Another record gathering for BIR: ‘Geopolitics is moving east’

As delegates assemble in Copenhagen, Denmark for their latest convention, officials of the Bureau of International Recycling (BIR) are reporting a record turnout.

President Susie Burrage and director general Arnaud Brunet told a media briefing on the eve of the event that 1 721 attendees had signed up. Membership had nearly hit 1 000 in 2023, said Brunet, and was likely to exceed that figure this year.

Asian growth

He originally thought it had been because of a Covid ‘catch-up’ but now believed it was down to the growing interest in recycling in Asia and the Indian sub-continent. ‘The growth reflects the importance of the industry there. Geopolitics is moving east,’ Brunet said.

Burrage’s presidency is exactly a year old and she described the past 12 months as ‘amazing’ and paid tribute to the strength and support of the secretarial team. ‘Even so, we can always improve,’ she insisted. ‘We are listeners and need to deliver what our members want.’

BIR Academy

To that end, Burrage added, BIR was launching its academy, an ‘exciting project’ to help increase members’ knowledge of the wider recycling industry. A series of videos is planned, with the first being about the London Metal Exchange. Other changes include publishing more global position papers – one on trade barriers is next – and beefing up the plastics committee into a full division of BIR.

Back to the US?

The appointment of American Brian Henesey (past ReMA chair) as BIR’s chairman of the convention committee prompted a question about whether BIR’s convention could return to the US. Burrage was non-committal, although she did say it would not happen in 2025.

During its 76 years of existence, the world recycling organisation has gathered in the US five times; Miami (2014), San Francisco (2000), Washington (1993), Chicago (1979), and New York City (1971). In 1986 BIR held its conference in Montreal, Canada.