafterlicking), for the record number of non-vegetarians knocking back the delicious vegan food, and hopefully, as the start of a whole new world of.... nature.

Best Written Conference Paper 2001

Written by: Denis O’Rourke
Chair Canterbury Joint Standing Committee
Chair Recovered Materials Foundation
Chair Transwaste Canterbury Ltd
and: Graeme King
CEO, Recovered Materials Foundation

Here is a précis of Partnerships for Waste Minimisation. The full paper is on the CD provided at the WasteMINZ Conference.

A complete list of conference papers is available here.

"Nature Centre Me" A poem by Jim Hopkins

A poem inspired by the Conference Keynote Session co-chaired by Brian Richards and Jim Bradley to launch The Life After Waste project. Both Brian and Jim were enthusiastic in their endorsement of Nature and its many sensual qualities. Nature will only be truly enjoyed if we rediscover our natural selves and stop putting our rubbish bags out.

Champion's Corner

We congratulate all the winners in the following categories.
Well done - the competition was of an extremely high standard.

Best written paper

$500.00 prize money
sponsored by Sulo Simaplas Ltd
Denis O'Rourke & Graeme King for their paper...
'Partnerships for Waste Minimisation'

Best written paper
Runners up

$225.00 prize money each paper
sponsored by Sulo Simaplas Ltd
Stuart Gane & Patricia Facenfield for their paper...
'Planning and Implementing a recycling programme -
Manukau City Council's experience'

And..

Susan Brennan & Robert Brodnax for their paper...
'Reinventing the Regulators - the role of Regional Councils in Waste Minimisation'

Best trade exhibit

R. J. Hill Laboratories Ltd

Best trade exhibit
Runners up

Rotaform Plastics Ltd

Tonkin & Taylor ltd